African dream root (Silene capensis)
Silene capensis grows naturally in the green river valleys of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. The plant belongs to the carnation family and carries white flowers that open at night and close again during the day. Botanical literature now also files the species under Silene undulata: two names for the same plant. What you buy here is the dried root, 5 grams, in pieces.
Among the Xhosa of South Africa the root is known as one of the ubulawu plants and is regarded as sacred. Traditional healers use it during the training of new healers, to bring on vivid dreams in which ancestors are said to answer a question put to them beforehand. That places it alongside other dream herbs such as Calea zacatechichi. This is the tradition the herb comes from; what it does for any individual differs from person to person and is not something we promise.
Usage
First grind some of the root. A heaped tablespoon is mixed with half a litre of water, and the water is blended until froth forms. Keep sucking the froth off the container until you feel full of froth, and then go to bed. Take it on an empty stomach.
The root froths like this because of the saponins it contains, and in the traditional preparation that froth is exactly the part that gets taken. Store the rest of the root dry, dark and well sealed.
Other dream herbs at Avalon
At Avalon Magic Plants you will find more herbs from this corner of the range, such as Calea zacatechichi, the African dream seed Entada rheedii, Synaptolepis kirkii and Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida). Your order is shipped in discreet packaging.
