Bufo Alvarius: the Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert
Underground pamphlet written by Albert Most
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Bufo Alvarius: the Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert is an underground pamphlet written by Albert Most (real name Ken Nelson), 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]
| |
| Author | Albert Most (Ken Nelson) |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Gail Patterson |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Sonoran Desert toad; 5-MeO-DMT; Psychedelic drugs |
| Publisher | Venom Press |
Publication date | 1984 |
| Publication place | Denton, Texas, United States |
| OCLC | 79477238 |
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 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]