Sananga

Plant Medicine

Sananga is an Amazonian eye medicine made from the root bark of Tabernaemontana shrubs, applied as drops directly into the eyes. It is not a psychedelic: it causes a few minutes of intense burning, after which users report sharper vision and a sense of calm and focus.

Also known as: Becchete / Bëcchëte (Matsés), Mana heins, Tabernaemontana undulata, Tabernaemontana sananho, Forest eye drops

Written by Psymerge Editorial Team · Last updated October 27, 2026

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Key facts

CategoryPlant Medicine
OnsetImmediate intense burning on application
PeakThe first 1–3 minutes
Total durationBurning subsides within about 5–10 minutes
After-effectsReported visual clarity and calm; brief redness afterward

Overview

Sananga is a traditional eye preparation made from the root bark of shrubs in the genus Tabernaemontana — most often Tabernaemontana undulata, and sometimes T. sananho — of the Apocynaceae family. It is administered as drops placed directly onto the eyes by peoples of the western Amazon such as the Matsés, Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá), and Yawanawá.

These plants contain monoterpene indole alkaloids of the iboga type, including coronaridine and voacangine (Naidoo et al., 2021). However, applied to the eye sananga is not considered psychoactive and does not produce visions or altered states. The defining experience is a brief but intense burning sensation that lasts a few minutes, after which people commonly describe clearer vision, calm, and focus.

Traditionally sananga is used to sharpen vision for hunting and to clear 'panema' (malaise or bad luck), and it has spread into Western ceremonial settings. Formal scientific evidence for its safety and benefit when put in the eyes is very limited, and applying any non-sterile plant extract to the eye carries real risks. This page summarises what it is, what it does, and its safety considerations.

History & origins

Sananga has long been used by Indigenous peoples of the western Amazon, who prepare eye drops from Tabernaemontana root bark to sharpen eyesight for hunting and to treat various ailments and forms of malaise. Different groups favour different source plants — the Matsés use Tabernaemontana undulata (becchete), while others use T. sananho — and the practice is embedded in regional traditions of healing and 'energetic' cleansing (Naidoo et al., 2021).

In recent years sananga has spread into urban and Western retreat settings, often alongside ayahuasca and kambo. Despite growing popularity, the chemistry and ocular effects of these specific preparations remain little studied, and most claims about their benefits rest on tradition and anecdote rather than clinical evidence.

Pharmacology & how it works

Sananga is prepared from the root bark of Tabernaemontana shrubs (chiefly T. undulata, sometimes T. sananho), which contain monoterpene indole alkaloids of the iboga type — such as coronaridine, voacangine, and ibogamine (Naidoo et al., 2021). Applied to the eye it produces intense but short-lived irritation; it is not considered psychoactive and does not cause visions. Whether and how it produces any lasting effect on vision has not been established by clinical research.

Chemical class
Plant eye preparation (Tabernaemontana indole alkaloids)
Routes of administration
Topical (drops applied to the eyes)
Tolerance
Sananga is not a drug of dependence; there is no recognised tolerance or addiction.

Pharmacokinetics

The effect is an immediate, local irritation of the eye that subsides within minutes. Systemic absorption from such small ocular doses is expected to be minimal.

Effects

Physical Effects

  • Intense burning or stinging in the eyes for a few minutes
  • Profuse tearing and temporary redness
  • A strong urge to keep the eyes closed
  • Reported sharpening of vision and colour afterward
  • Occasional mild headache

Psychological Effects

  • A sense of calm, focus, or 'grounding' reported once the sting subsides
  • A feeling of mental clarity
  • Emotional release for some people

Spiritual Effects

  • Use in Amazonian traditions to clear 'panema' and sharpen vision for hunting
  • A cleansing or focusing ritual, sometimes alongside other ceremonies
  • A sense of energetic clearing

Dosage Information

Low: 1 drop per eye (topical)
Medium: 1–2 drops per eye (topical)
High: 2+ drops per eye (topical)

Concentration varies widely between preparations — a more concentrated preparation acts as a stronger dose — and there is no standardisation; it is usually applied by a practitioner. Sananga is not a treatment for eye disease and should not replace medical care. Educational only.

Risks & safety

Contraindications

Because sananga is applied directly to the eyes, it should be avoided by people with conditions that make ocular harm more likely:

  • Existing eye conditions: glaucoma, eye infections, corneal disease, or significant dry eye.
  • Recent eye surgery or injury.
  • Contact lens wearers, who should remove lenses first (and ideally avoid use).
  • Known sensitivity to the preparation, and — as a precaution given the lack of data — pregnancy.

Drug interactions

At the small topical doses used in the eye, sananga is not a major systemic drug-interaction concern. The relevant cautions are local:

  • Other eye medications or treatments: do not combine sananga with prescription eye drops or other substances in the eye without medical advice.
  • Systemic note: Tabernaemontana alkaloids can have blood-pressure-lowering and muscle-relaxant effects when absorbed systemically (Perera et al., 1985), although ocular application is expected to deliver only minimal amounts.

Psychological distress & bad trips

Sananga is not psychoactive and does not alter consciousness, so it does not carry the psychological risks of the psychedelics. The main experience is a brief, intense burning that some people find distressing in the moment but which passes within minutes.

Rare but serious risks

The risks of sananga are primarily to the eyes themselves:

  • Eye injury and irritation: applying a non-sterile plant extract to the eye can cause chemical irritation, corneal abrasion, or damage to the eye surface.
  • Infection: non-sterile preparations or shared droppers can introduce bacteria or fungi, risking serious eye infection.
  • Limited evidence: there is very little scientific study of sananga's ocular safety, so the consequences of repeated use are poorly understood (Naidoo et al., 2021).
  • Greater harm in people with existing eye disease, for whom irritation could worsen an underlying condition.

Vulnerable populations

Some people should avoid sananga or be especially cautious:

  • People with glaucoma, eye infections, corneal disease, or dry eye.
  • People who have had recent eye surgery or injury.
  • Contact lens wearers.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding people (as a precaution), and children.

Dependency & addiction potential

Sananga is not psychoactive and is not addictive; it does not cause physical dependence or compulsive use.

Overdose

There is no 'overdose' in the usual sense, but using too much, applying overly concentrated preparations, or repeating it too frequently increases the risk of eye damage and infection. If you experience severe or persistent eye pain, changes in vision, significant redness, discharge, or swelling after use, seek prompt attention from an eye doctor.

Harm Reduction

  • Cleanliness is critical: only use preparations that have been handled hygienically, and never share droppers.
  • Remove contact lenses before use.
  • Avoid sananga entirely if you have glaucoma, an eye infection, corneal disease, dry eye, or have had recent eye surgery or injury.
  • Recognise that scientific evidence for benefit is lacking — sananga should not replace medical care for eye conditions.
  • Have an experienced practitioner apply it, lie back, and keep the session calm; the burning is brief.
  • If you develop persistent pain, vision changes, discharge, or significant redness, see an eye doctor promptly.

Cultural & spiritual context

For the Amazonian peoples who use it, sananga is part of a broader system of plant knowledge tied to hunting, perception, and the clearing of 'panema' — a culturally specific notion of heaviness or bad luck. It is applied within particular practices and relationships rather than as a standalone product.

Its movement into global ceremonial and wellness contexts raises familiar questions of cultural respect, sustainable and ethical sourcing of wild plants, and honesty about what is and is not known. Because sananga goes directly into the eyes, its spread also raises specific safety concerns that traditional context alone does not resolve.

Legal Status

Laws vary widely by country and change frequently, so we don't track legal status here to avoid showing outdated information.

Check current worldwide legal status on Psychedelic Alpha

Frequently asked questions

What is sananga?

Sananga is a traditional eye preparation from the western Amazon. It is made from the root bark of Tabernaemontana shrubs, mainly T. undulata and sometimes T. sananho. Peoples such as the Matsés, Huni Kuin and Yawanawá apply it as drops. Tradition: it is used to sharpen vision for hunting and to "clear panema", a cultural idea of heaviness or bad luck. Chemistry: the plants contain iboga-type alkaloids, but applied to the eye it is not considered psychoactive (Naidoo et al., 2021).

What do sananga eye drops feel like, and why do they burn?

Reported experience: intense burning and stinging for a few minutes, heavy tearing and redness, then calm or a feeling of clarity. These are personal reports, not measured outcomes. A 2023 review suggests an irritant alkaloid (voacangine) in the plant may explain the burning, but it isn't known whether it is in the drops people actually use (Revista Fitos, 2023).

Does sananga have benefits?

Tradition: it is valued for vision and as a cleansing practice, and we present that as tradition, not proof. Evidence: we found no clinical trials or visual-outcome studies of sananga in people. Lab studies have shown some antibacterial activity, but that doesn't show an effect in the human eye. Its benefits are unproven, and it is not a treatment for any eye condition. If you have eye symptoms, see an eye doctor.

Is sananga safe, and is it legal?

Safety, limited evidence: there are no systematic safety studies. Putting a non-sterile plant extract in the eye can cause irritation, injury or infection, and any product used in the eye should be sterile (FDA). A 2026 case series of a related plant, Tabernaemontana divaricata, documented ocular surface toxicity after eye use. It is a different species, but it shows why caution is warranted (Indian J Ophthalmol, 2026). People with eye disease, contact lens wearers, people with recent eye surgery or injury, and pregnant people should avoid it. Seek prompt eye care for persistent pain, vision changes, discharge or swelling. Legality: the rules differ by country and change, so check your local law. In the US, herbal eye drops that aren't FDA-approved are generally treated as unapproved drugs. We don't track legal status by country.

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References & further reading

  • Naidoo, C. M., Naidoo, Y., Dewir, Y. H., et al. (2021). Major Bioactive Alkaloids and Biological Activities of Tabernaemontana Species (Apocynaceae). Plants, 10(2), 313. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020313
  • Perera, P., Kanjanapothy, D., Sandberg, F., & Verpoorte, R. (1985). Muscle relaxant activity and hypotensive activity of some Tabernaemontana alkaloids. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 13(2), 165–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(85)90004-2
  • Van Beek, T. A., Verpoorte, R., Baerheim Svendsen, A., et al. (1984). Tabernaemontana L. (Apocynaceae): A review of its taxonomy, phytochemistry, ethnobotany and pharmacology. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 10(1), 1–156.
  • Robert, A. P., Sieben, P. G., & Lima, A. de. (2023). Etnobotânica da planta Tabernaemontana sananho Ruiz & Pavon (Apocynaceae) - Revisão Integrativa. Revista Fitos, 17(3), 445–459. https://doi.org/10.32712/2446-4775.2023.1432
  • Krishnamoorthy, S., Dhanaseelan, T., Djeamourthy, S., et al. (2026). “The pin wheel paradox-pretty petals painful eyes” – A case series on ocular toxicity induced by tabernaemontana divaricate. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology - Case Reports, 6(2), 617–619. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijo.ijo_2541_25
  • American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Recognizing and Treating Eye Injuries. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries
  • Naidoo, C. M., et al. (2021). Major Bioactive Alkaloids and Biological Activities of Tabernaemontana Species (open access). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7915066/
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). What You Should Know about Eye Drops. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/buying-using-medicine-safely/what-you-should-know-about-eye-drops

About this article

Written by:
PE
Psymerge Editorial Team
Last updated October 27, 2026