Ubulawu family

Mukanya Kude is a plant that is part of the African Ubulawu family of dream plants.

Ubulawu are not only used to induce lucid dreams, they are also tools for connecting and communicating with ancestral spirits through visionary and prophetic dreams, as well as obtaining answers to specific questions that the we can rest before going to sleep.

There is little information available on the pharmacology of Mukanya Kude. It is suspected that its dreamlike effect is due to the triterpenoid saponins contained in its roots. A small amount of the root (250 mg) is shown to be active, but this exerts minimal changes on the awakened consciousness, yet the effects on the dreaming state are profound. 

Traditional use: in the Xhosa tradition, the roots are powdered and ingested in the morning, about 1 to 2 grams upon waking, while the stomach is still empty. The subject then lies down in the dark. If the ceremony is planned for the evening, a larger amount (about 2g) is mixed with half a liter of water until a foam forms. This foam is then drunk by the Amagqirha who will remember in detail particularly colorful dreams.

To discover the secrets, some users prefer to drink a decoction of 0.25 to 2g of roots  (these being boiled in water for about twenty minutes), every evening and / or every morning for 3 to 7 days, using one or more different Ubulawus roots. Depending on the dosages used, the number of consecutive days and the intensity of  sacred and intimate connection that is established with the spirit of the roots thus consumed, the dreamlike experience unfolds  gradually, from day to day, sometimes starting only a few days after the last  use and can therefore last for weeks.

According to the Zulus, if the communion with the spirit of the Ubulawu is sufficient  important, a small amount consumed the 3  evenings of a full moon must be enough to open the doors of the dream for a whole life ...

Traditionally, Mukanya Kude is also used to treat diabetes, gingivitis, cholesterol, fever, eye infections, and other illnesses.

Scientific research on Mukanya Kude has shown that it contains a number of beneficial active compounds that may act as antioxidants and anticancer, help treat nervous system disorders, strengthen brain communication with the rest of the body , help in healing the stress of chronic fatigue syndrome and balance the chemical makeup of the brain, helping those with anxiety and depression.

Mukanya contains several active compounds:

- Catechol, a compound naturally present in the brain and endocrine tissues. It is found in the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland in fairly high concentrations. Catechol has a key role in modulating the neurotransmission of dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline.

- Catecholamine, this compound is produced by the brain and the adrenal glands during stressful situations. Catecholamine is known to strengthen communication between the brain and the rest of the body, making it more lively and improving blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle strength. Catecholamine decreases the amount of blood going to the skin to redirect it to major organs.

- Cathechin, a natural antioxidant and anticarcinogen. This active compound helps protect the body from free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that are produced by the breakdown of food and exposure to hazardous environments. They can damage cells and play a major role in degeneration of the body. This means that the cathechin could prevent aging, diseases, and act preventively against cancer.