Posted by Donald (205.188.192.58) on August 26, 1999 at 03:09:16:
In Reply to: Just checkin'...!! posted by Judi Mosley on August 25, 1999 at 18:03:21:
This is a serious posting. A number of years ago there was a story in the news about some Florida college students who were trying toad-licking because of the pyschoactive properties in the secretions from the skin of "Bufo Alvarius". There have also been mention of two other toad species, "Bufo Marinus" and "Bufo Vulagris", being used to get high. Bufo Alvarius has a venom which is indeed rich in 5-MeO-DMT, only has trace amounts of bufotenine and does not contain toxic quantities of cardiac glycosides.
I've been involved with shamanic studies for over a decade, I teach a class in shamanic journeywork, and I've become aware of how dangerous a little knowledge can be. In traditional South and Central American cultures, toad venom has been used shamanically for centuries, BUT IT IS NEVER INGESTED. It has been used in smoking blends, snuffs, and in some cultures, has been applied to self-inflicted burns in order to get it into the bloodstream. Any self-respecting shaman would never lick a toad or frog. (All toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads) It can be fatal, and in the case of the Florida students it resulted in severe poisoning, temporary blindness and hospitalization.
There are some Bufo Alvarius living around my house. They are great to have around because they eat the 6-inch venomous centipedes and other critters that live around here. I would never touch one because I am aware of how easy it is to get poisoned through skin absorption. There are also frogs that have been transplanted to Hawaii streams of the genus Phyllobates which contain batrachotoxins which have been used for dart poisons by Columbian Indians.
Unless you are certain of the type of frogs that you see, it is a good rule of thumb to not touch them, and to not allow children to play with them. This is also true for mushrooms. I saw a little boy (about 6 years old)walking down the sidewalk one day with a large mushroom that he had found, and I immediately pulled my truck over and made him drop it. Then I made him wash his hands. I probably scared him a bit, but I felt that was better than the poisoning that he could have gotten through skin absorption.
We all need to be aware of the potential for harm that can occur through the simple handling of toxic materials. This includes meds, cleaning products, solvents and other items that may be found in the typical household setting.
I'm stepping off my soapbox now,
Donald