Ayahuasca

Have you heard of the “Ayahuasca trip”? It’s a trip that is experienced for 4-6 hours on having a sacramental drink, Ayahuasca.
 
What is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca (pronounced ‘eye-ah-WAH-ska’) is a psychoactive brew prepared by the indigenous people of South America, particularly Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. It has been used in shamanic rituals for hundreds of years for treating different kinds of health ailments. The psychoactive substances present in the brew affect the brain and cause changes in mood, thinking and behaviour. Every year, thousands of people travel to the Amazonian rainforest to experience the psychedelic effect of the brew. 

The name “ayahuasca” is made up of two words- aya and wasca-derived from the Quechua language, where aya means soul or ancestors, and wasca (huasca) means vine or rope. Most people translate it as “vine of the soul.”

How’s it made?

Ayahuasca is a decoction that is made by a shaman or curandero- a type of healer using the leaves of Psychotria viridis plant and the stalk of Banisteriopsis caapi vine. The plant materials are cleaned, smashed and boils in water. Once the mixture reduces, more plant material is added to form a concentrated liquid and is strained when it is cooled.

Ayahuasca ceremony

The ceremony is a full night, involves drinking the brew under the guidance of the shaman. The shamans sing icaros – the songs, through which the mareación (the visionary effects of Ayahuasca) is enhanced. The hallucinogenic effect of the brew along with the surrounding music builds a deep connection to a higher intelligence and an understanding of one’s true self. 

The experienced people have said that they felt the plant speaking to them directly, and the voice was feminine. 

Before partaking in an ayahuasca ceremony, one must adhere to a recommended diet. They should avoid having alcohol, drugs, cigarette, caffeine or sex to purify their body. Sometimes the brew assists in flushing out the toxins and impurities that have accumulated in the body over the years by the process called purging (vomiting). After the purging, a fresh new outlook will be experienced. 

After consuming ayahuasca brew, the participants will feel its psychedelic effects (euphoria, hallucination and paranoia) within 1 hour, and the trip can last for up to 6 hours.

The secret

One of the components- leaves of Psychotria viridis, contains DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine), a tryptamine psychedelic substance that occurs naturally in plants. Although DMT is a powerful psychedelic chemical, it is rapidly degraded by monoamine oxidases (MAO, an enzyme present in the liver and gastrointestinal tract).

The second component of the brew, the stalk of Banisteriopsis caapi vine, contains a group of harmala alkaloids (also known as β-carbolines) that inhibits the MAO enzyme and promotes the oral bioavailability of DMT.

Combining the two components, a powerful psychedelic liquid is formed, which when consumed, have an effect on the central nervous system leading to hallucination, euphoria and paranoia.

Action of DMT

DMT, also called “spirit molecule is a hallucinogenic tryptamine drug that occurs naturally in animals and plants. It is available as a drug in the market, and people take the exogenous source in the form of smoke, brew or as an injection. 

In comparison to other psychedelic drugs, such as LSD, ketamine, and magic mushrooms, recreational users of DMT consider it to have the lowest side effect profile.

Many people report their “consciousness” leaving their body, zooming through kaleidoscopic tunnels into space, where time is distorted, and they speak to alien entities. Why is this happening? No clue.

DMT is structurally related to the neurotransmitter serotonin. When it enters the brain, it binds with the serotonin receptors. In this scenario, the brain is flooded with a huge amount of serotonin, and its increased concentration promotes the excitation of specific neurons in the brain, which causes psychedelic effects.

DMT activates the main adult neurogenic niche, the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, promoting newly generated neurons in the granular zone.

Potential side effects of Ayahuasca

People who consume ayahuasca experiences diarrhoea, paranoia, panic. Apart from these normal side effects, it gives undesirable effects to those having psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, psychosis, personality disorders, or bipolar disorder and with medications for depression, Parkinson’s disease, weight loss etc.

If the ceremony is not conducted under a legitimate shaman, then it could be dangerous, even leading to death.

Decision 

One should participate in an ayahuasca ceremony by his own decision, knowing the potential risks and benefits, under a well-trained shaman who knows the proper preparation procedure and dosage. 

So, those who want to experience the self in a deeper level, and go into a spiritual state cleansing all previous mental toxins accumulated from childhood, get rid of all the fears that you always wanted to be and to understand your true potential can try Ayahuasca.