The Relationship Between LSD and a Surprising Natural Cousin

Disclaimer: this article is intended for educational purposes only and is not meant to encourage drug use of any kind.

Most people are familiar with Morning Glory, a common flowering plant that grows well in a wode variety of climate zones. Morning Glory is popular among gardeners due to it's resilience and fast growth; it can completely cover a fence with beautiful blue flowers in only months.

Most people are also familiar with LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), a potent, semi-synthetic chemical widely used as a recreational hallucinogen during the 60s and 70s.

Not that many people are aware of an interesting connection with a long history that exists between the two. It might seem hard to believe that several varieties of Morning Glory and Hawaiian Baby Woodrose contain Lysergic Acid Amides (LSA), a natural analogue of LSD with a closely related chemical structure.

Albert Hofmann, the chemist that discovered LSD, personally studied the connection between his laboratory-produced chemical and the natural analogue, initially finding it hard to believe. When his investigations proved it to be true, the finding sent shockwaves through the scientific community. He details the experience in chapter 6 of his famous book "LSD, My Problem Child."

According to Hofmann in chapter 3 of his book, the only difference between the chemical structure is that LSD contains N(C2H5)2 where LSA has NH2. It may seem like a negligable difference, but it is the reason LSD is anywhere from 10-50 times more potent. The other difference is that LSA often seems to have a sedating effect in humans.

LSA has had a rich history of use for centuries before its synthetic cousin was first discovered. Alexander Shulgin's book "The Psychedelic Encyclopedia" details how South American Indians used LSA containing Rivea corymbosa (a relative of the common Morning Glory) for divination and referred to it as "Ololiuqui" while the natives of Mexico used Morning Glory and knew it as "Tlitliltzen." The traditional method of use involved crushing the seeds and straining them through a cloth into cold water, which would then be consumed. Use of these hallucinogens was discouraged and even forbidden during the Inquisitions, yet these efforts were unsuccessful; in some areas LSA containing seeds are still used for shamanic purposes to this day.

Based on anonymous experience reports on the informational website Erowid, the effects of LSA are similar to LSD and can include disjointed thinking, altered perception of time, and visual distortions such as tracers and light patterns on surfaces.

The Erowid team warns readers that most commercially available Morning Glory seeds are dangerous to consume due to the presence of chemicals such as antifungals and preservatives added to them by the seed companies. The seed husks also contain toxic plant chemicals that can cause unwanted effects such as nausea and blurred vision, which are not well understood by science yet.

The ergot alkaloids present in LSA have a vasoconstricting effect which at worst can lead to a type of dry gangrene with frequent use, and at best have medical potential at moderate or low doses. Alternative headache website Clusterbusters suggests that LSA and other ergot derivitives might be successful in relieving treatment-resistant cluster headaches and migraines, which are triggered by blood vessel dysfunction.

So far, not much medical research has been done to test out this theory, but the science community is gradually becoming more open to controlled trials that may determine medical applications of both LSA and LSD. LSA and LSD are currently scheduled substances, but illegal uses of both continue in our society and doesn't seem likely to end anytime soon. Hopefully through scientific research and acceptance of legitimate hallucinogen uses in the medical world, we will eventually understand more about the chemistry behind these amazing chemicals.

Albert Hofmann, "LSD, My Problem Child, The Mexican Relatives of LSD" The Psychedelic Library

Albert Hofmann "LSD, My Problem Child, Chemical Modifications of LSD" The Psychedelic Library

Alexander Shulgin "History of Morning Glory and HBWR Seeds" Iamshaman

Erowid submissions, "Erowid Morning Glory (Ipomoea violacea) Vault" Erowid

Erowid, "Erowid Morning Glory Vault: FAQ" Erowid

Clusterbusters, "FAQ LSA" Clusterbusters