Chiric Sanango Root

Brunfelsia grandiflora

The genus Brunfelsia was named for the German physician, botanist, and theologist Otto
Brunfels (1489–1543). When the Portuguese arrived in northern Brazil, they were able to
observe the use of Brunfelsia uniflora among the Indians. The inhabitants of the Amazon
manufactured arrow poisons from extracts of the root. The payés, or shamans, used the root for
healing and in magical activities (Plowman 1977, 290f.). The first description of the plant
(Brunfelsia uniflora) was published in 1648 in Piso’s De Medicina Brasiliensi.
Today, Brunfelsia uniflora enjoys the greatest phytomedicinal and pharmaceutical importance in
Brazil and is grown in plantations as the stock plant for the manaca root drug. The
word manaca is derived from manacán, which means “the most beautiful woman of the tribe”
and alludes to the bush’s beauty (Plowman 1977, 290). Because of their attractive flowers and
colors, several Brunfelsia species (B. americana, B. australis, B. uniflora, B. pilosa) are now
grown in tropical gardens throughout the world or raised as potted ornamentals. The
genus Brunfelsia is originally from northern (tropical) Brazil and the Caribbean Islands.
Because most of its species are so beautiful, the genus has spread as an ornamental into all of
the tropical zones of the world. It has also been successfully propagated in the frost-free areas
of the Mediterranean region (Bärtels 1993, 180*). The species with ethnomedical significance
are all from the Amazon, where they are planted by many of the Indians. Brunfelsia
chiricaspi is found only in primary forest (Plowman 1973a, 258f.; 1977, 305). Most species
of Brunfelsia are propagated by cuttings, root pieces, or scions. In cultivation, they rarely
produce fruits. Brunfelsias require a tropical climate and thrive best in loose soil. Brunfelsia
chiricaspi is not cultivated (Plowman 1977, 305). Indoor plants (B. uniflora, B. pauciflora)
must be watered regularly with water that has been allowed to stand. Between April and August,
they should be fertilized every fourteen days. There are a variety of traditional and
pharmaceutical preparations of the raw drug. Leaves can be steeped in hot water
(Schultes 1966, 303*). Leaves and stalks can also be decocted in boiling water. As little as
100 mg/kg of an extract of manaca root (B. uniflora) is sufficient to produce
pharmacological effects (Iyer et al. 1977, 358). For medicinal purposes, Brunfelsia
grandiflora can be prepared in several ways. Scrapings of the bark can be added to cold water
or chicha (maize beer). The bark of other trees (remo caspi: Pithecellobium
laetum Benth.; chuchuhuasi: Heisteria pallida Engl.; huacapurana: Campsiandra34
laurifolia Benth.) can be added to potentiate the dosage. Unfortunately, the amount of bark used
to make the extract is not known. The root can also be added to alcohol. Here, 50 g of the root
cortex is added to 1 liter of aguardiente (cane sugar spirits). One shot glass of this is taken
before every meal (Plowman 1977, 300). The Jíbaro produce a type
of ayahuasca using Banisteriopsis spp., Brunfelsia grandiflora, and a botanically unidentified
vine known as hiaji. First the Banisteriopsis pieces are boiled for fourteen hours, after which
the other ingredients are added and the entire mixture boiled down until a thick solution results
(Plowman 1977, 303). When used for psychoactive and magical purposes, the wild-
growing Brunfelsia chiricaspi is preferred over the cultivated varieties of Brunfelsia
grandiflora (Plowman 1973a, 259). Brunfelsia can also be smoked. Men and women of the
Yabarana roll cigarettes out of manaca bark and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) (Wilbert 1959,
26 f.*). In Ecuador, Amazonian Indians use Brunfelsia grandiflora as a hallucinogen. The
shamans of the Shuar drink a tea of the leaves and stems in order to induce “strong feelings”
that they can then use for healing purposes (Bennett 1992, 493*). The Siona scrape the bark
of B. grandiflora ssp. schultesii and drink a cold-water extract of this. Two mouthfuls are said to
be an effective dosage (Vickers and Plowman 1984, 29f.*). They drink the extract “to obtain
visions and alleviate pains.” The Brunfelsia extract is often drunk prior to the ingestion
of ayahuasca or combined with yoco (cf. Paullinia spp.)(Plowman 1977, 305). The shamans of
the Kofán drink Brunfelsia grandiflora to diagnose diseases. The shamans of the Lama Indians,
who live in northern Peru, regard B. grandiflora as a spiritual leader. They consume it during
their initiation and receive from it special powers that they can use to heal as well as to cause
diseases (Plowman 1977, 303). Both subspecies of Brunfelsia grandiflora are used
as ayahuasca additives and are said to potentiate its effects (Schultes and Raffauf 1991, 34*).
In Iquitos, urban ayahuasqueros say that Brunfelsia grandiflora makes ayahuasca more
powerful and induces acoustical effects “like rain in the ear.” During a new moon, the Witoto on
the Río Ampiyaco (Peru) add brunfelsia to ayahuasca (they add pieces of the bark to cold
ayahuasca) to obtain power (Plowman 1977, 303). In Brazil, the manaca root is used as a
remedy for syphilis and as an abortifacient (Bärtels 1993, 180*). It is used in folk medicine to
treat rheumatism, syphilis, yellow fever, snakebites, and skin diseases (Iyer et al. 1977, 356). It
is a very important fever medicine; chiricaspi means “cold tree” and refers to the plant’s ability
to lower body temperature (Schultes and Raffauf 1991, 34*). The stalks of Brunfelsia35
grandiflora are grated and added to cold water. The resulting solution is rubbed over or
massaged into areas affected by rheumatism. A cold-water extract is also drunk to treat arthritis
and rheumatism (Plowman 1977, 300). A homeopathic preparation made from manaca roots
was introduced around 1862. Franciscea uniflora (essence of fresh root), as it was known, was
an important agent for a time (Schneider 1974, 1:198*). In the older literature, the
constituents were listed as brunfelsia alkaloids with such names as franciscaine, manacine,
brunfelsine (Brandl 1885), and even mandragorine (cf. Mandragora officinarum)—all
obsolete names for the “only little understood chemical components” of the roots (Schultes
1979b, 154*). The species Brunfelsia uniflora, B. pauciflora, and B. brasiliensis contain the
non-nitrogenous compound scopoletin (= 6-methoxy-7-hydroxycoumarin). The alkaloid
cuscohygrine, which also occurs in Atropa belladonna and Erythroxylum coca, has been
isolated from an unidentified species of the genus (Mors and Ribeiro 1957; Schultes 1979b,
155*). Brunfelsia uniflora and B. pauciflora contain the alkaloids manacine and manaceine as
well as aesculetine. The concentration of manacine is highest in the bark (of B. uniflora),
reaching 0.08% (Roth et al. 1994, 175*). The peculiar effects of the manaca root were described
at an early date: heavy salivation, slackness, general sedation, partial paralysis of the face,
swollen tongue, and blurred vision. There were also more drastic reports: “wild deliria and
persistent feeblemindedness.”“One kind of manacá has the property of causing intoxication,
blindness, and the retention of urine during the day; but after having drunk the infusion of the
root or bark of this tree, a man is always happy in his hunting and fishing” (Plowman 1977,
292). Laboratory studies of the scopoletin extracted from Brunfelsia uniflora (= B. hopeana)
have demonstrated clear depressive effects upon the central nervous system (Iyer et al. 1977,
359). “Manacine stimulates glandular secretion and kills by respiratory paralysis. Manacein has
similar effects” (Roth et al. 1994, 175*). Brunfelsia chiricaspi is said to be the most
psychoactively potent of all brunfelsias. However, the effects do not seem particularly alluring.
They begin within just a few minutes and are first manifested as tingling, numbness, et cetera
(similar to when an arm or leg has fallen asleep). These are followed by a profound sensation of
coldness and an inability to move, foaming at the mouth, shaking, and nausea. Aftereffects
include dizziness and exhaustion. The feelings of dizziness and weakness persist into the
following day (Plowman 1977, 306f.). Plowman, one of the few researchers to have actually
tried the drink, compared the overall effects to those of nicotine (on nonsmokers). He assumes36
that brunfelsia is added to ayahuasca in order to achieve a higher concentration in the body or a
stronger effect upon bodily processes. The shamans could then use the resulting condition to
heal specific ailments. Jonathan Ott (per oral communication with the author) notes that he
almost died as a result of a self-experimentation with brunfelsia. To date, there are no reports of
pleasant visionary experiences. However, for understandable reasons, few psychonauts have
dared to explore the depths of the brunfelsia state.

CHIRIC SANANGO (Brunfelsia) are the most common of the native names for
several species of shrubs that appear to have been important hallucinogens among some South
American Indian tribes. The use of the name borrachero, which means " intoxicator," indicates that the
natives of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru recognize the shrub's narcotic properties, and the special care
taken in its cultivation seems to suggest a former religious or magic place in tribal life. Recently, real
evidence has pointed to the use of several species of Brunfelsia either as the source of an hallucinogenic
drink, as among the Kachinaua of Brazil, or as an additive to other hallucinogenic drinks, as among the
Jívaro and Kofán Indians of Ecuador.

The species traditionally employed are B. grandiflora and B. chiricaspi. All species, however,
enter into folk medicine, being used especially to reduce fevers and as antirheumatic agents. B. uniflora
(as B. hopeana) has been included in the Brazilian pharmacopoeia.
Chemical investigation of the active compounds in the various species of Brunfelsia is still in the initial
stage, and what the active principles may be has not yet been determined. The genus comprises 40
species of shrubs native to tropical South America and the West Indies. It belongs to the nightshade
family, Solonaceae.

In Ecuador, Shuar shamans mix the hallucinogenic plant’s root into batches of ayahuasca tea for added psychedelic potency during special initiations. Throughout the Amazon, healers rely on the root for its diuretic and analgesic properties, using it to treat everything from yellow fever to syphilis to snakebite. The Conibo, who live around Peru’s Ucayali River, drink a root-based decoction for alleviating rheumatism and arthritis.
Vivid dreaming, intense emotional release coupled with profound awareness and gratitude for the emotions being released, increased mental clarity, confidence and self-esteem and an appreciation of the interconnectedness of all life are but some of the spiritual effects grandfather Chiric Sanango plant teacher can produce in the committed dietero.
With very strong physical cleansing it re-boots the immune system, aides the treatment of diseases of the nervous system and has potential in the treatment of heavy addiction.

This information is gathered directly from:
Hallucinogenic Plants: A Golden Guide by Richard Evan Schultes