You may have come across stories of people traveling to America to experience ayahuasca ceremonies. Usually, these anecdotes focus on immediate, highly intense, and moving effects that occur during the ayahuasca journey and in the near future after the ceremony. Many of these stories may intrigue and also cause concern, which in turn translates into a diverse, depending on views or lifestyle, reception of ayahuasca worldwide. As experience shows, anxiety can sometimes be fundamental. This plant medicine is still not well known to the population inhabiting more civilized countries, basing their cognitive processes on strictly scientific methods, which cannot be said about the indigenous peoples of the Amazon, from whom the tradition of drinking ayahuasca originates. Their understanding is based on insights into energy and the transmission of enormous generational messages. Currently, ayahuasca is the subject of interest for many scientists and researchers from more developed civilizations. Scientists have discovered several long-term health benefits of taking this medicine and have identified certain circumstances in which drinking the brew is absolutely not recommended. The following article focuses on what ayahuasca is and also indicates potential benefits and dangers arising from its use.
What is ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is a word from the Quechua language, which literally translates as “vine of the soul” or “vine of the soul.” Other, though less common, names include yagé, pacha mama, natema, caapi, and huaraca. In short, ayahuasca is a naturally occurring psychedelic that is consumed in the form of a specially prepared brew. Its main ingredient is the leaves of the shrub Psychotria viridis – also known as chacruna, as well as the stems of the vine Banisteriopsis caapi. The brew may also contain extracts from other plants containing DMT (dimethyltryptamine) and harmaline (an MAO inhibitor). Often, commonly used plant substitutes such as Syrian rue (Peganum harmala) or plants from the Mimosa genus are included in the brew.
The psychotropic brew known as ayahuasca is brewed and consumed primarily by representatives of indigenous peoples of the Amazon. It is a popular remedy in many religious communities inhabiting the areas of Brazil, Central America, and some tribes of North America.
Traditional use of ayahuasca begins with the preparation of a special brew. Shamans, commonly called curanderos, who are experienced spiritual guides, conduct the consumption ritual. They first boil the shredded leaves of Psychotria viridis and stems of Banisteriopsis caapi in water. The stems of the vine are previously cleaned and crushed to increase the release of active compounds.
Shamans or spiritual guides repeat the process of boiling the plants until an extraordinary dense concentrate is obtained. After cooling, the brew is strained to remove any impurities and unwanted elements.
How does ayahuasca work?
The basic component of ayahuasca brew – Psychotria viridis – activates its hallucinogenic properties when consumed together with the vine Banisteriopsis caapi. It should be noted here that the leaves of Psychotria viridis contain the substance DMT, or dimethyltryptamine.
DMT is an extremely potent and distinct hallucinogenic compound that is naturally present in the human body under certain conditions. Interestingly, dimethyltryptamine in its natural form has been detected in bodily fluids of individuals with schizophrenia. This condition causes people to perceive and interpret their surrounding reality incorrectly. Some sources also report that DMT floods our brain during birth and death. The DMT in ayahuasca allows healthy individuals to experience seemingly impossible yet coherent and logical experiences. Therefore, it is difficult to compare the effects of DMT on perception in healthy and diseased individuals.
However, it should be emphasized that DMT has low bioavailability. This compound quickly breaks down with the help of enzymes known as MAO (monoamine oxidases). These enzymes are present in the human body in the liver and gastrointestinal tract.
Therefore, dimethyltryptamine must be combined with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). MAOIs allow DMT to function properly. Hence, ayahuasca contains extracts from Banisteriopsis caapi, which contain β-carbolines, effective MAO inhibitors.
The combination of these two substances results in an extremely powerful and intense brew with psychedelic properties. Ayahuasca thus affects the central nervous
system, which in turn leads to altered states of consciousness. The brew’s effects can result in and manifest as hallucinations, out-of-body experiences (OOBEs), as well as increased euphoria. Very often, the described experience of “crossing over,” entering the afterlife, or experiencing death is encountered. Among individuals taking Amazonian medicine, there is also a completely new understanding of reality, which directly translates into a change in their previous way of life.
Due to its psychoactive functions, similar to LSD, ayahuasca is listed as a drug by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. This list includes substances and chemicals that are not accepted in medicine and can cause addiction. Also, in Poland, the consumption of ayahuasca is illegal.
Dangers of using ayahuasca
Why has ayahuasca been placed on the drug list according to the U.S. DEA? This is due to the presence of combined DMT and MAOI compounds, which lead users of the brew to experience hallucinogenic sensations. With its influence on the human psyche, this brew resembles the action of LSD, which has been considered a narcotic substance for decades. Hence, it can be said that the greatest danger of ayahuasca is the issue of breaking the law and exposing oneself to fines and imprisonment.
Very often, ayahuasca consumption ceremonies available on the Internet are scams during which mixtures are served that sometimes have nothing to do with the real, sacred brew. However, consuming traditional and original brews can have much more serious consequences than just a psychedelic trip.
Not always do hallucinogenic experiences positively affect the somatic nervous system. In psychedelic research, there is the concept of a “bad trip,” a situation where the side effects of taking a substance outweigh its positive effects. A “bad trip” is associated with feelings of fear, anxiety, and generally unpleasant psychological experiences.
Furthermore, ayahuasca can enter into dangerous interactions with many drugs. Among them, it is worth emphasizing antidepressants, psychiatric medications, drugs used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, as well as cough medicines, slimming supplements, and more.
Individuals struggling with mental disorders, especially schizophrenia, should avoid ayahuasca. Taking this substance can worsen the symptoms of their illness. The same applies to people with cardiological problems. Ayahuasca can increase heart rate and blood pressure, potentially leading to heart attacks.
One should also be aware of the danger posed by participation in collective ceremonies. Improper use of psychedelics causes a person to lose touch with reality and have little influence on events around them.
Very often, a person who has been to Peru 1-2 times and has experienced “enlightenment” becomes a shaman. Upon returning, they declare themselves healers and start conducting ceremonies in a very large group.
Such a “shaman” has no idea that during each ceremony, a portal is opened, and all participants in the circle are energetically connected to some extent.
The worst is when the “shaman” under the guise of a healer is a person with a mental illness.
In Poland, there are several centers that conduct esoteric practices and do it only for money.
You should be very careful about where you go for ceremonies.
If the ayahuasca person or center you are going to does not conduct an interview with you, does not ask about mental illnesses in the family, or conducts ceremonies for a dozen or so people without a psychotherapist or someone to help in the integration process, AVOID SUCH A PLACE LIKE FIRE!
Ayahuasca in the wrong hands is like a machine gun given to children in kindergarten.
Potential benefits of ayahuasca
Studies have been conducted on healthy individuals who took ayahuasca to assess the potential benefits of this brew. Scientists have shown that in addition to DMT, ayahuasca also contains a mixture of alkaloids that may positively affect users.
First of all, alkaloids, in combination with psychedelics, can contribute to improving mental health. Some studies have shown an 82% decrease in negative experiences in patients with depression. However, these studies are just a contribution to further examining ayahuasca for positive benefits.
Ayahuasca can also lead to overall better well-being. A study was conducted on 20 individuals who consumed ayahuasca once a week for four weeks. The results? Increased self-acceptance, which can be achieved after an eight-week development program in clinical conditions.
Other potentially positive benefits of ayahuasca also relate to the treatment of addictions, anxiety disorders, treatment-resistant depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, it is still worth emphasizing that ayahuasca is not a legal medicinal substance. There is still a lack of many factual studies on ayahuasca that could unequivocally confirm the benefits of this South American brew.
A properly conducted ayahuasca ceremony can change our lives in an incredibly wonderful way. Many people compare the ceremony to a 20-year psychotherapy session.
Often, issues seemingly impossible to work through on ayahuasca are processed.
As a sacred medicine, it is an incredible blessing from Mother Nature that cannot be compared to anything else.
The information presented here are private opinions and views; they are not written by a doctor, nor are they a professional medical opinion or advice. They cannot replace the opinion and knowledge of a healthcare professional, e.g., a doctor. Any advice you find in this
article can be used solely at your own risk.
