There was a good bit of this experimentation back in the Entheogen Review daze. Johnny Appleseed swore by taking the Turkey Red variety orally with syrian rue.

I'll attach some articles for you when I get home this evening.

AYAHUASCA ANALOG EXPERIENCES
by Johnny Appleseed
Two strains of Phalaris
arundinacea, "Yugoslavian
fresh- cut" and "Turkey Red,"
were bio-assayed as ayahuasca
analogs. Each variety was
harvested in late September,
1992, after being cultivated
as described in the Vernal
Equinox, 1993 issue of The
Entheogen Review. Foliage was
clipped three inches above
ground level in the early
morning (about 8:00 AM), and
alkaloids extracted by the hot
water method. The
Beta-carbolines used as MAOis
were extracted from Peganum
harmala seeds. One trial
(November 28, 1992), was made
with Desmanthus leptolobus in
place of the Phalaris extract.
All dosages were 50 mg
total Phalaris alkaloids, and
125 mg of harmala alkaloids,
except where noted. Harmala
extracts were ingested first,
with capsules pulled apart
before swallowing. Phalaris
alkaloids were taken fifteen
minutes later, with the gummy
extraction redissolved in just
enough ethyl alcohol to put it
into solution. This was then
added to enough honey, hot
water and vitamin C to make a
tea solution to maximize
absorbtion in the gut.

Effects -~ Single Trials:

October 15, 1992 -- Turkey Red
(30 mg) plus P. harmala. Very
subtle and spacy, feeling of
leaving the body. Some nausea
after about two hours. Down
in three and a half hours. I
feel very healed. Not quite a
full dose.

27-
November 1, 1992 -- Turkey Red
(40 mg) plus P. harmala. More
nausea, but spitting and lying
down helped. Informationabout
the plants comes, and the
name: "Turkey Red. " Down in
about four hours, awake for
six hours, want to talk.


November 28, 1992
Desmanthus leptolobus (45 mg)
plus P. harmala. Bad
heartburn at first, then very
visionary: the images of bulls
breaking their way into my
skull and trying to
communicate with me.
Afterwards walking around and
praying for the native people
of Australia. Very cold,
wanted cuddling. Lasted about
four hours.

December 9, 1992
Yugoslavian fresh cut (50 mg)
plus P. harmala. Took it when
tired and distracted. Not
visionary; went to sleep after
an hour. Next day felt highly
aware and strong in my body.
This continued for several
days.

Group Sessions

November 14, 1992 Turkey
Red, plus P. harmala. Six
people. Within twenty minutes
T began very violent purging,
which continued for two and a
half hours. He was in a
highly visionary state, but
seemed agitated and fearful.
I sat very strongly and after
thirty minutes began to sing
and chant. This continued on
and off throughout the
session. I did healing work
with the rattle as needed. L
kept to herself at first, but
then began to interact with T
and do healing work with him.
At one point she was
extracting from him and
purging. She said later that
after this she had a complex
visionary sequence of
exploring an otherworldly
landscape. A was very active,
singing with me part of the
time and other times alone
outside. We spent some time
communing together with heads
touching. At one point A, L
and I generated a tone-song
that could have built into a
very dynamic group visionary
experience if T's distress had
not been so distracting. We
three stayed strongly
connected through visual
contact. J stayed quiet and
withdrawn, stating later that
he did have some visionary
states, but only when he could
be alone and quiet. About six
hours.

November 16, 1992 -- Turkey
Red plus P. harmala. A and
myself. Took a normal dose,
and then another full dose at
about the second hour when it
started to peak. Began at
9:00 AM and lasted until
Midnight. Many experiences,
both connected to A and by
myself. Did a lot of praying
and asking for help from the
Grandfathers. Took a booster
of harmala extract in the
afternoon, which seemed
effective.

December 15, 1992 -- Turkey
Red, plus P. harmala. Six
people. · Began by sitting in
the configuration shown in L,.( s
dream. I sat back to back
with her, with A, N, M, and s
sitting in the four
directions. After about
thirty minutes L started to
rock, chant and then repeat:
"I remember, I remember. " She
went into a healing crisis and
began purging a lot. Later
she said she journeyed back
through her DNA and remembered
encoded memories all the way
back to the primal ocean. She
was very sick the whole night -- it reminded me of my first
jungle ayahuasca. She was in
a healing crisis for almost a
whole week afterwards. A and
I began shamanizing. A sang
and chanted to project sounds
into L' s body. I remained
seated and chanted support to
A's work. At one point I did
some sucking, extraction and
purging for L, and at times
would try to challenge and
connect with her, but she
wanted no one to touch her.
The grass rattle worked well.
M, s and N stayed to
themselves and rather quiet.
About six hours.

Summary: The experience seems
to have an inner visionary and
informational focus when taken
quietly alone in the dark. On
the other hand, taking it in a
group setting with people one
knows and trusts facilitates a
shamanic, healing experience
while enhancing interpersonal
bonds and connections. One
individual often goes into a
healing crisis, and many of
the rest of the group then
begin shamanic work. At some
point this is resolved, and
then everyone tends to enter
deeper physical and mental
space with each other. The
resulting energetic
connections seem to be a part
of the healing process. The
fine light vibrations of the
experience often last almost a
week. I feel better physically
than after mushrooms - strengthened
rather than wiped-out.

PHALARIS AYAHUASCA

I swallowed approx. 1
gram of Peganum
harmala extract in three
capsules. One hour later
I took 1 teaspoonful of
fresh-squeezed juice
from Phalaris
arundinacea (var.
Turkey Red). Three
hours later the strong
effects began (until then
only mild plus-1 and
plus-2 symptoms were
noted). The experience
rapidly grew to plus-3, lasted about two hours, then
subsided. The trip was extremely uncomfortable, with
constant diarrhea, weakness, dizziness, and mild
nausea. The "psychedelic" effects were without
colors, insights or euphoria, but with a characteristic
"tryptamine buzz" and overtones of nameless anxiety.
Very weak, I lay on the bathroom floor, not wanting to
be far from the toilet, since the recurrent diarrhea was
intense. The word intoxication kept running through
my mind -- I was experiencing something "toxic" for
sure! Others have taken this combination without
such negative symptoms, so I suspect that everyone
may respond to it in their own way. I was amazed
how only one teaspoonful of juice could be so potent
and was glad that I hadn't ingested more: the trip took
so long to come on, I thought perhaps I hadn't taken
enough. Don't be fooled by that! - JG, CA

A P. harmala extract quantity corresponding to 4.5 g
of seeds was first ingested on an empty stomach; the
(Phalaris) extract supposed to correspond to 40 mg of
indole alkaloids, but probably greater for at least a
factor 5, and equivalent to about 400 g of.fresh
Phalaris aquatica was ingested 20 minutes later. A
first peak, clearly entheogenic but fully controllable,
became evident about 30 minutes later, followed by an
apparent sensation of diminishing effects. In this first
phase neither nausea nor any other physical symptoms
or feeling to be intoxicated appeared. One hour and a
half after the ingestion of P. aquatica the effects
quickly became acute again leading, for one of us, to
a complete loss of consciousness 40 minutes later ...
"Ayahuasca-like" effects obtained with Italian plants--
by Francesco Festi and Giorgio Samorini -- Communiction
presented at the II International Congress for
the Study of the modified States of Consciousness, 3-7
Oct. 1994, Lleida (Espana)

AYAHUASCA ZOMBIE
I tried the combination of Peganum harmala (Syrian
rue) and Phalaris aquatica (Harding grass, a "special
strain" from Of the Jungle) recently on an excursion to
the Nevada desert. 300 gm dried Phalaris material
(stem leaves and inflorescence) was ground in a coffee
grinder and placed in a plastic bottle. I did the same
with 100 gm harmala seeds. To extract the alkaloids I
made a tea of the combination of both ground
materials and added the juice of 4 limes and water to
make 500 ml. This was simmered for about an hour,
then filtered through a coffee filter. I poured 250 m1 of
vodka over this with the intention of improving the
extraction, since my last try was fruitless. I drank half
of the resulting tea.
Perception of the world began to change in about 20
minutes. My vision seemed not to catch up with my
eye movements. This resulted in a blurring and
impressionist-like view of reality. I also became
apprehensive about losing control of my body. I
became more and more sedated, but this was not
sleepiness. Eventually I lost much physical control and
speech was impossible. I lay in a tent for the next six
hours. I was able to get up to drink water and urinate,
but it was very difficult. I felt like a zombie -- my body
was numb, but my mind wouldn't slow down. My
thoughts obsessed on the loss of my autonomic
functions, such as breathing and heartbeat and how it
would be for my friends to find me dead there in the
desert. I had the life-before-my-eyes feeling and was
able to see myself from other people's perspectives.
This was somewhat like what is described as an out of
body or near death experience, but I was quite aware
that I was experiencing this in my head while my body
lay in a lump on the floor of the tent. There was none
of the peace that is described with these experiences.
Thoughts went through my head with abandon: I had
lost the filtering and organizing ability of ordinary
consciousness. It was as if the dream state was
functioning while the critical mind watched.
Occasionally, these thoughts led to sexual desire
without physical arousal. I fell asleep after about six
hours. When I awoke the effects had worn off
completely. This feeling of regaining my body and
consciousness was better than nearly any feeling I've
ever had! I wonder if others have had this experience.
Was it the result of set and setting or the inappropriate
dosage of materials? I'm especially curious if P.
harmala was the main culprit here, since the dosage
as a MAO! was probably 20 times more than
necessary. I'm also curious about the alkaloids present
in Harding grass. I'm very apprehensive to try this
again, even with careful measurement. Any thoughts
about this? - SR, UT

PHALARIS BRACHYSTACHYS
An experiment with a Phalaris brachystachys variety
from Greece was a success. This was my first fi.dl-on
Phalaris ayahuasca experience, and one I will
certainly not forget. In fact, it was a solid two hours of
meltdown intensity similar to smoking 5-MeO. I
estimated my dosage based upon a TLC test that
showed a large alkaloid spot with the same position
and color reaction as Psychotria viridis. I later
learned from my experience that TLC testing can be
inaccurate when dealing with closely related
compounds such as 5-MeO and DMT. After a 24 hour
fast I took 150 mg of Peganum harmala extract in a
concentrate of fresh ginger root tea (ginger root is one
of the best herbs for nausea and stomach distress.)
After waiting 25 minutes I took 150 mg of Phalaris
extract with some vitamin C and washed it down with
more ginger tea. About an hour later I found myself
riding a tidal wave toward infinity. The first stages of
this wave were absolutely invigorating, but it soon
transformed into a more serious endeavor as I found
myself suspended at ground zero. The only thing I
could do was breathe ... It seemed like a definite blend
of the tryptamines, with the power of the 5-MeO being
the dominant force. The familiar 5-MeO blast was
splashed with the brilliant colors ofDMT. Finally as
the 5-MeO tapered down (a welcome relief) colorful
visual trails remained for another half hour or so. It
was amazingly clear and I did not experience any
nausea, stomach distress or other somatic symptoms. It
was quite the opposite: I felt physically healed during
and especially after the experience. The term
"energetic medicine" carne to mind. The vibrational
effects are quite amazing and I liked the afterglow
much better than the trip itself, at least at this high
dosage level. I would say that this particular strain of
Phalaris is probably best appreciated in smaller doses.
--Toad

PHALARIS AQUATICA
I have just had the most peaceful experience with ayahuasca
made from Phalaris aquatica. Coming on it
felt like mushrooms, but to the end there was no overwhelming
power, no big experience, only a pure healing
medicine. Perfect control, no fear, pleasurably
heightened senses. I thought: "tl1is is the real ecstasy."
There was continuous contact with reality: outdoor
noises seemed normal. What a tragedy for the world
that such a drug is not legal.
Directions: Phalaris aquatica Italian strain AQ-1
from Of The Jungle, dried blades shredded in coffee
grinder, three and one half level tablespoons in milk
shake, half an hour after one level teaspoon of processed
Peganum harmala seeds. The fresh blades
leave a tart reddish resin on the scissors. They do not
dry crisp, but a coffee grinder/blender with sharp
blades will sufficiently powder them. After half an
hour I could feel it corning on. It peaked at one hour,
with time slowing. By one hour and forty-five minutes
it was over. I could use a whole lawn of this. Here in
Miami it does not grow outdoors, but it is doing very
good indoors in a sunny window. - The Gnostic, FL

PHALARIS BRACHYSTACHYS
EH, of MA made an ayahuasca brew using 30 gm
of fresh P. brachystachys (grown from JLF seeds) and
5 gm Peganum harmala seeds. It came on within two
hours and was pleasant for about an hour, but soon became
extremely intense, with continuous diarrhea and
vomiting, left side ofbody numb, racing thoughts,
anxiety, etc. This went on for 36 hours! After coming
down, some pleasant visuals returned to cycle in and
out over a period of two days: "It even woke me out of
sound sleep with strong sounds of weird things. I've
never experienced this before, never wish to again.
Either I'm very sensitive or this strain was kick ass."