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These plants, funghi and insect illustrations
are part of my botanical oracle deck

Nicotiana tabacum | Tobacco

Botanical Overview:

  • Family: Solanaceae (Nightshade family)

  • Common Names: Tobacco, Cultivated Tobacco

  • Plant Type: Perennial herb (grown as an annual in cultivation)

  • Native Range: Tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas

  • Key Identifiers:

    • Large, ovate leaves with a sticky surface due to glandular trichomes

    • Trumpet-shaped pink or pale purple flowers arranged in clusters

    • Can grow up to 2 meters tall in optimal conditions


Properties:

  • Active Compounds: Nicotine (primary alkaloid), anabasine, nornicotine, and beta-carbolines

  • Pharmacological Actions: Stimulant, addictive, and parasympathomimetic

  • Flavor Profile: Bitter and pungent, with variations based on curing and processing


Distribution and Habitat:

  • Thrives in warm climates with well-drained, nutrient-rich soils

  • Extensively cultivated worldwide, especially in the Americas, Asia, and parts of Europe

  • Requires full sunlight and moderate rainfall


Medicinal Uses:

  • Traditional Uses:

    • Indigenous peoples of the Americas used it as a medicine, often in ceremonial contexts, for respiratory conditions and pain relief.

  • Modern Context:

    • Rarely used medicinally today due to the addictive and harmful effects of nicotine

    • Limited research into its alkaloids for potential therapeutic applications


Psychoactive Properties and Effects:

  • Psychoactive Nature:

    • Nicotine acts as a stimulant, enhancing focus, alertness, and mood

    • In small doses: increases dopamine release, creating mild euphoria and relaxation

    • In larger doses: can cause overstimulation, nausea, and even toxicity

    • Highly addictive due to its effects on the brain's reward system

  • Not Psychedelic: Does not alter perception, cognition, or consciousness in a hallucinogenic manner


Magical Correspondences and Uses:

  • Element: Fire

  • Planetary Association: Mars

  • Magical Uses:

    • Used in offerings and purification rituals, particularly in Native American traditions

    • Symbolizes respect, gratitude, and connection to the spiritual realm

    • Burned as incense for protection and to dispel negativity

    • Employed in spells for courage, strength, and breaking ties or bindings


Folklore and Mythology:

  • Sacred to many Indigenous cultures of the Americas, where it was viewed as a divine gift for prayer, healing, and communication with spirits.

  • Believed to carry prayers to the heavens when smoked or burned as an offering.

  • In some traditions, the act of sharing tobacco was a symbol of friendship, peace, and unity.

  • Mythology often credits gods or spirits with teaching humans how to grow and use tobacco responsibly.

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