Reprint: SCHULTES
There have been vague references to the zingiberaceous Kaempferia
GCalanga, to which the natives of several parts of New Guinea attribute hallucinogenic
properties (4). We know, in fact, nothing about the psychotomimetic
use of this genus, nor of its chemical constituents.
The role of mushrooms in the so-called ‘“mushroom madness” of the Kuma
people of the Wagti Valley in New Guinea has been, and still is, puzzling. A
species of Kussula has been suggested as the psychotropic agent that suddenly
causes individuals or groups to go berserk. Even though the “natives attributed
their extraordinary behaviors to mushrooms, several species of Boletus,
EKussula and Heimiella—or at least most of them—do not seem to cause
physiological effects leading to madness.” (24). I am convinced that much
more field work must be done in this fascinating part of the world. .
Guidelines for the Future
The ethnobotanist, especlally in his ethnopharmacologic search for hallucinogenic
plants, is confronted with these and many more problems throughout
the world. Faced with the ever more rapid disintegration of primitive
societies and an extraordinary dearth of trained ethnobotanists, science
would seem to be doomed to lose. The outlook, however, may not be so dour.
Specialists in those fields upon which ethnobotany impinges are experiencing
a growing realization of the potentialities of the interdisciplinary approach
that ethnobotany affords. There is growing interest in ethnobotanical
research amongst younger men going into botanical, anthropological and
pharmacological fields. Some of the most startling scientific advances of the
past twenty years have been made in various branches of ethnobotany. The
future should, therefore, solidly be ours, and our trust must be to prevent
its slipping from us.
It might here be appropriate to end with the words of Harshberger, author
of the term ethnobotany, who wrote: “It is of importance . .. to seek out
these primitive races and ascertain the plants which they have found available
in their economic life, in order that perchance the valuable properties
they have utilized in their wild life may fill some vacant niche in our own.”
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(1) ABRAMOV, M. M, “The isolation of lagochilin” [English transl.] Journ. Appl. Chem.
USSR, 30 (1957) 691.
(2?) ACKERKNECHT, ERWIN H. “Medical practices” in Handbook of South American
Indians, Bur. Am. Ethnol. Bull. 143, Vol. 5 (1949) 621.
(3) ALVES DA '|SILVA, ALOCIONILIO BRÜzzI. “A civilizacäo indigena do Uaupes” (1962)
228.
(4) BARRAU, JACQUES. “Observations et travaux recents sur les vegetaux hallueinogenes
de la Nouvelle-Guinege” Journ. Agr. Trop. Bot. Appl. 9 (1962) 245.
(5) BECKETT, A, H., E. J. SHELLARD, J. D. PHILLIPSON and C. M. LEE. “Alkaloids from
Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.)” Journ. Pharm. Pharmacol. 17 (1965) 753.
(6) BıLAck, W. L. and K. W. PARKER. “Toxicity tests on African rue (Peganum
harmala L.)” N. Mex. Arg. Expt. Sta. Bull. 240 (1936).
