Pharmako/Poeia, Revised and Updated: Plant Powers, Poisons, and Herbcraft (Dale Pendell)

In this updated paperback edition of the first volume of Dale Pendell's renowned Pharmako trilogy, readers are welcomed on an absorbing journey through the history and applications of psychoactive plants and their synthetic equivalents. Including a new introduction from the author, the book brilliantly merges factual information, historical context, cultural observations, and spiritual insights, all in a voice that is both authoritative and whimsical.

Pendell offers in-depth examination of substances including:

• Absinthe 
• Aqua Vitae
• Beer
• Calea zacatechichi
• Heroin
• Kava kava 
• Marijuana
• Nitrous Oxide
• Opium
• Ska Pastora (diviner's sage)
• Tobacco
• Wine
• And more 

The examination covers their history, pharmacology, preparation methods, cultural and esoteric connections, and impacts on human consciousness. Pendell presents this study with the sensitivity of a poet, emphasizing not only the concrete facts but also the nuanced implications of each substance's interaction with the human psyche.

Enriched with quotations from celebrated writers, the book serves as a captivating literary concoction that blends science, art, and spirituality, transforming a complex subject into a mesmerizing narrative. The blend of poetic and erudite writing in Pendell's style engages the reader's imagination while being firmly anchored in rigorous research and factual data.