Names people search for
Syrian rue (Peganum harmala) is also called harmel, espand, and harmala. People look up its spiritual meaning, religious use, and the alkaloids harmine and harmaline. This page covers history and the church’s general teaching about earth-based sacraments — not how to obtain or use the plant.
The church’s frame
“The Church of the Only Begotten Son utilizes ALL "Earth-Based" Sacred Sacraments and medicinal substances - Plant, Herb, Mineral, Metal & Fungus”
Syrian rue is discussed here as part of that earth-based sacrament world and of the history of sacred plants. Sacraments, on the church’s terms, are for members only under an OBS Church Certified Religious Leader.1
History and incense
Syrian rue grows from the Mediterranean to Central Asia. Its seeds contain harmala alkaloids and are still burned as incense in parts of the Middle East and Central Asia.2 Related alkaloids appear in the vine used in ayahuasca.
Soma and haoma
Contested David Flattery and Martin Schwartz argued in Haoma and Harmaline (1989) that Syrian rue was the plant behind Vedic Soma and Zoroastrian haoma.3 Other candidates include the fly agaric and ephedra. See Soma and haoma and Amanita muscaria.
Questions and answers
What is Syrian rue?
Syrian rue (Peganum harmala) is a plant of the Middle East and Central Asia. Its seeds contain the harmala alkaloids harmine and harmaline, and they are burned as incense in parts of the Middle East and Central Asia.
Is Syrian rue the same as ayahuasca?
No. Ayahuasca is an Amazonian brew. Harmala alkaloids also occur in the Banisteriopsis caapi vine used in ayahuasca, which is why Syrian rue appears in the same scholarly conversations. See Ayahuasca and DMT.
Was Soma Syrian rue?
David Flattery and Martin Schwartz argued in Haoma and Harmaline (1989) that the ancient haoma/Soma plant was Syrian rue. Other scholars propose the fly agaric or ephedra. The identity is unresolved.
Sources
- Official Lawful Notice — The Church of the Only Begotten Son
- Peganum harmala (Syrian rue) — botany and history, with references
- Soma (drink) — the identification debate, with references
- Ayahuasca and DMT — The Church of the Only Begotten Son
- Ancient sacraments — The Church of the Only Begotten Son
Scholarly claims about sacred plants in history are summarized with their sources, and contested claims are marked as contested. The church’s own beliefs are quoted exactly and linked to the page where they appear.