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Some evolutionary psychological theories concerning drug use suggest individuals consume drugs to increase reproductive opportunities. Drug use can increase reproductive fitness because drug use can (1) advertise biological quality, sexual maturity, or availability, (2) decrease inhibitions in mating contexts, and/or (3) enhance associative ...
It is the only known source of artemisinin, a drug that has been used to treat fevers due to malaria, exhaustion, or many other causes, since ancient times. [14] Upon further study, scientists have found that Sweet Wormwood inhibits activity of various bacteria, viruses, and parasites and exhibits anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.
Many of these plants are used intentionally as psychoactive drugs, for medicinal, religious, and/or recreational purposes. Some have been used ritually as entheogens for millennia. [1] [2] The plants are listed according to the specific psychoactive chemical substances they contain; many contain multiple known psychoactive compounds.
The term oneirogen commonly describes a wide array of psychoactive plants and chemicals ranging from normal dream enhancers to intense dissociative or deliriant drugs. Effects experienced with the use of oneirogens may include microsleep , hypnagogia , fugue states , rapid eye movement sleep (REM), hypnic jerks , lucid dreams , and out-of-body ...
An aphrodisiac is a substance alleged to increase libido, sexual desire, sexual attraction, sexual pleasure, or sexual behavior. [1] [2] [3] These substances range from a variety of plants, spices, and foods to synthetic chemicals. [1] [4] Natural aphrodisiacs, such as cannabis or cocaine, are classified into plant-based and non-plant-based ...
Many synthetic and semisynthetic drugs are structural modifications of the alkaloids, which were designed to enhance or change the primary effect of the drug and reduce unwanted side-effects. [208] For example, naloxone , an opioid receptor antagonist , is a derivative of thebaine that is present in opium .
The discovery of the first cannabinoid receptors in the 1980s helped to resolve this debate. [10] These receptors are common in animals. Two known cannabinoid receptors are termed CB 1 and CB 2, [11] with mounting evidence of more. [12] The human brain has more cannabinoid receptors than any other G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) type. [13]
Furthermore, a drug effect ceases as a drug-receptor complex dissociates. Ariëns & Stephenson introduced the terms "affinity" & "efficacy" to describe the action of ligands bound to receptors. [15] [16] Affinity: The ability of a drug to combine with a receptor to create a drug-receptor complex.