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There are many herbs which have been classified as either "dangerous" or unsafe, and I certainly do not condone consumption of any of these outside of controlled medicinal use with supervision. I do think that herbs like Belladonna and others are great herbs with many uses that are also useful for calming and relaxation.

I wonder if anyone here has used Belladonna for just such a purpose, and not for a specific condition of any kind. There are childrens preparations for earaches and such which include this herb and I find them to be very soothing and comperable to *light* alcohol consumption, less than one glass perhaps.

I think that while it is more socially acceptable to imbibe in certain ways (tobacco, clove, and wormwood in parts of Europe - principally in the form of absinthe)

Like I said, I certainly do not condone them but these things seem to be simply part of the array. In many ways I think that alcohol is like one of these classified herbs. It can be argued that alcohol is not an herb of course, it is a process and has been crated from certain plants in a certain way.

Indigenous tribes create their own beers and mixes and use them in spiritual ceremonies and cultural celebrations - as well as herbs. In modern times this has become less socially acceptable unless you are using that specific culture's approved list. In America Cannabis is currently only acceptable under a doctors care for specific perscribed uses and only under state law. Holland however, uses it like alcohol.

Without starting a Cannabis argument (PLEASE do not share in regards to any scheduled drugs that appear in the US lists) I just want to ask how people feel about these certain herbs which are percieved as dangerous, though they may in fact not be truely fatal or toxic in moderate use.

Please do not take free license to rally pro or against but I would like to hear what everyone has to say on these topics.

All of what you two have said points me toward the idea that the real situation here is that the Government, that is, the FDA, the DEA and other organizations dealing with pharmaceutical/"drug"/chemical legality and research should seriously reconsider this "War on Drugs" (aka War On Personal Freedom(just as smoking a cigarette or drinking a beer or some coffee is a personal choice) or War On The Constitution and DoI) and "dependence" on synthesized "medications". These "dangerous" herbs/drugs/chemicals should be researched, legalized, put in pharmacies and specialty stores with directions, instructions, doses, warnings, and all the important information that is required for safe use. If more attention was paid toward Mother Gaia's plants, and her entire being and entelechy for that matter, rather than our ability to "re-create" our surroundings, which is important it's just that we are kinda full of ourselves and our ability to be "as Gods". We should remember that we have a sybiotic relationship with the Earth. It helps us and we help it, but we are taking advantage of it while boasting our abilities to "synthesize" things and make fake dogshit, rubber vomit, and chemicals for illnesses and disorders that natural herbs/entheogens can, factually, heal and cure.

Instead of spending all that money on law enforcement for the "War On some Drugs" (nearly 5.3 billion dollars), why not spend it on research, education, counseling for addicts, and over all legalization, which by the way would create more jobs in some major fields. We CAN feed and clothe EVERY human being on this planet more than one time over, not one person excluded, with the trillions we spend on wars, deeds of destruction and "conspiracies among the rich". We as a nation could, we as a race can live in peace and end up exploring outerspace together... forever. But it's just that, in this world and time period we live in, people who try to help are killed and cut down in their prime. John Lennon: murdered, JFK: murdered, Ghandi: murdered, Martin Luther King: murdered, Jesus:... murdered. And corporate hacks, thieves, and murderers thrive, we as a race are stuck in a rut. The majority of our minds are focused on the wrong things and, therefore, are basically destracted by "modern society". All that we, the meak who try their damnedest to live with and help the Earth by way of enlightenment and education can do is spread the word by way of mouth and this great invention called the internet (which practically mimics the network of mushroom mycelium on the Earth) and wait for Mother Nature to do her thing, complete and begin her cycles, and purge away the illnesses that she has.

Kudos to you all for this guild.

Peace, Love and Understanding