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Peganum harmala
|  Botanical name: Peganum harmala
Better known as: Syrian rue, Asian rue
Family name: Zygophyllaceae
Natural habitat: Mediterranean Sea area, Middle East, India, Mongolia, China
Peganum harmala is often used as an entheogen in the Middle East. There are even theories that say that the plant must have been the ancient vedic god Soma or Huoma. Botanist David Flattery underlines this possiblity. Even though strong evidence was found by mycologist R. Gordon Wasson about Soma being the mushroom Amanita muscaria. But, Flattery’s theory came from a study of the religious Persian writings of the Avesta in contrast to Wasson’s study of the holy Hindu writings of the Rig Veda.
The seeds and roots of the plant Peganum harmala contain MAO-inhibitors such as harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine. MAOI’s block the demolition of certain chemical substances in your body which normally do not have access to the brain. One of those substances is DMT.
Therefore Peganum harmala seeds are often used (as a replacement of Banisteriopsis caapi) together with DMT-containing plants such as Psychotiria viridis and Mimosa hostilis in the psychoactive drink ayahuasca. For the same reason the plant is used to strengthen the effect of psilocybin mushrooms.
Other known use of Peganum harmala: it is used in incenses, as a colour pigment (red, often used for dying Persian rugs) and it is known to be used as a potent aphrodisiac (in ancient Egypt). As for medical uses, it helps against boldness, period aches, worms and lice. And in Turkey the dried seed pods are put up hanging in houses and cars as a protection against the evil eye.
A common nickname of the invasively growing Peganum harmala is ‘ruin weed’, probably because the plant is often found nearby ruins in the Middle East. | 
Peganum Harmala is an easy to grow plant. Sow the seeds in late spring (indoors) in a sandy soil mixture and water it modestly. Put in a sunny spot and keep the temperature above 20 °C. Once your plant is big and strong, frost and dryness will not affect your plant anymore (when placed outdoors). During winter time the leaves will die, but the roots keep themselves in a deep hibernation, they will come alive again at the crack of spring.
Peganum harmala is a wild desert shrub with bright green elongated and wide leaves. The white blossom, with flowers as big as 1 to 2 cm in diameter, appears every year between June and August. The fruit is a three-part capsule of 6 to 10 mm in diameter and resembles a little green apple. In there it holds the very same many dark brown, angular seeds as you buy from us.
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