The transformation of medicinal plants into substances with psychologically active properties usually involves a series of physical, chemical, or biological processing processes that may change the structure of the original components of the plant or release potentially active substances. The following are common processing methods and their scientific principles and examples： --- ### 1. **Simple extraction method** -**Principle**: Extract the active ingredients in plants through solvents (such as water, ethanol, grease, etc.). -**Example**： - **Cannabis**: Soak dried cannabis mosaic leaves with ethanol or oil to extract tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). -**Coca leaf (Coca)**: Soaked in an alkaline solution (such as lime water) to release cocaine alkaloids. -**Scientific background**: The polarity of the solvent affects the extraction efficiency. For example, THC is easier to dissolve in fat-soluble solvents. --- ### 2. **Heat treatment (decarboxylation)** -**Principle**: Heating promotes the conversion of acidic precursor substances into active forms. -**Example**： - **Cannabis**: The THCA (inactive) in raw cannabis is decarboxylated to THC (active) by heating (such as burning or baking). -**Ayahuasca**: Banisteriopsis caapi is boiled with DMT-containing plants (such as Psychotria viridis). Thermal degradation destroys plant cell walls and promotes the release of alkaloids. -**Scientific background**: Decarboxylation reactions usually require a temperature ≥100°C, which is a key step in the activation of many psychologically active substances. --- ### 3. **Fermentation and biotransformation** -**Principle**: Microorganisms or enzymes convert plant ingredients into active substances. -**Example**： -**Alcohol (such as Mescal wine)**: Fermented agave juice produces ethanol, which itself has a central nervous system inhibitory effect. -**Kava (Kava)**: Traditional Pacific Islander people promote fermentation by chewing or crushing Kava root, releasing kavalactones (kavalactones). -**Scientific background**: Fermentation may produce new active metabolites or improve bioavailability. --- ### 4. **Distillation and purification** -**Principle**: Separation of volatile components or concentration of active substances by distillation. -**Example**： -**Alcohol distillation**: Ethanol is purified from the fermented liquid. -**Essential oil extraction**: For example, cineole in eucalyptus essential oil may affect the nervous system, but it usually requires high doses. -**Scientific background**: Distillation uses differences in boiling points to separate substances, which is commonly used to improve purity. --- ### 5. **Chemical modification (semi-synthetic)** -**Principle**: Natural ingredients are modified by chemical reactions to enhance activity or stability. -**Example**： -**Morphine→heroin**: After morphine is extracted from opium poppy, diacetylmorphine (heroin) is produced by acetylation reaction. -**Ergotamine→LSD**: Ergotamine in ergot bacteria is converted into LSD through multi-step chemical synthesis. -**Scientific background**: Such processes usually require laboratory conditions and involve esterification, acetylation and other reactions. --- ### 6. **Traditional preparation method** -**Principle**: Combine a variety of plants or processing steps to enhance the effect. -**Example**： -**Ayahuasca**: The MAO inhibitor (halminine) in Kapi wood is mixed with DMT plants to inhibit intestinal MAO enzymes and make DMT edible and absorbed orally. -**AfricanIbogaine (Ibogaine)**: Extracted from the roots of the Ibogaine tree, it is traditionally used in religious rituals and requires a complex grinding and soaking process. -**Scientific background**: Synergistic effects (such as MAO inhibition) are the core of some traditional methods. --- ### Precautions and Ethical Warnings 1. **Legality**: The processing and use of many psychologically active substances are strictly regulated by law and may involve criminal risks. 2. **Toxicity risk**: Improper handling may lead to toxic by-products (such as methanol pollution) or excessive poisoning. 3. **Cultural sensitivity**: Some traditional methods have religious or cultural significance and need to respect aboriginal knowledge. --- The above content is only an academic overview, and actual operations may involve dangerous or illegal acts. Please strictly abide by local laws and regulations, and give priority to health and safety.