20 seeds of Rauvolfia serpentina "Snakeroot" Rauwolfia Sarpagandha

Rauvolfia (Rauwolfia serpentina) is a small woody perennial from Indian and the East Indies. Roots of this plant yield the alkaloid reserpine. This was the first major tranquilizer, especially for the treatment of paranoia and schizophrenia, as well as a substance that lowers blood pressure and controls hypertension. Interestingly, rauvolfia was long used in India for treating mental illness and snake bites, known to medicine men and peasants as the "insanity herb," snakeroot, and chandra (= moon; moon disease or lunacy). The alkaloid is effective for snake bites and scorpion stings.

 Growing from seeds:

sow about 1cm deep into well drained seeding compost mixed with some sand, keep moist and at temperatures of about 25-29°C. Germination takes about 5 weeks