How's that for a subject line?


We all know that the harmala alkaloids glows under UV light.
A few years ago I decided to bring this to the "next level" (I'm not claiming to be the first to do this, someone might have done it before, I don't know).

I grinded one tea spoon of Peganum harmala seeds in a mortar and put in a half-filled glass of water. This was micro waved for a minute and I let it sit for about 10 minutes.

I had bought a 15W fluorescent UV light and a small paint brush, and standing in front of the mirror I began painting my body with the harmala water.

During the time I painted my body and for an hour afterwards I felt the effects in my body, you know the slight "high" feeling. It became a very enriching experience to stand there in the blue-green psychedelic light, concentrating on painting myself. So, if anyone didn't know, harmala can be used transdermaly. If you aren't interested in art, just cover your arm or something...

This is the results. The paint glows for several days, but loose some "energy" after a shower. However, It can't be seen at all in normal light.

Try it sometime!

That is really cool, going to have to try it!

The use of harmalas as a fluorescent paint is really nice, especially at parties. But to experience effects from less than a teaspoon of transdermal rue sounds a bit like a stretch to me, placebo effect may be involved here.

The harmalas do penetrate quite deeply into the skin and can stay there for weeks, especially where the skin is thick, like the hands. One time I had been processing rue seeds in quantity and weeks later when I went to a festival, I was startled to see myself glowing green in a mirror that hung in a place with some blacklights.

Anyone extracting harmalas should look at themselves in a blacklight afterwards, just to discover how often one scratches face, nose and ears.

It's possible. Also, standing in the psychedelic "atmosphere" seeing the patterns glowing from my body surly contributes. It's like tripping and seeing entities.


Shhh! If the cops find out, they can use the hand held UV light used to find fake money to "screen" and catch us!


Very true!

Very true. I forgot to give you my compliments for the nice artwork!

I think I read this browsing an Erowid vault on Harmalas.. but I believe this transdermal effect is echoed in the magic carpet myths of the ancient Middle East. Carpet dyers and cloth makers encountered this while working intimately and daily with the Syrian rue dyes. Sounds like a blast. I did a very large (probably too large) dose of Syrian rue last time, and have not had the opportunity to work with the plant since, but I'd love to try some body painting.

Wow that is so out-of-the-box and creative!
Awesome artwork, awesome idea!
I will have to try this.
I have 3g SR brewed into half a cup of water, I plan on taking tonight.
Debating on nebulizing it (see my thread), drinking it, or doing this.

this is how I plan to festival this summer.

awesome

awesome indeed!