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PHARMAKO/POEIA
In Pharmako/Poeia, Dale Pendell offers a mesmerizing guide to psychoactive plants, from their pharmacological roots to the literary offshoots. "This is a book," writes Gary Snyder, "about dangerous knowledge, even more dangerous ignorance." Against the greater danger, ignorance, Pendell strikes a formidable blow, as he proves himself a wise and witty guide to our plant teachers, their powers and their poisons. "Pharmako/Poeia is an epic poem on plant humours, an abstruse alchemic treatise, an experiential narrative jigsaw puzzle, a hip and learned wild-nature reference text, a comic paen to cosmic consciousness, an ecological handbook, a dried-herb pastiche, a counterculture encyclopedia of ancient fact and lore." -Allen Ginsberg poet"Dale Pendell reactivates the ancient connection between the bardic poet and the shaman." -Terence McKenna author of True Hallucinations
Paperback
First published February 1, 1994
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About the author
Dale Pendell
27 books78 followersDale Pendell is the author of the award-winning Pharmako trilogy, a literary history of psychoactive plants.
He reads and distills the literature of pharmacology and neuroscience, of ethnobotany and anthropology, of mythology and political economics as they intersect with the direct experience of human psychoactive use.
He and his wife Laura currently reside in California.
He reads and distills the literature of pharmacology and neuroscience, of ethnobotany and anthropology, of mythology and political economics as they intersect with the direct experience of human psychoactive use.
He and his wife Laura currently reside in California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
September 28, 2007
Pharmako/Poeia is my favorite text on poisons. It is a wonderful (almost surprisingly) blend of ethnobotany, anthropology, history, neurochemistry, molecular cell biology, and poetry. Anybody that wishes to walk the green path would serve their travels well to begin here. Pendell is an amazing man with an amazing art to share. This is only the first of a trilogy to cover all of the ethnobotanically interesting psychoactive plants (or categories of plants) in the world; it is followed by Pharmako/Dynamis and Pharmako/Gnosis, which mostly cover the stimulants (category: Excitantia) and hallucinogens (category: Phantastica), respectfully.
June 30, 2011
Well, here's a unique book. It's a kind of encyclopedia of psychoactive substances, ranging from beer to Salvia divinorum. But it's not what you'd expect from an encyclopedia — it's more poetry than reference, fact mixed with metaphor and a good deal of cryptic imagery. The sections on the plants are interspersed with mysterious writings on alchemy, the meanings of which are often unclear. The descriptions of the substances contain scattered paragraphs concerning interesting historical overviews, chemical details, mythological tales, strange poetry. This book has a wonderful atmosphere of mystique.
It can perhaps seem a little forced at times, and it's often frustrating trying to decipher what the author meant, if anything, with his talk of quicksilver and sun doctors. The very "Poison Path", a concept that seems to be the foundation of the book's philosophy, is never clearly explained, and I'm still not sure I know what it's all about. But this confusion, if you're in the right mindset for it, reinforces the (fictional, for-fun only) feeling that this book holds the key to a great secret knowledge, ready to be revealed if only you could figure out what the lock is.
But it's not a book about occultism. It's clear that all this mystical talk is only metaphor, and Pendell sounds more like a mad poet than like a new age quack.
Pharmako/Poeia is not a book of reference. There's much to be learned from it, to be sure, but those looking for comprehensive information on psychoactive substances should look elsewhere (there is, however, a terrific commented bibliography here, which can help direct the reader's own research). It's hard to label this book and say exactly what it's about, because it's unlike anything I've ever read. Maybe there's a hint of House of Leaves here; that's the closest thing I can think of. Reading this is a remarkable experience, and I recommend it highly.
It can perhaps seem a little forced at times, and it's often frustrating trying to decipher what the author meant, if anything, with his talk of quicksilver and sun doctors. The very "Poison Path", a concept that seems to be the foundation of the book's philosophy, is never clearly explained, and I'm still not sure I know what it's all about. But this confusion, if you're in the right mindset for it, reinforces the (fictional, for-fun only) feeling that this book holds the key to a great secret knowledge, ready to be revealed if only you could figure out what the lock is.
But it's not a book about occultism. It's clear that all this mystical talk is only metaphor, and Pendell sounds more like a mad poet than like a new age quack.
Pharmako/Poeia is not a book of reference. There's much to be learned from it, to be sure, but those looking for comprehensive information on psychoactive substances should look elsewhere (there is, however, a terrific commented bibliography here, which can help direct the reader's own research). It's hard to label this book and say exactly what it's about, because it's unlike anything I've ever read. Maybe there's a hint of House of Leaves here; that's the closest thing I can think of. Reading this is a remarkable experience, and I recommend it highly.
January 10, 2008
This is a singular amalgam of hard pharmacokinetic fact and subjective, experiential notation and narrative. Imagine a professor in a psychiatry class who could summon all the most cutting edge research who could also refer to his own private experience of psychosis - that sort of cross referencing between objective and subjective fact is what makes this such a worthy book. Pendell envisions this book as a sort of prose/poetic epic, and in some ways it works that way (to boot, he has Allen Ginsberg praising the book as such). However, I wouldn't go too far toward classifying it as epic literature; while there is a very artful control of the various narrative voices that emerge and collide, differentiated by typeface or lineation, and while much of the book appears as free verse, I think it is best be taken for what it is on the most basic level: a thoroughly unique and indispensable book for anyone (and I mean ANYONE) even SLIGHTLY interested in plant derived drugs. It is paranoid, erudite, hilarious, beatific, anarchic, poetic, practical, and visually fascinating. Further, spending enough time with the books, you learn to intuit a variety of etymologies, and the book begins to function - not unlike Pound's CANTOS - as a trans-temporal pastiche of languages, cultures, and eras: Latin, Greek, Mayan, Sanskrit, and contemporary American, to name a few.
September 19, 2013
Poison have been used by seekers of wisdom for thousands of years. Ever since early prehistoric times the poison and the allies of the plant world have been teaching mankind sometimes directly and sometimes through animals. Dale Pendell has written a nice compendium of these poisons. Based on years of research and experimentation Dale describes the chemistry of these allies, how they are used by indigenous societies and how we may prepare them for today’s usage. The author also gives us associations connected with these plant allies that would jibe well with anyone who is interested in alchemy.
The allies are broken up into five allies and they are inebrienta,phantastica, excitianta,thanatopathia and Eurphorica. More than several allies are discussed many of which we are familiar with. Marijauna,wine, absinthe,mugwort,ether, laughing gas, opium and laudanum just to name a few. Read this book and you will get a glimpse into the history of these allies as well as an insight into their benefits and pitfalls.
The author uses poetic insight to inspire your imagination while you are reading. A huge plus and one factor that would encourage me to read the next two volumes of his work. While I am not sure I would wish to indulge in the poison path. As marijuana leaves me rather paranoid and reclusive. I hate being trapped in my own imagination. Ether and laughing gas do not seem a safe bet to abuse or use regularly. Forget about Opium and Laudanum as the poppy is not legal here in the states. Nicotine can be deadly with just one or two drops. It was used to generate a religious high. If I can try without smoking it hey I might be game.
Parts of the last section speak about The Greenman whose face it seems is on every cathedral and building in Europe some would call him Osiris or Robin Hood maybe even Dionysus. He is the god of revelry and intoxication. Highly recommended read.
The allies are broken up into five allies and they are inebrienta,phantastica, excitianta,thanatopathia and Eurphorica. More than several allies are discussed many of which we are familiar with. Marijauna,wine, absinthe,mugwort,ether, laughing gas, opium and laudanum just to name a few. Read this book and you will get a glimpse into the history of these allies as well as an insight into their benefits and pitfalls.
The author uses poetic insight to inspire your imagination while you are reading. A huge plus and one factor that would encourage me to read the next two volumes of his work. While I am not sure I would wish to indulge in the poison path. As marijuana leaves me rather paranoid and reclusive. I hate being trapped in my own imagination. Ether and laughing gas do not seem a safe bet to abuse or use regularly. Forget about Opium and Laudanum as the poppy is not legal here in the states. Nicotine can be deadly with just one or two drops. It was used to generate a religious high. If I can try without smoking it hey I might be game.
Parts of the last section speak about The Greenman whose face it seems is on every cathedral and building in Europe some would call him Osiris or Robin Hood maybe even Dionysus. He is the god of revelry and intoxication. Highly recommended read.
July 2, 2008
In the words of Ginsberg, who recommends this book along with Gary Snyder, Peter Coyote, and other giants, the book is "an epic poem of plant humours": in a single page Pendell barages the reader with an alphabatized list of American writers who were alcoholics, recoins some wisdom of William Blake saying that all poets are of the devils party, and reaches an apex with a haiku by Pound about a chinese monk who died when he was drunk and trying to reach the moon in a river.
The books is reference-like, or more accurately, holographic, in that you can flip to any page and whatever you read will make an intelligible whole. This demonstrates the power of Pendell's art as a writer since the book pulls from thousands of disparate and even seemingly unrelated sources: neuropharmocology, history, linguistics, botany, anthropology, plant people (anyone inbetween Copernicus, Richard Pyror), not to mention the author's own body of experience and knowledge. Yet it is the adhesiveness of Pendell's musing, self-commentaries, quips, questioning his own questioning, that alchemically transforms the book into something much more than a drug reference.
And finally, one gets to meet the author himself: Poet, Computer Scientist, good friend of the poet Gary Snyder and the Philosopher Norman Brown, previous drug-smuggling felon heroin addict adolescent turned Berkeleyesque scholar on all things botanical and poetical.
So in short, for those with any interest in History, The wisdom to be had from plants and their interaction with communities and people, neuroscience, poetry, nakedness, linguistics, absinthe recipes, demons, visions, dreams, losing it, coming back, you'll enjoy a pew through this book.
The books is reference-like, or more accurately, holographic, in that you can flip to any page and whatever you read will make an intelligible whole. This demonstrates the power of Pendell's art as a writer since the book pulls from thousands of disparate and even seemingly unrelated sources: neuropharmocology, history, linguistics, botany, anthropology, plant people (anyone inbetween Copernicus, Richard Pyror), not to mention the author's own body of experience and knowledge. Yet it is the adhesiveness of Pendell's musing, self-commentaries, quips, questioning his own questioning, that alchemically transforms the book into something much more than a drug reference.
And finally, one gets to meet the author himself: Poet, Computer Scientist, good friend of the poet Gary Snyder and the Philosopher Norman Brown, previous drug-smuggling felon heroin addict adolescent turned Berkeleyesque scholar on all things botanical and poetical.
So in short, for those with any interest in History, The wisdom to be had from plants and their interaction with communities and people, neuroscience, poetry, nakedness, linguistics, absinthe recipes, demons, visions, dreams, losing it, coming back, you'll enjoy a pew through this book.
April 7, 2021
As several reviewers before me already said: you probably wouldn't have read any book like this before. Dazzling and fascinating blend of scientific facts, personal experience made poetry, foklore explaining experience, gods bottled up in entheogens. This is no "beginner's handbook", this is no excyclopedia. Being not those makes for an engaging read where individual entries aren't skipped but contribute to the larger picture.
July 18, 2008
For anyone interested in the visionary uses of botanicals, there is simply no better writer on the subject than Dale Pendell. It seems safe to say that, as with Amazonian shamans, plants speak through Pendell. Few authors can balance the poetic against the historical and practical like he does. Can't recommend this highly enough, for those on "the poison path."
May 20, 2025
A life changing book written in inspiring prose! A fascinating man that both lived and died by his chosen path.
November 11, 2019
After reading this, I became a fully developed plant person: )
October 15, 2022
Absolutely magnificent work. Kaleidoscopic depiction of all sorts of mind expanding plants and substances. Ethnobotany, Greek mythology, psychopharmacology, chemistry, gardening, recipes, trip reports, history, poetry, alchemy, biology, psychology, philosophy, etc etc it's all in there.
This should be a mandatory read for those who want to cultivate precious anthropological knowledge, but actually it's should be mandatory for anyone. In an ideal world this is the syllabus for high school.
This book is easily 5 stars, but I'm giving it 4 because some of the stuff was a little bit over my head and couldn't relate to it, which diminished my reading pleasure a bit.
My reading of the next two volumes in this series is inevitable.
This should be a mandatory read for those who want to cultivate precious anthropological knowledge, but actually it's should be mandatory for anyone. In an ideal world this is the syllabus for high school.
This book is easily 5 stars, but I'm giving it 4 because some of the stuff was a little bit over my head and couldn't relate to it, which diminished my reading pleasure a bit.
My reading of the next two volumes in this series is inevitable.
July 12, 2022
Ah, Pharmako/Poeia! The book that launched a thousand stills! I personally know eight guys who built stills to make absinthe after reading it. (When the book was published absinthe was illegal in most of the world.)
We need a new word to define Pharmako/Poeia, because "multidisciplinary" is not enough. Botany, chemistry, math, literature, physics, how can a person accumulate so much knowledge in a sadly shortened lifetime? There were and are many things I don't understand in this book, but also with no other book I've had the feeling of "I know exactly what you mean" that I had here.
I'll be forever thankful to Dale Pendell.
We need a new word to define Pharmako/Poeia, because "multidisciplinary" is not enough. Botany, chemistry, math, literature, physics, how can a person accumulate so much knowledge in a sadly shortened lifetime? There were and are many things I don't understand in this book, but also with no other book I've had the feeling of "I know exactly what you mean" that I had here.
I'll be forever thankful to Dale Pendell.
March 26, 2025
This has been one of my favourite books for almost a decade, i’ve read the trilogy through multiple times and i’ve dipped in at leisure or to find a specific entry regularly. There’s a magic in the weaving of hard science and global folklore. There is Truth hidden in plain sight in the passages about the poison path. I can understand why this wouldn’t be for everyone but for me it’s one of the best books there is.
August 21, 2018
Such an excellent read! Dale Pendell has truly delivered a piece of work that will be relevant for many years to come. Loved the touches of ethnobotany, history/historical references, and the chemistry breakdowns as well. I also really enjoyed that he wrote from the perspective that we are all seekers of knowledge, and has really given me great insight into the alchemy component of hermeticsm.
March 13, 2024
This book has been a great friend to me. I think it always will.
“Sometimes I think that history is a war of poisons, and that bipedal hominids are mere pawns and soldiers, mouthing whatever slogans and propaganda are current, but ignorant of the designs and strategies of the true plant generals who direct the action from a realm beyond our usual ken.”
“Sometimes I think that history is a war of poisons, and that bipedal hominids are mere pawns and soldiers, mouthing whatever slogans and propaganda are current, but ignorant of the designs and strategies of the true plant generals who direct the action from a realm beyond our usual ken.”
July 27, 2024
It's completely beyond me how anyone would classify the content of this book as informational as opposed to mere fictitious amusement. The only thing that drew to me to it was the cover art. I was expecting a medieval-style narrative of historical accounts but was instead presented with a mumbo-jumbo mix of "science" and modern hippie culture.
September 10, 2025
Dale Pendell is probably the coolest author I’ve ever read. He was a poet, ethnobotanist, long time student of chemistry, and professional myth critic??? This book had a little bit of everything and was funny to boot! Very excited to take notes on the rest of the series once I’ve taken a chemistry class or two :)
April 15, 2019
An excellent book combining poetry, history, lore, botany, chemistry, and occult mysteries. I look forward to reading more in the series and my only negative of the book is that it can be hard to follow at times due to its structure.
October 11, 2022
required reading by professor presti for drugs and the brain! very interesting, funky book. this book is kind of its own psychedelic state in its own. very funky, holistic, rule breaking type of book. Get ready for metaphors galore and step into a world of hallucinations and plants!
December 28, 2023
Carino, va preso con molta leggerezza, nulla di particolarmente corposo ma vi sono degli spunti interessanti e delle variabili "sul tema" che non sempre sono conosciute ai più. Bellino, ma non indispensabile
February 26, 2018
RIP ... what a genius
January 1, 2019
The poetic nature of this piece is incredibly moving. It was a part of my course's reading list and was incredibly surprised by it.
February 3, 2019
Very interesting. I purchased this with two companion books and love the full set. A different but well-researched perspective on wortcunning.
March 8, 2019
Strongly recommended for those interested in Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology.
May 15, 2019
I can’t recall how I encountered this book, but it is a treasure and I hope to reference it often.
July 8, 2019
You can absolutely see the noble savage trope just dripping off the pages, but it's still worth it if you can get through the dated 90s "post-racial" "end of history" hippie-burner perspective
July 15, 2021
Beautifully written, rich in material even if only starting points for further investigation, approaching substances from many angles all fascinating, personal favourite of this series.
June 29, 2022
expande la terminología de veneno, aunque lo hace de un modo confuso
igual y es que lo leí en inglés y me perdí 😅
igual y es que lo leí en inglés y me perdí 😅
July 10, 2022
RIP ... what a genius
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews