An oneirogen, from the
Greek ὄνειρος óneiros meaning "
dream" and gen "to create", is a substance or other stimulus which produces or enhances dreamlike states of
consciousness.[1] This is characterized by an immersive dream state similar to REM sleep, which can range from realistic to alien or abstract.
Many dream-enhancing plants such as dream herb (Calea zacatechichi) and African dream herb (Entada rheedii), as well as the hallucinogenic diviner's sage (Salvia divinorum), have been used for thousands of years in a form of divination through dreams, called
oneiromancy, in which practitioners seek to receive psychic or prophetic information during dream states. The term oneirogen commonly describes a wide array of psychoactive plants and chemicals ranging from normal dream enhancers to intense dissociative or deliriant drugs.
Calea zacatechichi ("Calea ternifolia") has been traditionally used in
Central America as a believed way to potentiate lucid dreams and perform dream
divination. It can promote dreams vivid to the senses, sight, scent, hearing, touch, and taste. May be taken as a tea or smoked.[2][3][4][5]
Amphetamines and other
stimulants can create
psychotic episodes (called
stimulant psychosis) which may be defined as bursts of dream activity erupting spontaneously into waking states; this is not due to the substance itself but rather a result of the prolonged suppression of
cholinergic activity and REM sleep due to amphetamine or stimulant abuse.[citation needed]
Artemisia douglasiana or California mugwort, Douglas's sagewort or dream plant, is a western North American species of aromatic herb in the sunflower family that can be used as a scent, tea, or smoke to trigger vivid and lucid dreams.[citation needed]
Galantamine was shown to increase lucid dreaming by 27% at 4 mg and 42% at 8 mg in a 2018 double-blind study lasting three nights.[8]
Galanthus (genus) – An alkaloid in the plant is believed to increase the concentration of
acetylcholine – a neurotransmitter that plays a very active role in dreaming[citation needed]
Valerian (herb) – A study conducted in the UK in 2001 showed that valerian root significantly improved stress induced insomnia, but as a side effect greatly increased the vividness of dreams. This study concluded that valerian root affects REM due to natural chemicals and essential oils that stimulate serotonin and opioid receptors. Another study found no encephalographic changes in subjects under its influence.[15][16][17]
An oneirogen, from the
Greek ὄνειρος óneiros meaning "
dream" and gen "to create", is a substance or other stimulus which produces or enhances dreamlike states of
consciousness.[1] This is characterized by an immersive dream state similar to REM sleep, which can range from realistic to alien or abstract.
Many dream-enhancing plants such as dream herb (Calea zacatechichi) and African dream herb (Entada rheedii), as well as the hallucinogenic diviner's sage (Salvia divinorum), have been used for thousands of years in a form of divination through dreams, called
oneiromancy, in which practitioners seek to receive psychic or prophetic information during dream states. The term oneirogen commonly describes a wide array of psychoactive plants and chemicals ranging from normal dream enhancers to intense dissociative or deliriant drugs.
Calea zacatechichi ("Calea ternifolia") has been traditionally used in
Central America as a believed way to potentiate lucid dreams and perform dream
divination. It can promote dreams vivid to the senses, sight, scent, hearing, touch, and taste. May be taken as a tea or smoked.[2][3][4][5]
Amphetamines and other
stimulants can create
psychotic episodes (called
stimulant psychosis) which may be defined as bursts of dream activity erupting spontaneously into waking states; this is not due to the substance itself but rather a result of the prolonged suppression of
cholinergic activity and REM sleep due to amphetamine or stimulant abuse.[citation needed]
Artemisia douglasiana or California mugwort, Douglas's sagewort or dream plant, is a western North American species of aromatic herb in the sunflower family that can be used as a scent, tea, or smoke to trigger vivid and lucid dreams.[citation needed]
Galantamine was shown to increase lucid dreaming by 27% at 4 mg and 42% at 8 mg in a 2018 double-blind study lasting three nights.[8]
Galanthus (genus) – An alkaloid in the plant is believed to increase the concentration of
acetylcholine – a neurotransmitter that plays a very active role in dreaming[citation needed]
Valerian (herb) – A study conducted in the UK in 2001 showed that valerian root significantly improved stress induced insomnia, but as a side effect greatly increased the vividness of dreams. This study concluded that valerian root affects REM due to natural chemicals and essential oils that stimulate serotonin and opioid receptors. Another study found no encephalographic changes in subjects under its influence.[15][16][17]