The chemical Hassan i Sabbah used to initiate his followers. There is no consensus as to its formula, but the most likely possibility is hashish mixed with belladonna or a related herb. Other possibilities include opium, bufotinin, or any combination of these substances. Some have suggested that Alamout black was simply cannabis or hashish, but this herb was very common at the time and had been used for thousands of years. The initiation experience required convincing the new adept that he had literally been transported to heaven, so using an herb which the aspiring assassin was familiar with would not have been a very effective strategy. Atropine containing herbs such as belladonna are the most likely possibilities because the hallucinations they cause are indistinguishable from reality.