Bufo Alvarius: the Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert - Wikipedia
Jump to content
Search
Search
Donate
Create account
Log in
Personal tools
Donate
Create account
Log in
Bufo Alvarius: the Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert
Add languages
Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Underground pamphlet written by Albert Most
Bufo Alvarius: the Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert AuthorAlbert Most (Ken Nelson)IllustratorGail PattersonLanguageEnglishSubjectSonoran Desert toad; 5-MeO-DMT; Psychedelic drugsPublisherVenom PressPublication date1984Publication placeDenton, Texas, United StatesOnline Computer Library Center number"}]]}'>OCLC79477238
Bufo Alvarius: the Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert is an underground pamphlet written by Albert Most (real name Ken Nelson (1954–2019)), illustrated by Gail Patterson, and published by Venom Press in 1984.[1][2] It described how to extract the venom of the Sonoran Desert toad (formerly Bufo alvarius, now Incilius alvarius), which contains the serotonergic psychedelic 5-MeO-DMT, and administer the venom to produce hallucinogenic effects.[1] The pamphlet was responsible for the start of the recreational use of the toad venom and of 5-MeO-DMT.[1][3][2][4] Subsequently, Andrew Weil and Wade Davis, in part citing the pamphlet, described the psychoactive effects of the toad in the scientific literature in 1992.[2][5] In addition, they described the finding as the first instance of a psychedelic from an animal source to be discovered.[2] Following the publication of the pamphlet, recreational use of the toads was encountered by the late 1980s and became a media sensation.[6]
The pamphlet was originally published pseudonymously.[1][7] Journalist Hamilton Morris described becoming obsessed with identifying the author of the pamphlet.[7] Morris came upon a man named Alfred Savinelli, who claimed to be the author, and published this in his documentary series Hamilton's Pharmacopeia in 2017.[1] Savinelli as the author, however, ultimately proved to be incorrect.[1] The real author, Ken Nelson, subsequently contacted Morris and proved his identity.[1] In 2020, a new episode of Hamilton's Pharmacopeia revealed Nelson as the true author, and Morris apologized for the mistake.[7] Nelson died due to Parkinson's disease in 2019 prior to the airing.[7] In 2021, with Nelson's permission, Morris (and two producers: Justin Clark and Soren Shade) published a revised and expanded edition of the pamphlet that included a chemical synthesis for 5-MeO-DMT.[1] The inclusion of the synthesis of 5-MeO-DMT was prompted by concerns about endangerment and reduction of the toad population.[1]
See also<br>[edit]
List of psychedelic literature
Psychedelic drug § History
Seeking the Magic Mushroom (1957)
References<br>[edit]
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Villa, Robert A. (29 December 2023). "Toad in the road: Biocultural history and conservation challenges of the Sonoran Desert Toad" (PDF). Journal of Psychedelic Studies. 7 (S1): 68–79. doi:10.1556/2054.2023.00269. ISSN 2559-9283. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
1 2 3 4 Weil AT, Davis W (January 1994). "Bufo alvarius: a potent hallucinogen of animal origin" (PDF). J Ethnopharmacol. 41 (1–2): 1–8. doi:10.1016/0378-8741(94)90051-5. PMID 8170151.
↑ Siebert, Amanda (8 January 2021). "Hamilton Morris On Mistakes, 5-MeO-DMT And Preserving Psychedelic Toads". Forbes. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
↑ Ermakova AO, Dunbar F, Rucker J, Johnson MW (March 2022). "A narrative synthesis of research with 5-MeO-DMT". J Psychopharmacol. 36 (3): 273–294. doi:10.1177/02698811211050543. PMC 8902691. PMID 34666554.
↑ Davis, Wade; Weil, Andrew T. (1992). "Identity of a New World Psychoactive Toad". Ancient Mesoamerica. 3 (1): 51–59. doi:10.1017/S0956536100002297. ISSN 0956-5361.
↑ Lyttle T (May 1993). "Misuse and legend in the "toad licking" phenomenon". Int J Addict. 28 (6): 521–538. doi:10.3109/10826089309039645. PMID 8486435.
1 2 3 4 Rodrigue, Daniel (13 April 2021). "A Vice Show Led to Identifying the Denton Creators of a Guide to Hallucinogenic Toad Venom". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
External links<br>[edit]
Bufo Alvarius: The Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert, Expanded and Updated Edition (2021) - Ken Nelson/Al Most & Hamilton Morris
The Psychedelic Toad (S02E01) - Hamilton's Pharmacopeia (2017) - Hamilton Morris (Vimeo)
Synthetic Toad Venom Machine (S03E01) - Hamilton's Pharmacopeia (2020) - Hamilton Morris (YouTube)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bufo_Alvarius:_the_Psychedelic_Toad_of_the_Sonoran_Desert&oldid=1361761098"
Categories: Books about frogs<br>Hamilton Morris<br>Psychedelic drug research<br>Psychedelic literature<br>Toads in culture
Hidden categories: Articles with short description<br>Short description matches Wikidata
Search
Search
Bufo Alvarius: the Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert
Add languages
Add topic