Oh, yes, those probably will alter your brain chemistry. The thing you should realize is that smoking soap shavings will also alter your brain chemisty. None of those things are psychoactive in the way you're looking for, and you should never EVER listen to anything like that. There's been a recent spike, I've noticed, in false reports of everything from maple leaves to cockroaches.
If you want some actually psychoactive and legal things, look into these:
Hawaiian Baby Woodrose seeds.
DMT/Ayahuasca plants. Especially look into mimosa hostilis, b. caapi, anadenanthera peregrina, and syrian rue. Don't go looking for DMT to be sold anywhere, because the chemical itself is illegal. Also, if you do get the idea to make a pot of ayahuasca, make sure you understand DMT isn't the only thing in it.
San Pedro cactus. This cactus, unlike peyote, is legal to grow and own. Processing it for the mescaline is illegal, but you don't run much of a risk of getting caught.
Amanita Muscaria. Very powerful trip, and you should pay close attention to the dosage, but perfectly legal.
5-MeO-DMT.
Dextromethorphan hydrobromide. Essentially, this is the psychedelic contained in cough syrup. It is very underrated, but I've always had a taste for powdered pure (which can be extracted).
Kratom. Very strange high. Smoke or make into tea.
Start with those, and try to avoid research chemicals until you've really begun to understand your limits.
Lastly, ALWAYS, and I cannot stress this enough, refer to
www.erowid.org. It is an invaluable resource on all psychoactive plants and chemicals.