The Chontal people of Oaxaca reportedly use the plant, known locally as "thle-pela-kano", during divination. Isolated reports describe rituals that involve smoking a plant believed to be this species, drinking it as a tea, and placing it under a pillow to induce divinatory or lucid dreams due to its properties as an oneirogen. "Zacatechichi", the former species name, is a Nahuatl word meaning "bitter grass". Users take the plant to help them remember their dreams; known side effects include nausea and vomiting related to the taste and mild-to-severe allergic reaction.