Heimia Salicifolia Sun Opener, Sinicuichi

Heimia salicifolia Sun Opener, Sinicuichi • Native to the highlands of Mexico, Baja California, and South America • Lythraceae • Medicinal and spiritual plant used by the Aztecs, as well as shamans today Heimia salicifolia or Sun Opener is native to Mexico, parts of South America as far south as Argentina, and the Baja region of California. It has been used for medicinal and psychoactive purposes since the Aztecs and is still used by modern-day shamans. Sun Opener is traditionally prepared as a tea called Sinicuichi and consumed by shamans to divine the future. When the tea is prepared, the mixture is placed to brew in the sun for at least 24 hours. It is believed that in this process the knowledge and spirit of the sun is embedded into the tea, hence the name Sun Opener. Habitat and Cultivation • Sun: Full sun to part shade • Soil: Rich, well-drained, moist soils • Water: Medium Heimia salicifolia is a deciduous, flowering woody shrub that can reach dimensions of up to 10 feet in height and width in the wild. In the spring and fall, it produces small, strikingly yellow flowers. Despite its history as a psychoactive plant, Heimia salicifolia is often grown ornamentally and can be legally purchased and grown in all 50 states. Ethnobotany Spiritual Heimia salicifolia was most famously used by Aztec shamans; however, shamans from many indigenous groups in Mexico still use Heimia salicifolia for religious purposes today. In Aztec mythology, Sun Opener was associated with the Aztec god of spring and desire, Xochipilli. The Nahuatl word Xochitl means ‘flower’, while pilli means ‘prince’, making Xochipilli ‘the prince of the flowers’. The floral elements on Aztec statues of Xochipilli were represented by Heimia salicifolia. Sun Opener was used by ancient Aztecs to gain insight from the essence of the sun or Xochipilli. Sun Opener was either smoked or consumed as a tea called Sinicuichi. To make Sinicuichi, leaves from Heimia salicifolia were infused with water in a jar. The jar would be placed in the sun to brew for at least 24 hours to fully infuse the power of the sun or Xochipilli into the concoction. Aztec shamans would then consume the Sinicuichi and experience a euphoric, time-altering experience. One of the most notable side effects of consuming Sinicuichi is the distinct yellow tint that one’s vision takes on. This effect only solidifies the symbolic connection between Heimia salicifolia and the power of the sun. Today, sinicuichi is still consumed by shamans of many different indigenous groups throughout Mexico. Sun Opener contains high concentrations of cryogenine, which gives the plant its psychoactive properties. Medicine Heimia salicifolia has been used in Mexican folk medicine to aid in pain relief and stomach ailments. Typically administered in a mildly concentrated tea, Sun Opener is often taken to help digestion and to relieve abdominal pain. Sun Opener contains cryogenine, which gives the plant its psychoactive abilities, but also has been shown to have anti-inflammatory traits similar to aspirin. Heimia salicifolia is also administered as an herbal bath additive. In Mexican folk medicine, it is combined with Tagetes lucida (Mexican Tarragon), rosemary, and lavender to treat infertility in women. The Pilagá people of Argentina bathe in a Sun Opener decoction to treat various skin conditions. Other indigenous groups apply a paste made from the leaves to treat wounds, especially those caused by thorns of other plants. Ecology Heimia salicifolia is attractive to many different pollinators, especially bees. References Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Heimia salicifolia. Retrieved from Missouri Botanical Garden: Plant Finder: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=295557&is profile=0& Ratsch,̈ C. (2005). The encyclopedia of psychoactive plants : ethnopharmacology and its applications. Rochester, Vt: Park Street Press. .

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