Herbal Ecstacy: The Organic Trip

Cheap thrills are getting more expensive all the time. In the Õ60s, LSD was some of the most affordable entertainment around. As that fell (slightly) out of fashion in the Õ70s, would-be mind-benders had to shell out considerably more for a baggy of pot. LetÕs not even talk about the expense that a snootful of coke brought to the Õ80s. Now that weÕre entrenched well into the Õ90s, still another factor has entered the public consciousness in its quest for the cheap thrill: Health Awareness. These days, the same folks who were dropping acid 25 years ago--and their modern counterparts--are now spending their hard earned pay on vitamin supplies and herbal stimulants. What now is the next logical progression in the history of recreational mind alteration? Why, Herbal Ecstacy, of course. So get ready to take a ride on the Magic Bus; this trip, though, itÕs all organic.Great Chemistry According to promotional literature and recorded phone messages, Herbal Ecstacy is a "100 percent natural organic alternative supplement." Is it a health enhancer? Well, its components have been used as such. An energy booster? Well, physical stimulation is one result of its use. But come now, letÕs get to the importance of the matter--weÕre talking about "a natural alternative to drugs with no side effects!" Bringing together ingredients that can be found in many herbal products, Herbal Ecstacy is a combination of Tibetan ma huang, wild Brazilian Guarana, Chinese black ginseng, German wild gingko biloba, African raw cola nut, Russian gotu-kola, Indonesian wild fo-ti-tieng, Chinese green tea extract and rou gui (a rare form of Chinese nutmeg). Although the individual amount of each herb in Herbal Ecstacy is no stronger than that found in any other herbal product currently commercially available, it is the particular herbal combination (as well as the carbon-dioxide cook-and-extraction method with which it is processed) that is supposed to pack Herbal Ecstacy with the wallop its makers promise. WhatÕs more, it is completely vegetarian. It contains "all 18 amino acids in complete form." Its antioxidants "help prevent free-radical damage to cells." Its ingredients form a "powerful thermogenic compound" that "burns calories through heat generation." And it "increases metabolism." What could be better -- nutrition and intoxication, all in a convenient pill form! (Five to 10 tablets is the recommended dose, actually.) And just what exactly is this stuff supposed to do to you? Apparently, you will experience ecstasy. Not just the emotional state of rapturous delight (or as WebsterÕs Dictionary puts it, "a state of being beyond reason and self-controlÓ), but effects that mimic the synthetic drug MDMA, known commonly as "ecstasy." MDMA was first used experimentally on psychology patients when they noted it produced intense feelings of well being and trust, talkativeness, sensory enhancement and the sensation of physical energy. When it was outlawed, amateur--and in some cases, bathtub--drug manufacturers quickly obtained the recipe and distributed it to the drug-crazy masses. ThatÕs what Herbal Ecstacy (do note the difference in spelling) is being billed as, literally: "itÕs more than just another 'smart drug'"; itÕs supposed to be the herbal equivalent to ecstasy, the street drug. The promotional literature is, once again, rife with quotes from the experts: "Herbal Ecstasy acts on the same basis as MDMA, triggering similar, but not identical, physical reactions in the body," according to someone named Peter Noah in URB Magazine. "The effects of Herbal Ecstacy...include: euphoric stimulation, highly increased energy levels, tingly skin sensations, enhanced sensory processing, increased sexual sensations and mood elevations," says a Dr. Janis Burton in New Psychology Magazine. "A fantastically light-headed, tingly happy-happy buzz, with no side effects," says an anonymous someone in a United Kingdom publication called Herb Garden Magazine. Even Obleo Carson of the Mind Research Institute in Canada calls it a "...tingly and floaty mind expanding euphoria.ÓGod Bless the Pusher Sounds like fun, no? The Beverly Hills, California-based Spectrum Group, Herbal EcstacyÕs creator and national distributor, thinks so too. A desire to serve the teens patronizing late-night rave dance scenes (who were looking for energy-boosting, side-effectless alternatives to drugs) led to the companyÕs creation of Herbal Ecstacy in 1990. Sales have been spectacular since that time, according to SpectrumÕs Marketing Director, Michael Kay, with more than 1 million doses sold since the product hit the market in full force in 1993. Roughly half of the companyÕs product is sold to individuals who call the Spectrum hotline; the other half is distributed around the country in retail stores. ItÕs a company with an angle, this Spectrum. It also creates and distributes two other products: Ritual Spirit, an "herbal aphrodisiac," and Body Sculpture, a natural product that is supposed to reduce fat and cellulite. The company is also looking into the possibility of manufacturing a sort of "herbal Quaalude," Kay says. In any case, as far as Herbal Ecstacy goes, your ticket to ride the organic bus will be $19.99 for two five-tablet doses, or 12 doses for $99.99. Pricey? Maybe. But hey, it comes with a money-back guarantee. Herbs Are for Kids! Speaking of promotions, what seems to have gone unnoticed during the whole Herbal Ecstacy craze is its parent companyÕs marketing strategy--one that seems to involve the obvious targeting of a youthful, recreational drug-using audience. Kelly Randall, KayÕs assistant at Spectrum, says that the company has no specific consumer target in mind, saying that people of all ages have called to order, especially since Kay has been appearing on radio shows around the nation to promote the product. However, she presents us with Irony No. 1: "Personally," says Randall, who has, incidentally, used Herbal Ecstacy several times, "I wouldnÕt sell it to kids under 18." Nevertheless, it is perfectly legal for minors to procure and use Herbal Ecstacy. Perhaps thatÕs the reason why a series of commercials for Herbal Ecstacy are currently appearing on MTV. All allusions to "natural" ingredients--and the assurance that this product is sold "strictly as an herbal dietary supplementÓ--aside, thereÕs no mistaking that you are supposed to take this to get high: Just take a listen to the recorded message you can hear on SpectrumÕs toll-free number; a gushingly cheerful but groaningly sexy womanÕs voice will tell you, after providing some basic information: "I know that the next time you party with herbal ecstacy, youÕll love it. So get turned on and press zero now!ÓGetting High With Mother Nature And now, Irony No. 2: All right--this stuff is all natural, so it must be good for you, right? Well, except that Spectrum "makes no health claims or claims otherwise whatsoever." And except that even though the product has been "carefully formulated and thoroughly tested," all data provided on its promotional material is "for historical reasons only." But, well, it is "in strict compliance with FDA regulations" and has the National Association of Advanced Food Supplements Stamp of Approval. But back to that question of health. Spectrum does dispense a few health warnings for Herbal Ecstacy users: "Do not exceed six tablets in 24 hours without first consulting a health practitioner. Do not take if you have any preexisting health problems without consulting a health practitioner. Reduce use (or combine with a light meal)" -- as Herbal Ecstacy is supposed to be taken on an empty stomach with plenty of water -- "if nervousness, restlessness or sleeplessness occurs." Spectrum literature warns not to use Herbal Ecstasy if you have high blood pressure, heart or thyroid disease--it can increase or decrease the effects of cardiac and blood pressure medication--diabetes, liver conditions, if you are taking something called a "mao inhibitor" or if you are pregnant or nursing...unless you are given the go-ahead by a health professional. And, of course, keep out of reach of children. Zowie! WhatÕs a person looking for a good time--while still maintaining a healthy body--to do? Local herb experts arenÕt too sure either, but theyÕve got their opinions. "In this industry, the general view is that you need to do things that support the body," says the manager of the New Mexico-based The Herb Store, who goes only by the name of Leslie. "Our focus is on enhancing health; our mission statement focuses on preventative health, without judgment; weÕre not saying that using herbs for recreational purposes is bad, but weÕre not sure where something like Herbal Ecstasy fits into that mission.Ó She also has some concerns about the general effect the herbs contained in Herbal Ecstacy have on the average human body. In fact, she shares the prevalent notion among herbal specialists that using herbal stimulants is not much better for you than using synthetic ones. "If youÕre using any herbal stimulant, youÕre just using it as a substitute for caffeine, and the best thing for your body is to instead get to the root of why youÕre so tired," Leslie says. Lisa Pacilio, an herb section employee of another market in New Mexico, has even stronger opinions, and her target is Herbal EcstacyÕs primary ingredient. Ephaedra (another name for ma huang), is the source of the pharmaceutical drug ephedrine, she says. Both the herb and its stronger derivative increase the heart rate and dilate the lungs--hence their use in homeopathic and over-the-counter allergy medicines, decongestants and asthma medicines. Both are also frequently found in non FDA-approved "energy boosters" and weight loss formulas. "Ephaedra is a stimulant, and like any stimulant, itÕs hard on the adrenal glands," Pacilio says. "We donÕt recommend using it for long periods of time. Pacilio is personally steadfast in her disapproval of using Herbal Ecstacy, but she has encountered some quandaries to her convictions. Her friend, Greg Gielman, an herbalist and owner of Transformation Botanicals in Santa Cruz, CA, as become a champion of the product, giving interviews to the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN on its behalf. "He is a great herbalist, but IÕve still had to ask him, 'How can you tell people to take this crap?,'" she says. "HeÕs had lots of experience with real ecstasy as well as Herbal Ecstacy. His argument, and I can see his viewpoint, is that it gives people an alternative to synthetic drugs--and anythingÕs better for you than that." SpectrumÕs Kelly Randall shrugs off the medical concerns, too."The way anything you put in your body affects you just depends on individual metabolism," she says. Speaking of which, Randall, who has taken Herbal Ecstacy several times, has found sheÕs built up a tolerance and now requires the high-end dose of 10 tablets in order to get that tingly, mind-floating feeling. "A person also just has to use common sense. This is all natural. It isnÕt going to hurt you in the long run." Plus, she says, referring to popular LSD lore, "itÕs not like youÕre going to wake up five years from now with your spinal cord screwed up." It might be a demon nature drug to some and an organic orgasm to others, but without the pesky interference of legalities, the judgment to pass on Herbal Ecstacy remains your own. But you better hurry to make up your mind. The cost of living for the cheap thrill is rising all the time.SIDEBAR: Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The Herbal Ecstacy Acid TestWhatever the arguments may be, we are inclined to accept nothing without solid proof. And so, we took it upon ourselves--in the name of scientific inquiry--to conduct the Herbal Ecstacy acid test. Here are our laboratoryÕs findings: Specimen No. 1 (female): I found my Herbal Ecstacy experience to be OK, but nothing mind expanding. First, the pills are blue and you have to swallow five (!) of them at a go. I got the blue dye all over my tongue, my hands, and even my T-shirt. After awhile I started to feel a bit zippy and had a strange craving to eat an orange. I then got that heavy tingling scalp ephedrine-type feeling (ephedrine is a bronchial dilator that you can get at truck stops). Also, a friend of mine tried to get me to discuss the implications of a multicultural 21st century America with a meritocratic overclass, but I just couldnÕt get into it. A few hours later I felt very, very depressed, but that might not have had anything to do with the Ecstacy. IÕm happy to report that a few beers were just the pick-up I needed. Herbal Ecstacy had no noticeable effects for me after the booze buzz kicked in. Specimen No. 2 (male): I like real ecstasy. Herbal Ecstacy stains your hands (if youÕre careless) and your tongue (regardless!) a creepy cornflower hue. The tablets smell like a cross between soy sauce and animal bone meal. Of course, I didnÕt drink the suggested amount of water, which permeated my Herbal Ecstacy experience with an overwhelmingly dry cotton-coated mouth. All those groovy herbs (and spices?!) did zip me up a bit, but no more than perhaps a typical espresso or two. And, unlike real ecstasy, I didnÕt wanna hug anybody; I also found chrome faucets, shiny tiles and new white tennis shoes (fascinating items when on real ecstasy) typically uninteresting. Specimen No. 3 (male): Having occasionally used a wide variety of "recreational" drugs including chemical ecstasy, LSD and amphetamines, I must say that I was rather disappointed with my first Herbal Ecstacy experience. I ingested nearly twice the dose of the other "guinea pigs" in this unofficial test, only to wind up twice as irritated than other subjects I talked to following our "trips." Approximately 30 minutes after swallowing the pills I began experiencing tingling of the scalp, nervousness and other sensations often associated with speed. After about 45 minutes I felt I was on the verge of some sort of mushroom-like trip, but the trip itself never occurred. To make a long story short, I was unable to sleep--or even sit still--for about 16 hours, and spent most of that time wandering around a duck pond cursing the company that manufactures Herbal Ecstacy and kicking myself for having taken it. Once I finally fell asleep, I remained so for 18 hours. Next time, instead of dropping this crap, IÕll opt for smoking corn husks while I have a friend help me pass out while I hang upside-down from the monkey bars.Specimen No. 4 (female): I tried real ecstasy one night despite knowing of at least two people whoÕd died from a bad batch. A friend and I went to a gay bar in Austin--disco night!--and each downed a single, $25 pill. After the usual half hour or so of wondering if we were coming on, we were there, and man, was it fantastic. I was perky, everything was perfect, and I shook my groove thing for about three hours. Later, the music wasnÕt quite so fun. I was tired, but had enough residual whatever in my body to keep me too tense to sleep--like coming off LSD, but it took only two hours. About Herbal Ecstacy--well, I say, if youÕre not already immune to caffeine, then go for it. I did the minimum dose of five horse pills (worth roughly $10), and found that its advantage to four double lattes for about the same price was that I didnÕt clench my jaw quite so tightly. My trip mirrored what IÕd do on strong coffee--talk too quickly, be more prone to giggle and twitch, followed by an eternity of tight muscles and no sleep. Hmmmm...real ecstasy saps your spinal fluid; Herbal Ecstacy doesnÕt give you any calcium. The verdict? A mocha frosted.