Acacia confusa

	Acacia confusa
	N-methyltryptamine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and N,N-dimethyltryptamine-N-oxide (Buchanan MS, Carroll AR, Pass D, Quinn RJ. NMR spectral assignments of a new chlorotryptamine alkaloid and its analogues from Acacia confusa, Magn Reson Chem. 2007 Apr; 45(4):359-61, online text)

Acacia confusa is a perennial tree native to South-East Asia and containing high concentrations of psychoactive tryptamines in its root bark. It appears attractive for use in ayahuasca analogs, though at this point, experience with such preparations remains limited. Some local names include Acacia Petit Feuille, Small Philippine Acacia, Formosa Acacia (Taiwan Acacia) and Formosan Koa. The tree has become very common in many tropical Pacific areas, including Hawaii, where the species is considered invasive.

Entheogenic use

Little research has been done, but successful ayahuasca preparations and direct oral activity using the root bark (and possibly, ordinary bark) have been reported.

Ayahuasca analogs prepared with Acacia confusa root bark are known as Formosahuasca (after Formosa acacia, i.e., the beautiful acacia, presumably after Ilha Formosa, i.e., the beautiful island, the original Portuguese name for Taiwan), or alternatively as Chinahuasca or Asian Ayahuasca.

Phytochemistry, toxicity and medicinal use

The psychoactive tryptamines extracted from Acacia confusa are described in a number of publications.

The plant is considered medicinal in Taiwan. (The same publication reports it as toxic, without providing further details.)

Online excerpts from Chinese medicine books (precise references are not given) state that the root can be used for detoxification, treating larynx and windpipe inflammation and liver disorders. (Original Chinese text: 根有清热解毒、解暑发表的功能。可用于治疗咽喉肿痛，黄疸性肝炎及慢性气管炎等。)

Positive outcome has been reported for applications of Acacia confusa bark extract to combat the liver toxicity of carbon tetrachloride in rats. Goat foraging on the plant has been observed.

The seeds are considered poisonous and reported to cause headache upon ingestion.

Root bark

• N-methyltryptamine, 1.43%
• N,N-dimethyltryptamine|N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 1.15%

Seeds

• Neurolathryogen, i.e. α-amino-β-oxalylaminopropionic acid, which can cause neurological damage, paralysis and death.

Stems

• N-methyltryptamine, 0.04%
• N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 0.01%

Phyllodes

No alkaloids are found in the phyllodes (leaf-like structures).

Notes on obtaining the plant material in Taiwan

1) The tree appears to be very common in Taiwan (its local name is 相思樹, which amusingly translates as "thinking-of-each-other tree").

2) The root (相思樹根) seems to have some very limited use in traditional medicine, externally and perhaps internally for liver disease.

3) The root does not seem to be carried by Chinese medicine stores (中藥店), but it is carried by "herbal medicine stores" (草藥店 or 青草店), though not every store would have it, since the demand is low.

4) There is a huge conglomeration of these herbal shops next to Longshan temple (龍山寺) in Taipei, where fresh root can be purchased (as of April 2010, 150 Taiwan dollars, roughly $5, for 600g, with 1 day pre-order needed). The bark can be easily separated from the fresh root.

Links

• Acacia confusa on Wikipedia
• Photographs of the different parts of the plant
• Erowid Acacia vault
• A group in Taiwan conducting ayahuasca sessions using Acacia confusa
• Acacia confusa at psychoactiveherbs.com
• Reality Sandwich