One of the native plants that I've been exploring lately is Bignonia Capreolata, aka Crossvine. It's a high climbing liana which grows to the top of the canopy, with a long history of medicinal uses by Native Americans.

It's used in ways similar to gensing, it's an adaptogen. In the old days people would give it to worn out horses and mules who could no longer walk and it would get them moving again. I've used it as an admixture in a couple of brews, those brews produced pleasant effects with no nausea, so it seems to me at least, to be safe combined with beta-carbolines.

I came across this paper http://impactfactor.org/...Vol4,Issue3,Article3.pdf which states that crossvine produces the indole alkaloid resperine. The paper also states that not much research has been done on the plant so..

Are all indole alkaloids considered tryptamines? Are there any pharmacologists here who can enlighten me?

reserpine has a structure not unlike yohimbine, and has some similar side-effects. i wouldn't take either with an MAOI (yohimbine is actually a weak MAOI).

it's a great standard for mass spec though, prominent peak @ 609 m/z.

Well I only used a few pairs of leaves.

I did drink crossvine tea for a few days, noticed increased energy at work, but also it's diuretic effects, causing me to urinate frequently.

I recall this compound from few years back of research through Gandhi's personal life in using reserpine as a tranquilizer from snake roots, flowers and leaves. Once I concocted the roots, flowers and leaves of another reserpine containing plant through water extraction and felt quite replenished after taking it. The effects were definitely tranquilizing, and lasted for about 2 days.

Reserpine irreversibly blocks VMAT, which can take a few days-weeks to replenish. It is known to have long lasting benefits through various actions of dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. Which may ultimately lead to diminished, or rather depleted neurotransmitters, due to the numerous interactions and side effects reported. Randomized controlled studies show it can reduce overall mortality.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserpine

I def won't use large amounts in my brews when I add crossvine. Perhaps if one wished to add this to a brew, a pair of leaves would be enough. More and more Im realizing that it doesn't take much to change the energy of the brew. Or even when ingesting a plant alone. Local plants have a wild energy that I can feel even chewing willow bark, and it's not supposed to be psychoactive. This spring will be interesting as I focus more on local plants teachers. I actually drank the vine (alone) for the first time a week or so ago, then 3 days ago discovered sweet flag. I've had a few insights since..

I now recall which plant I used.. that being periwinkle (vinca minor) with the blue / violet flowers and dark-green, thick leaves. Grows on the ground mostly and is prevalent throughout Europe, Netherlands and Asia. Although, its invasive behavior has landed itself here in NA. Also, afaik, willow bark is analgesic. I would have to agree on wild plants having more of a direct effect. The fresh material is where it counts.

I think I've read that periwinkle has anti cancer properties as well.

No. Some indole alkaloids are tryptamines; all tryptamines could be described as indole alkaloids.

And it can cause your hair to fall out through cytotoxic effects, so be exceedingly careful!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserpine That trimethoxybenzoyl group at the far end of the terpenoid gubbins is strangely reminiscent of mescaline... Also, molecule fans, we can play 'Spot the tetrahydrobetacarboline moiety'. (Some of us really know how to have fun! )

I've also read that and other beneficial effects such as anti-inflammatory and nootropic activity. Not sure about the long term effects but I didn't notice any negative effects at the time, or weeks afterwards. No hair displacement occurred, but it could be cytotoxic as suggested above.

I'd be wary ingesting too much without refining tea mixtures due to the presence of the vincristine. Vincristine, a vinca alkaloid from the periwinkle has been in use as a chemotherapeutic agent for a while (1963), and its anticancer action derives from inhibiting cell division during mitosis.

"Vincristine binds to tubulin dimers, inhibiting assembly of microtubule structures and arresting mitosis in metaphase. Because vincristine's mechanism of action targets all rapidly dividing cell types, it not only inhibits cancerous cells but can also affect the intestinal epithelium and bone marrow."
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincristine

Seeing as the plant has atleast 70 other alkaloids and it has been used in folk remedy, perhaps some of this action is balanced out by other compounds in the plant, but it is worth emphasizing to heir on the side of caution.

Now I'm interested in reading more about the plant.
Safe explorations!