Ayahuasca

What is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is the most popular name for the sacred drink used by indigenous cultures and tribes in tropical South America. In the indigenous Quechua language, the name Aya means "spirit", "ancestor"; and wasca/ huasca: "vine", "grapevine" or "rope"; ayahuasca is translated as "vine of spirits", "wine of souls" or "little death". Due to the variety of tribes and religious groups that use ayahuasca, it is also known by countless other names, such as Yagé, Caapi, Kamarampi, Kamalãpi, Nixi Pae, Uni, Vegetal, Hoasca, Daime and others. It consists of the decoction of two plants, the Jagube (Banisteriopsis caapi), a liana or mariri vine native to the Amazon rainforest, and the leaves of the Chacruna (Psychotria viridis), a shrubby plant of the coffee family.

Ayahuasca is now classified by ethnobotanists as a beverage with entheogenic properties (Greek entheos: "God within" and gen: "origin", "to become"; meaning "to be inspired by God" or "to become a manifestation of the divine"), which leads to extraordinary states of consciousness, facilitates self-knowledge, and improves a person's ability to deal with practical collective problems. Archaeological studies have shown that plants from this region have been used for their healing and psychoactive properties and have been part of Indian customs and rituals for thousands of years. In Brazil, the ritual use of Ayahuasca is still present in many tribes and traditions and is spreading, especially in urban areas, through various ayahuasca, neo-xamanic and religious groups.

However, its origins remain a great mystery to this day.

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What is it for?

This entheogenic beverage opens the gates of consciousness and expands the perception and understanding of reality in its various aspects, including the inner world, the psyche (soul or subconscious), the outer world, and the supernatural. Consumption of the tea leads to an increase in this awareness and an altered sensitivity of the physical and extraphysical senses: vision, hearing, touch, smell, taste, and etheric/astral vision are enhanced. This tool allows us to access the different dimensions and levels of reality of the consciousness of our own being, where many questions, answers and insights about life and death can emerge, as well as the manifestation of healing on different levels. Above all, we can discover a sense of oneness and wholeness with Universal Cosmic Consciousness, God, Divinity, the Universe, Energy, the All-One.

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Active ingredients

As mentioned above, Ayahuasca is a brew of two plants.

The substance Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), also known as the "consciousness molecule", is contained in the leaves of the Chacruna plant as a potent bioactive and psychoactive agent that actively influences consciousness and our psyche (Greek: soul). This chemical occurs naturally in various species of plants, fungi, and animals, and is even produced by the human body in certain situations, such as at birth, in dreams, or during the dying process.

Structure Dimethyltryptamine Molecule

When taken orally, DMT is broken down directly by the monoamine oxidase enzymes (MAOI) found in the stomach and nerve cells of the human body. This prevents it from developing its full effect, which is why the Ayahuasca vine (Jagube) is needed as a second component. This plant contains an alkaloid that inhibits the enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), which allows DMT to cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the serotonin receptors in the brain, where it unfolds its entheogenic and psychotropic effects on the human body.

Leaves of the chacruna plant

Ayahuasca is a sacred medicine that is non-toxic and causes no physical, emotional or mental harm. The psychoactive effect wears off after a certain time, which means that the substance ingested is broken down naturally by the body without leading to addiction. The origin and quality of the Ayahuasca as well as the seriousness of the people who supervise and manage this work are of great importance.

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Why should you use it?

Each of us lives and embodies our own world. This happens on the level of ideas, visions and concepts as well as on the physical and material level. The depth of experiences, visions, messages and learning from plant medicine happens in an individual and subtle way during meditation and reflection, and everyone experiences only what is necessary for their present moment. Ayahuasca is a master guide that leads and directs us to reconnect with our divine essence. It helps us to activate the sublime energies and allows us to access healing from trauma and illness in different areas, psychosomatic, emotional, mental and physical. The experience of the supernatural and contact with the divine is always accessible to human beings, regardless of the use of Master Plants. However, the use of this tool facilitates access to this higher consciousness, which is sometimes neglected, ignored or completely forgotten.

Liana of the Ayahuasca plant (Jagube)

Through contact with the medicine, we reach a state of consciousness in which direct communication with our own Higher Self, the Soul/Spirit, becomes clear and possible. This reconnection and rediscovery of the cosmic consciousness within us expands our horizons, brings a new perspective on everything, and inspires us to make significant changes in our lives that directly affect how we interact with the outer world in which we live. We develop new skills, psychic abilities, and new ways of dealing with everyday problems as the situations we find ourselves in and our relationships with everything and everyone around us take on a new perspective.

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Effects and procedure

The ceremony is led by a spiritual guide, shaman, healer, or devotional leader. This person has the knowledge of the medicinal plants and the wisdom to conduct the spiritual-energetic ritual with devotion and respect, creating a harmonious, safe and trusting environment for all participants. The ceremony lasts approximately five hours and is conducted in silence and meditation. During the ritual, each participant receives two doses of the plant medicine, although the dose may vary depending on the assessment. Between 15 and 40 minutes after ingestion, there is an increase in neurotransmitters, which increases the state of mental clarity and concentration. From this point on, the effect can be felt throughout the body; a slight feeling of pressure in the chest and an accelerated heartbeat may occur.

It is completely normal to have unusual sensations during the session, to feel strange, to feel intense cold or heat or both at the same time, physical discomfort, nausea, sickness, dizziness, tremors, feelings of restlessness and euphoria, altered visual perception, and much more. These are normal physical side effects caused by the effects of the herbal medicine and can often lead to an increase in confusion and mental agitation. It is also quite natural that during this process a so-called "cleansing" may take place through vomiting, diarrhea, urination, crying, or even yawning. This is seen as a kind of cleansing process that takes place through the elimination of debris on a physical, mental and energetic level. Therefore, it is important to remain in a state of calm and relaxation, focusing on the background music and the practice of deep breathing, as these are fundamental tools that can accompany us and positively influence our inner journey.

The description of what it means to connect with the spirit of this masterful and sacred plant is both challenging and inspiring. It invites us to access the divine within and to discover that there are no rules to this connection. Sensory experiences manifest in different ways and are always different from person to person, each experiencing their own vision that corresponds to their life and learning path. Our world as we know it is in a process of dissolution, transformation and ascension into new dimensions of consciousness. All of nature, the various kingdoms, the living beings and, of course, human beings are affected by these changes. This process is not always easily accepted and understood by all people because we are deeply rooted and connected to the illusion of ego in the physical-material world, which can cause an uncomfortable feeling for many. But dissolving this world that suggests we are the ego, and the ego that suggests we are separate beings, is absolutely necessary for us to recognize the great truth behind this dream that sometimes masquerades as a nightmare. Only then can we realize that we are connected to everything and everyone, because in reality we are one. "Self-knowledge leads to the internalization of the phrase "We are one" and permanently changes our world view and our actions in the environment. This is the meaning of "I am because we are" - "Ubuntu".

"Ubuntu" is the South African philosophy of connectedness.
It is based on the recognition that people can only live through the existence of others.

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Before the ritual - What you need to know!

In order to unleash the full potential of the Ayahuasca medicine during the ritual and to have a deeper experience, a diet based on light and healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, potatoes, rice and cereals is recommended.

Some foods containing the amino acid tyramine do not go well with Ayahuasca. The MAO inhibitor contained in these foods leads to an accumulation of this amino acid in the body, which can lead to an increased release of adrenaline during the ceremony and subsequently to headaches and an exponential increase in heart rate.

In traditional cultures, especially in South America, there has always been knowledge of complex diets in shamanic practice. For days, weeks or even months, people eat baked or boiled bananas with white rice and fish, without salt, sugar or oil. There is sexual abstinence, and one lives in complete seclusion in a hut in the middle of the forest. Diets often begin with the ingestion of emetics made from various plants such as tobacco, yawarpanga, or other jungle plants. The goal is to purify the body and especially the psyche, and to sensitize the person to the effects of the plants ingested, so that they can bring more benefits and develop their potential. Originally, such diets were a way of healing and part of the training of shamans. The extent to which you want to prepare yourself by fasting, strict diet, meditation, etc. before taking ayahuasca is up to you. You can maintain your usual eating habits or, like many others, take the time to cut down on salt and sugar for a few weeks or days, or even fast completely for a few days. Basically, a healthy diet, preferably vegetarian or even vegan, light meals and good physical condition can facilitate the ayahuasca experience and lead to deeper insights and experiences.

For this reason, it is advisable to begin preparations two weeks before the ceremony and to avoid dietary supplements. It is also recommended to reduce meat consumption and, above all, to refrain from taking narcotics and drugs.

One week before the ceremony

The use of marijuana and alcoholic beverages should be discontinued.
Avoid medications that have adverse effects in combination with MAO inhibitors, especially anti-allergic medications, antidepressants, psychotropic medications, pain relievers, nasal sprays, etc. (see Health section), as well as dietary supplements.

It is recommended to avoid the following 3 days before the start of the ceremony:

Narcotics, drugs and alcohol,
consumption of meat, fermented products and overripe cheeses,
excessive consumption of fats and oils, sugar, salt and spices,
excessive consumption of overripe fruit, nuts, seeds and chocolate.

Sexual abstinence is recommended 3 days before and 3 days after the ceremony.

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Health issues

Ayahuasca is a powerful medicine and should not be mixed or combined with any other substance or medication. In order to ensure that there are no risks involved in taking the medicine, it is very important that the questionnaire you receive after registering is filled out conscientiously and honestly.

There are some physical and mental conditions that are not recommended for taking ayahuasca. These include cardiovascular problems, especially heart problems such as high blood pressure. As the heart rate is increased by the ingestion and subsequent effects, we advise against taking it. Mental disorders include schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In general, opinions differ on mental disorders and how they can be directly influenced by ayahuasca. However, it is not advisable to take ayahuasca, especially in combination with medications taken for these conditions. If you wish to take ayahuasca anyway, a medical certificate and discontinuation of the medication are essential.

Below we have compiled an overview of which medications can lead to interactions in combination with Ayahuasca and should therefore be avoided at all costs!

MAOIs
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Antihypertensives/medication for high blood pressure
Appetite suppressants or diet pills
Medicines for asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing problems antihistamines
Medicines for colds, sinus problems, hay fever, or allergies
Sleeping pills and general tranquilizers
Blood vessel relaxants
Antipsychotics and antidepressants
St. John's wort
Methylphenidate
Muscle relaxants
Parkinson's medications
Pain relievers in general

Please note that this list is only an excerpt and does not claim to be exhaustive. If you have any uncertainties or important questions regarding medication in combination with ayahuasca, always consult an experienced doctor you trust.

Form

Health questionnaire

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After the ritual

The effect of the extended perception of reality can last for about 8 hours. It gradually wears off as the senses and state of consciousness return to normal and only the memories remain. It is quite normal that after a ceremony we try to categorize it as good, bad, positive or negative or simply recount what we have experienced. The experience of an ayahuasca ceremony is individual and intimate. It is important that everyone observes for themselves what they can take away from this experience, from what they perceived, experienced and felt. It is a great challenge to describe and understand the experiences with medicine because they are difficult or even impossible to access for the human mind, as they are inherent to the soul and spirit, but also because they are presented subjectively, too abstractly and sometimes mysteriously.

It is advisable to think deeply about the experience, without attempting to label or classify, and to be open so that an understanding can emerge. In many cases this happens immediately, while in other cases it may take days, months, years or even an indefinite period of time to process and integrate certain experiences or even come to a conclusion. Often we can evaluate an experience as positive and pleasant because it evokes a state of happiness or deep peace. On the other hand, some experiences can be unhappy or traumatic, associated with great pain and suffering, which leads us to judge them prematurely as negative, ultimately leading to judgment and rejection.

In addition, there are experiences that we call mixed, as they move between these two spectrums, evoking feelings of happiness and serenity that gradually alternate with moments of sadness or discouragement and vice versa. Finally, there are experiences that we call neutral, where access to “power” (expanded states of consciousness and intense visions) does not occur. This does not mean that nothing has happened, but only that the experience has manifested in a subtle and imperceptible way and has not come to the surface at the moment, although it remains stored in the subconscious and may reveal itself in due course.

In all cases, contact with powerful plant medicine leads to a profound shift in thinking and significant changes in the people who engage with it. It is quite natural to experience sudden changes in perception of reality and a sense of rebirth that can affect our consciousness and behavior, leading to changes in personality and, most importantly, the manifestation of profound healings.

At the end of the ceremony, participants have the opportunity to rest, have a light meal and share their experiences with the group. We consider this sharing to be very positive, because by sharing in words, the interlocutor not only has the opportunity to express himself, but also to listen, which facilitates access to valuable information that can lead to new perspectives, observations and clarifications of one's own experiences. We believe in the power of the word and that a friendly conversation can often support the inner process of change and healing. This does not necessarily have to happen on the same day, as we often need more time to process what we have experienced.