Entada rheedii seeds are also known by the name African Dream Herb. The large seeds are often used as a jewelry or as necklaces to bring good luck. Tobacco made of Entada rheedii seeds is known to cause vivid dreams, hence the name Dream Herb.

They are often found washed up on the beaches especially in the east coast of southern Africa. But since the seeds can move anywhere when dropped into sea they can be found just about any shore. Due to this reason they are also sometimes called Sea Beans.

African Dream Herb seeds have also been used medicinally. They are used for example to treat jaundice. Nowadays African Dream Herb seeds are available to buy from quite a many online stores.

Dream Herb - Calea zacatechichi - was traditionally used by the Chontal Natives of Oaxaca, Mexico. It still is being traditionally used by the Chontal Indians to induce dreams. It would be prepared as a tea and drank while smoking a cigarette made up of the Calea zacatechichi foliage just before going to bed.

Exactly how Dream Herb (Calea zacatechichi) effects the brain is not well understood. The plant contains 0.01% of a crystalline alkaloid, C21H26O8. Modern studies have shown an increase in brain activity during sleep and some minor hallucinations of subjects when awake.

It has been found to increase the superficial stages of sleep and the number of spontaneous awakenings. Those who partook of the Dream Herb were able to experience lucid dreaming; the ability to control and remember their dreams with less effort.

Auditory hallucinations are also fairly common, which prompted the Chontals, believing they were hearing the voice of God, to refer to Calea zacatechici as Leaf of God. A feeling of well-being is said to persist for a day or more with no unpleasant side effects.