Mexican Calea Symptoms and Warning Signs

Mexican Calea is a plant that grows predominantly in Mexico and other parts of Central America and has been used as a traditional medicine for centuries. It is also known as bitter grass or bitter herb and has been used to treat various ailments ranging from fever to diarrhoea and stomach-ache. However, it is also regularly abused by those looking for a way to get high.

As Mexican Calea has hallucinogenic properties, some cultures in the region have used it as a part of their religious ceremonies by smoking it or brewing it in a tea. But others are known to use it to induce psychic dreams, which is why it is often referred to as the ‘dream herb’.

Nevertheless, as with all mood-altering substances, the use of Mexican Calea can have a negative impact on daily life and has the potential to become addictive with regular use. Although insufficient evidence has been gathered in terms of its efficacy or harm, there have been reports of individuals suffering adverse effects after taking the drug.

With its supposed ability to induce lucid dreams, many people use Mexican Calea before going to bed. Upon waking, many then report to have experienced some of the most intense, meaningful dreams they have ever experienced.

Other Names for Mexican Calea

  • Calea Ternifolia
  • Calea Zacatechichi
  • Bitter Grass
  • Dream Herb
  • Bitter Plant
  • Bitter Gum
  • Calea Rugosa
  • Aztec Dream Grass
  • Atanasia
  • Betonica
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Recognising the Common Warning Signs of Mexican Calea Abuse

While Mexican Calea is not considered to be particularly dangerous, those who start to abuse it may notice changes to everyday life. If any substance is abused to the point where it is interfering with the ability to live a healthy life, it can be said to be bordering on an addiction.

It is important to be aware of the signs that your use of Mexican Calea is getting out of hand. While there are no reports of major side effects when using this plant occasionally, it is thought that regular use could start to have negative consequences for many aspects of your life.

Signs of abuse in the first instance include increasing consumption levels. If you are becoming preoccupied with Mexican Calea and are using it more frequently, it could be that you are developing a psychological dependence. You may start to feel as if you cannot sleep without the drug and that you ‘have’ to take it every night.

If you are neglecting spending time with family members or friends, you might need to take action.

The Dangers of Mexican Calea Abuse

It is dangerous to abuse any mood-altering substance and insofar as Mexican Calea is concerned, there is a risk that you could have an allergic reaction to it. While most people who do have a reaction to the drug will experience only mild symptoms such as a lack of energy, mild nausea, and swelling of the extremities, it is possible that your reaction could be more severe.

Studies have found that chronic regular use of Mexican Calea has the potential to cause significant renal damage. As well as this, if you are smoking the leaves of the Mexican Calea plant and are mixing it with tobacco, you could potentially find yourself with a nicotine addiction. Nicotine is highly addictive, and smoking can lead to breathing problems and even some forms of cancer.

As there is a risk that Mexican Calea can cause drowsiness, it is important that you do not take unnecessary risks such as driving or operating heavy machinery after taking this drug.

Recognising a Mexican Calea Addiction

Although not officially considered an addictive substance, there is a chance that you could become dependent on Mexican Calea with chronic use. The term addiction refers to any pattern of behaviour that can have a negative impact on your everyday life. So, while Mexican Calea may not be addictive in the physical way that other substances such as heroin or cocaine are if your use of it interferes with your daily life, you could find that you have a psychological dependence.

It is important that you consider your use of Mexican Calea to determine whether it could be classed as an addiction. For example, if you are neglecting spending time with other people or doing activities that you once enjoyed in favour of using MexicanCalea, you may have a problem.

You should also consider whether you are using this drug to change the way that you feel. If you are using it to escape reality or to block out painful memories, then you will probably need help to address these issues.

You should also be aware that addiction to anything can begin to change the way you act and feel. So you might begin isolating yourself from those around you and hiding your use of Mexican Calea because you think that they wouldn’t understand. You might stop placing any value on your own physical and emotional wellbeing and you may become irritable or angry when you need the drug but cannot get it.

Mexican Calea and the Brain

Not everyone who develops an addiction will be abusing a so-called “addictive” substance, so while there are many who believe that Mexican Calea is not harmful, there is still a risk because of the way that it makes you feel. In the same way that behaviours such as shopping, sex and gambling can induce feelings of pleasure, so too can the use of a relatively harmless drug.

It is easy to allow your use to get out of control, and if you are experiencing pleasure from the lucid dreams that the drug induces, you may find that you want to repeat the process repeatedly. As previously mentioned, Mexican Calea is a hallucinatory substance that can affect certain areas of the brain to induce feelings of calm and well being.

Learn the Immediate Side Effects of Mexican Calea Abuse

Although reports of adverse side effects are rare, there are some people who experience the following immediate side effects:

  • Lucid dreams
  • Nausea
  • Retching
  • Vomiting

There is also a risk of itching, swelling and a lack of energy in those who experience an allergic reaction.

Learn the Long-Term Mexican Calea Abuse Side Effects

There is insufficient evidence as to the long-term side effects of Mexican Calea abuse, although some studies suggest that it could seriously affect the kidneys. If regularly smoked with tobacco, there is the risk of breathing problems such as COPD, as well as lung, mouth, and throat cancer.

Intervention for a Mexican Calea Addiction

If someone you love has been using Mexican Calea to induce lucid dreams, it is important to be alert to the signs of addiction. If you notice changes to this person’s behaviour and believe that addiction could be the cause, it is important to intervene as soon as possible.

Any pattern of behaviour has the potential to become addictive and Mexican Calea use is no different. If you believe that a family member or friend has a problem, approach him or her and express your concerns. It is important that you do this in a non-judgemental way as it is unlikely that he or she will agree with you, especially initially.

Explain your fears and talk about why you believe he or she is in trouble. It is crucial that you have facts to back up your suspicions, such as examples of his or her behaviour that could indicate an addiction. Even if the affected individual angrily denies the suggestion of addiction, you should remain calm and neutral. It could end up being that you have planted a seed and with time the person will ask for help.

Detox and Withdrawal

Mexican Calea use is not expected to cause physical withdrawal symptoms when suddenly stopped and therefore a detox is not usually required. Nevertheless, there may be a psychological need for the drug that is preventing you from quitting. If so, a treatment programme could help.

Treatment and Next Steps

If you believe that your use of Mexican Calea is no longer under your control and you would like help to quit, you may benefit from a programme of rehabilitation. Rehab programmes are designed to address the cause of addiction so that you can learn how to move on from it and avoid a return to such behaviour going forward.

Rehabilitation programmes, whether residential or day care based, include a variety of treatments, including:

  • individual counselling
  • group therapy
  • motivational interviewing
  • cognitive behavioural therapy
  • hypnotherapy
  • psychodynamic therapy
  • dialectical behavioural therapy

When you seek treatment for addiction, you will likely be given a treatment plan that includes elements of the above in conjunction with holistic therapies that are designed to improve your overall wellbeing. Your treatment plan will be unique to you and will be created with your specific needs in mind.


Questions about Treatment

Do I have to stay in a clinic?

If you choose an inpatient programme, you will be expected to stay in the clinic for the duration of your programme. Very often, this will be for between four and twelve weeks; however, this will depend on how severe your illness is and how you are responding to treatment.

You can also choose to have treatment in an outpatient clinic where you will not stay overnight and will instead attend counselling and therapy sessions before returning home after each session.

How much will I have to pay?

If you choose a private clinic, the price you pay will vary from one provider to the next. It will depend on the facility and how luxurious it is, as well as the length of your programme and the complexity of your treatment requirements. Nonetheless, if you choose to have your treatment through the NHS or with a charity organisation, you may not have to pay anything.

Will treatment help me get better?

The aim of addiction treatment is to help you get your life back on track. It works by creating a plan of care that will help you to overcome your addiction for good. Make sure that all your needs and circumstances are taken into account so that you only ever have to go through this process once.

However, you should be aware that addiction treatment is complex and there is no guarantee of success. To achieve permanent sobriety, you will need to be fully committed to your recovery and be willing to work hard on maintaining your sobriety when your programme is finished.

What help is available after rehab?

Clinics provide up twelve months free aftercare for any patient who completes their programme. This is to help you with the transition from treatment to normal everyday life. This will allow you to have regular counselling sessions should you need them, or phone contact if you prefer.

You can also access help within your local community through fellowship support groups. Support is vital, especially in the early days of recovery, and getting involved with your local recovery community is highly recommended.

What if I have a relapse?

If you do find that you have a slip-up, it is important that you seek help immediately to avoid a full-blown relapse. You will have been taught ways to avoid a relapse during your treatment programme but that does not mean that it cannot happen. Provided you know how to act as soon as you find yourself in trouble, you should be able to ensure that all your hard work is not undone.

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