I have never been one to just go and try every drug out there without any information first. So after studying up quite a bit on Calamus Root, it seemed something that I would greatly enjoy. I wasn't looking for anything to give me a 'trip', merely something for relaxing, possibly meditation purposes. I read that you could steep portions of the root in cold water in your fridge overnight, so i decided this is how I would try it first. I filled an average 12-16oz water bottle and dropped approx 2-3' of the root in and let it sit overnight. The next morning I poured the yellow-ish liquid into another container and removed the root pieces and threw them away, placing the liquid back in the fridge. That night, I drank the entire mixture, sipping on it over the course of around 10-15 minutes. It didn't have a bad taste (as I had expected it to).
After approx 30-40 minutes I felt this warm blanket of relaxiveness begin to cover me. It was a very enjoyable, mellow experience, and I noticed I began to lose advanced dexterity. (I couldn't play video games any more) And my focus kept drifting away from the video game. So I went into my bedroom and meditated a bit. It was rather late in the evening, and it also made me rather sleepy. After about 1-2 hours of mellowness, I drifted off. This is where some of the most intense dreams I have ever had started. It was absolutly incredible! My dreams were SOOOO vivid and lifelike. I woke up once through the night, after I had forced myself awake from my dream. At that point, I realized that the whole thing had been a dream. I went back to sleep and was able to pick up where I had left off, and resumed dreaming. I woke up the next day feeling refreshed, and very happy.
I wasn't sure if this was a coincidence, so I tested it again the next night. This time with approx 4-5' of the root steeped again in cold water overnight. However, I forgot to take the root out of the water that day, and wasn't able to remove it until later on that night. The liquid was slightly a bit more yellow than the previous night. It still tasted fine, and I removed the root pieces and again drank down the 12-16 oz of liquid. Same time frame, same feelings. . . the best way I can try to describe it is when you have your first couple of alcoholic drinks. Not to the point where I'm drunk, but feeling very relaxed, and almost euphoric. I do not go into this EXPECTING and WAITING for it to arrive. I just relax and calm myself, and it will slide up on me very pleasantly.
After various experiments with dosage, I have found the best amount to be between 4-6' of root steeped in water for however long I want (I have left it in up to 3 days without a negative affect) It seems to get the most out of it after the second day. . . so I'm not sure if it does any good to let it sit longer, I had just forgotten I left it in there.
People may use this for a variety of purposes, but I have found my purpose for it. The 'Dream Juice' making dreams more incredible, more rememberable, and more vivid. Sometimes I have woken up from a dream wondering if it was in fact real or not. Another awesome thing about this root, is that in the dreams, once I realized it actually WAS a dream. . I began to be able to control certain aspects over it. As opposed to other dreams where I'm just kind of 'Taken along for a ride'. And being able to control / manipulate my dreams has greatly increased my enjoyment of such dreams.
After some research, I found a few sources advising not to develop an extract from this root, and to NOT steep it in hot water. I have not tried either of these methods, and do not see a reason to.
