CALEA ZACATECHICHI: the Dream Herb 
The Chontal people of Oaxaca know the endemic Calea zacatechichi herb to be useful as a divinatory medicine. They claim that an extremely bitter tea made from the plant induces a state of sleep during which very brief, intense dream sequences reveal the answers to village problems and personal difficulties. Strangely, an extract of Calea zacatechichi was studied in a fully controlled clinical setting by authoritative scientists to determine its pharmacological effects. The result of this objective research revealed that the plant indeed produces a state of drowsiness, followed by peculiarly intense but short episodes of cat naps in which a set of dream sequences were invariably reported by the subjects, who stated them to be unusually lucid and profound of meaning. In this careful clinical study, control groups receiving placebos, had no such experiences. We sought this obscure herb for years, finally encountering it in the mountains of southern Mexico, in order to offer to interested researchers. Supplies are scarce. The bitter tea is made by steeping about 1 tablespoon herb for 10–15 minutes. It is also utilized in smoking blends.