Natural Highs

There are several safe, effective and legal herbs to create natural highs. These are safe to use in this way occasionally. I just want to put it out there, that all of these are contraindicated during pregnancy except Skullcap (so do not use these if you are pregnant!). Always start at the smallest dose and work your way up the dose that's right for your mind and body. Never drive while high, and please be responsible. If you need more information, contact me or your local Herbalist.

Skullcap

Skullcap
General info/Indications: I've used skullcap for headache with success. Skullcap is a great Nervine tonic, which means it nourishes and heals the nervous system. It also has a relaxing effect. Skullcap is great to take for headache, nervous tension and pre-menstrual tension. It is also great for exhaustion, depressed conditions and any kind of withdrawal.
Dosage: 3-10 or more droppers of tincture for a higher state of consciousness.

Kava Kava
General info/Indications: I was first introduced to Kava when it was suggested that I take it when going through a tough time and having a series of bad days. Kava has been described as a "mild tranquilizer o relax the mind and clarify the thought processes, soothe the temperament and induce a mild euphoria with feelings of peace and harmony". It is used around the world for these reasons.
Dosage: 3-50 or more droppers of tincture for mind altering states. I would also recommend taking the tincture in a smoothie with coconut oil or with whole milk if possible as it is fat soluble.

Holy Basil/Tulsi
General info/Indications: My first experience with Holy Basil was for consciousness shifting at a Shamanic Plant Journeying workshop. Holy Basil is a calming adaptogen. It can help cope with stress and clarify thinking. It is used to clear "mental fog" caused by cannabis smoking, "cloudy thinking" caused by menopause, poor memory, ADD and ADHD as well as speed up recovery from head trauma.
Dosage: 2-4 droppers of tincture 1-4x per day or drink the tea as enjoyed for consciousness shifting.

Ashwagandha
General info/Indications: Ashwagandha is a calming adaptogen. It enhances endocrine function and heals the thyroid, testes and adrenal glands. It is also a nervine and is very effective for anxiety, fatigue cloudy thinking, stress-induced insomnia and nervous exhaustion. It can be use clear excess cortisol and  to down regulate chronically high cortisol. It is an excellent tonic for the brain, and is a possible aphrodisiac.
Dosage: 3-6 grams of powder or 2-5 droppers of tincture for a natural high. You can use 5 grams of of powder in warm milk or coconut milk before bed for 1 week to reset cortisol levels.

Re-patterning Our Nervous Systems

This post is actually the prequel to my post on safe and legal ways to get a natural high. This is taken from Jessica Godino's Natural Highs Handout from the Southeastern Women's Herbal Conference 2012, NC.

Before we can inhabit a maintained state of ecstasy/bliss we need to repattern our nervous systems out of the chronic fight or flight most of us are in; stress hormones will block our intrinsic feel good hormones.

Principles of transforming outr nervous systems

Create an environment that allows for the production of intrinsic “feel good” neurochemicals by eliminated stress hormones as much as possible, help our nervous systems become adapted to handle bliss.

1. Sleep in total darkness (like our ancestors did except during the full moon. supports melatonin production which is the precursor hormone to many mind-altering and consciousness uplifting chemicals in our body. Most importantly, this is the fastest way to regulate your cortisol levels)
2. Decrease stress however you can don’t argue... just do it. Get help to give up your addiction to chronic stress.
3. Take herbs that lower cortisol: ashwaganda, holy basil
4. Take nervines to heal nervous systems that are stuck in fight or flight: ashwaganda, skullcap, oatstraw.
5. Eat plenty of saturated fat, including organic coconut oil and milk, butter, and lard. (fat heals and calms the nervous system and adrenals like nothing else... try it and you will see)
6. Exercise, especially high intensity or with weights (this seems to induce a remarkable resiliency to stress, as well as producing its own natural endorphin high)
7. Get your blood sugar under control. Blood sugar instability, in the form of high (insulin resistance or diabetes), or low (hypoglycemia) is one of the single biggest internal driving factors of high cortisol.
8. Nourish yourself. The nervous system THRIVES in the presence of not only fat but minerals. Eat mineral rich foods and herbs (like nettles, oatstraw) and avoid mineral depleting foods (like unsoaked grains and vegetable oils)

If you have been in fight or flight for years, it can months or years to change the habit. It may be the single most important thing you do for your health and consciousness.