HAWAIIAN BABY WOODROSE Seeds | Agyreia nervosa

Part of the controversy surrounding Argyreia nervosa stems from its contemporary name, Hawaiian Baby Woodrose. It has been theorised that the plant was introduced to Hawaii very early on and thrived in the tropical climate, thus leading to Hawaii becoming known as its later day 'home' and popular namesake. It is less popularly known as the 'Silver Morning Glory'. The plant is also part of the indigenous flora of Australia and has been known to grow wild in Africa. Now planted in all tropical regions throughout the world, it is popular as an ornamental plant, as well as  revered sacred plant.

When purchasing Argyreia nervosa seeds, its important to know that there are multiple strains, some of which contain no alkaloids, others of which contain extremely high concentrations. It is best to educate yourself about the different strains, particularly regarding their alkaloid content and appearance.

Seeds from Ghana are typically smooth and very light in color. Seeds of the Ayurvedic strain from India are typically more “pointed” and larger than most other Hawaiian Baby Woodrose seeds. Argyreia nervosa seeds from India typically have lower alkaloid content, look roughly the same as the popular strain from Hawaii, but don’t have much 'fuzz' on them, and are typically slightly smaller in size. Seeds from Hawaii are smaller and round, with a good amount of ‘fuzz’ on them. The ‘Infinity Strain’ from Australia is a unique hybrid made by Sacred Plants Australia which is a cross between the well known 'Hawaiian' variety and the Australian variety known as 'Alligator Creek' from North Queensland. This strain is considered the most potent in the world, as it generally contains the highest alkaloid content. These seeds are most sought after and are also the hardest to find due to its limited availability.

Hawaiian Baby Woodrose is a popular candidate for the mythological Soma plant of the Vedas. 'Soma' is the liquid potion derived from the Soma plant, the earthly counterpart of Ambrosia, the ancient, mythical drink of immortality reserved for the gods. The name Soma was bestowed upon a deity (the moon - the god of plants), the plant itself and the sacrificial drink that was prepared from the plant. The botanical identity of Soma has been lost, and theories abound as to which plant it might have been.

In the Hindu tradition, the moon (originally called Soma), was believed to be the ambrosia-filled drinking vessel of the gods. When the moon was full, the vessel was full; by the time the new moon appeared, the drinking vessel had been emptied. It filled up again as the moon waxed. To prepare this mystical concoction, the stems of the Soma plant were pressed to release the sap. The resulting juice, which was believed to 'dissolve all sins' was then mixed with water and offered to Indra, the Hindu God of Thunder. This Soma ritual is thought to have served as the prototype for the Kava ceremony of the South Pacific. It has also been widely speculated that the identity of the Soma plant is actually Amanita muscaria.

It has been noted in various oral histories that the Huna religion, the healing and spiritual shamanism of ancient Hawaii, employed the seeds of the Hawaiian Baby Woodrose for their shamanic rituals, using the seeds magical properties to connect with the spirit world. The Huna Shaman prepared the Hawaiian Baby Woodrose seeds by grinding them into a powder and mixing the powder with water, resulting in a supernatural libation that was then drunk by the Huna Shaman. This magical tonic was used as a means for the shaman to pass from this worldly plane into the realm of the spirits.

Documented modern applications of the seeds vary – they are known to be used by Hawaiians and are also widely regarded as sacred plants in Australia’s medicine community. The seeds and preparations made from them are utilised and celebrated in sex magick rituals in certain underground subcultures such as those associated with Aleister Crowley, the British occultist.

It has recently been discovered that shamans of the Kirati in Nepal use the seeds to ‘fly’, with one fruit capsule being the usual dose. Furthermore, the flowers of Argyreia nervosa are used as offerings for the Nagas.

It is important that the seeds are removed from the pods before use. You’ll notice a natural 'fuzz' coating on them, which should be scraped or burnt off before further preparation as it is toxic. It is recommended to scrape off as much as possible and then gently burn off the rest, as the hull can be thick and it is easy to end up charring the whole seed into a solid chunk of carbon if you hold it to the flame too long.

Seeds sold commercially are generally already removed from the pods, but unless they are purchased from trusted online vendors, typically merchants of sacred plants, they are often coated with dangerous poisons, just like commercially available Morning Glory seeds. The seeds themselves resemble small chocolate chips, but are hard as rocks and have the coating mentioned above.

Different dosages have been given in different sources, but 5 seeds are generally considered sufficient to produce a significant experience. This comes out to about 2g of seed material. 15 seeds is generally given as the maximum dosage, and most people should never even consider consuming this much at one time.

The seeds may be ground into a powder that is swallowed, followed by plenty of water. You may also grind and soak the seeds in water overnight, then strain them out and drink the water. If ground seeds are used, always make sure they are freshly ground.

If you want to stem off the possibility of the nausea, this side effect can be lessened by ingesting a maximum of 5 Datura stramonium seeds prior. Datura seeds contain Scopalomine and have a strong anti nausea effect lasting approx 3 hours.

The seeds are also used in a preparation known as 'Utopian Bliss Balls', which consist of 5 Argyreia seeds, Damiana Herb, Ginseng Root, Fo-ti-teng and Bee Pollen. These were very popular in the 60's among the hippies and artists in California.

Argyreia nervosa root is used in India as an aphrodisiac tonic. The leaves are applied topically as a stimulant and a rubifacient. They are soaked for seven days in Asparagus racemosus juice and taken in doses of 3g - 6g along with ghee for one month to improve intellect, strengthen the body, and prevent the effects of aging. This preparation is also said to assist in cases of bronchitis, nervousness, syphilis, diabetes, tuberculosis, arthritis, and debility.

There are many reports of colorful visions of a spiritual nature, patterns, all-over body sensations, a sense of extreme relaxation, euphoria and deep spiritual awareness. The  effects typically last 6 - 8 hours and vary in intensity. Tranquil feelings have been reported to last up to an additional 12 hours. Sleep is reportedly often deep and refreshing afterwards as well. However, experience reports tend to vary widely.