WHAT IS AYAHUASCA?
Ayahuasca, a potent entheogenic plant medicine, is often revered as embodying the ultimate feminine, yin energy – characterised by its dark, mysterious, and introspective nature. Referred to as the “Grandmother” to denote reverence and respect, ayahuasca is derived from the Amazonian vine Banisteriopsis caapi, sometimes combined with the Psychotria viridis plant.
The Quechua origins of the word “ayahuasca” shed light on its profound meaning: “aya” translating to “corpse, dead, dead human body,” and “waskha” to “rope, cord, braided or twisted wire,” often interpreted as “the vine of the dead” or “the rope of the dead” in English. Despite its rich cultural symbolism, the exact historical origins of ayahuasca remain shrouded in mystery, unlike other entheogens where provenance is traced through documented archaeological evidence.
While the use of ayahuasca dates back centuries, its formal scientific identification traces back to 1851, through Richard Spruce’s observations in Brazil. The administration of ayahuasca varies in potency and concentration, with diverse recipes and ingredients influenced by regional practices, the expertise of the curandero (a curandero is a Hispanic healer who administers plant medicine in a ceremonial context), and the intended effects sought. The brew often incorporates additional plants to enhance its effects.
The following are some of the plants that may be coadministered with ayahuasca, and their main alkaloids:
– **Nicotiana rustica:** Also known as the tobacco plant, it contains nicotine, offering purgative and psychoactive effects. Notably, nicotine is considered one of the most dangerous chemicals globally, emphasising the explicit dangers associated with tobacco administration.
– **Brugmansia suaveolens:** Referred to as toé or floripondio, this plant contains tropane alkaloids like scopolamine and hyoscyamine, which produce hallucinogenic effects and can be potentially toxic. Caution is advised as toé can be intense and risky without proper expert administration.
– **Brunfelsia grandiflora:** Recognized as chiricsanango, this plant holds significance in the Peruvian vegetalista tradition for its medicinal properties and its role in “dietas.”
Furthermore, some providers advocate the coadministration of ayahuasca and Bufo alvarius, a toad poison containing bufotenin and 5-MeO-DMT. However, this combination poses inherent risks necessitating careful consideration to prevent adverse reactions, with a recommended 24-hour gap between the consumption of each substance.
A trustworthy curandero should welcome your enquiries and respond honestly. If your questions are met with resistance or offence, it could signal bad practice in relation to the contents of the brew. Your safety matters, and you have every right to be informed about what you are putting into your body.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS AND RISKS OF AYAHUASCA?
Ayahuasca is a powerful visionary substance due to its alkaloids – dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and beta-carbolines. The visions are, for most people, light on a dark background.
The effects may include:
– Visions experienced with both eyes open and closed
– Kaleidoscopic imagery
– Immersive and expansive experiences
– Altered perception of time
– Altered sensory perception
– Transcendence
– Contact with spirits and entities
– Introspection
– Recollection and reliving of autobiographical and childhood memories
– Mood elevation or feelings of anxiety and fear
– Synaesthesia: blending of the senses, like visualising sound or tasting colour
– Interoception: sensing internal signals from the body
– Enhanced associative thinking and new self-understandings
– Profound feelings of love for self, others, and the universe
– Altered states of consciousness, including a sense of unity with the universe
– Cognitive changes
– Dizziness, diarrhoea, vomiting, and physical discomfort
– Rare occurrences of seizures
There are notable physical risks associated with ayahuasca, particularly its interactions with certain foods high in tyramine and specific medications or drugs. Combining ayahuasca with MAOIs and substances like SSRIs, antidepressants, or tryptophan can lead to serotonin syndrome, a potentially life threatening medical condition. Similarly, mixing ayahuasca with ginseng, hypericum, dextromethorphan, amphetamines, or MDMA can pose significant dangers and should be avoided.
The use of ayahuasca carries the main risk of triggering challenging psychological reactions, primarily due to its potent psychedelic effects. These reactions may manifest as fear, panic attacks, or overwhelming visionary experiences, potentially leading to transient symptoms of psychosis. Individuals with a family history of psychotic episodes or diagnosed mental disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression with psychotic features are advised against consuming ayahuasca due to a higher susceptibility to adverse effects.
To mitigate risks, select a suitable environment and ensure you feel secure with the ceremony leader are. Ayahuasca ceremonies are typically conducted in ritualised settings, where the facilitator plays a significant role in shaping the experience, ensuring group dynamics, safety, and upholding ethical boundaries. However, instances of misconduct by ceremony facilitators are on the rise, often stemming from inadequate knowledge and experience around ethical conduct, particularly in regions like Peru.
Travelling alone, especially for women, to remote areas for ayahuasca ceremonies is risky. Sensible safety checks may include thorough inquiries about the ceremony setup, participant numbers, facilitator credentials, and prior attendee feedback. Vigilance is key, even in seemingly ideal locations.
HOW SHOULD YOU PREPARE FOR AYAHUASCA?
Physical preparation is crucial when getting ready to work with ayahuasca, advice varies according to the curandero or tradition you are working with.
Here are some general guidelines:
– **Clean up your diet:** Eliminate spicy foods, deep-fried items, garlic, onions, salt, sugar, pork, beef, caffeine, cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and other substances from your diet. Opt for bland foods to ensure your body is in its purest state.
– **Avoid sex and media:** Steer clear of engaging in sexual activities and consuming media content before your ayahuasca ceremony. This helps prevent carrying external energies into the experience. Consider a media detox by refraining from music, television, and movies to cultivate your own thoughts and ideas, fostering a clear mental space.
Taking a break from these influences for a couple of weeks prior ensures you approach ayahuasca with a refreshed mind, body, and spirit.
AND FINALLY…..
Many believe ayahuasca to be one of the most profound healers on the planet, with the potential to improve both physical and mental illness, viewing the body as a reflection of the soul, spirit, and heart.
The profound wisdom of ayahuasca remains shrouded in mystery, as indigenous communities have delved into its properties for millennia without ever fully realising its limitations. Regarded as a powerful teacher, aim to approach her with openness and receptivity, and hold your intentions loosely.
For more information on good practice relating to the safe administration of ayahuasca, please read the ICEERs “Ayahuasca-Good Practice Guide”:
For comprehensive advice on psychedelics, medicines and pharmacology please see:
PLEASE NOTE: This blog is intended for information only and does not substitute medical advice. I do not advocate the illegal use of substances.