Ayahuasca
Also known as: Yagé, Daime, The Vine, Waska
Category: Psychedelic brew (DMT + MAOIs)
Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian brew made by combining the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with DMT-containing plants like Psychotria viridis. The vine contains MAOIs, which allow orally consumed DMT to become psychoactive by preventing its breakdown in the gut. The effects typically begin within 30 minutes and last around four hours, often involving vivid visions, emotional release, and deep introspection. Used for centuries in Indigenous spiritual and healing ceremonies, ayahuasca’s effects align with classic psychedelics but carry a distinctly visionary and somatic tone.
History & Culture
Used for over a thousand years by Indigenous peoples across the Amazon—especially in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia
Central to shamanic healing, divination, and the diagnosis of physical, psychological, or spiritual imbalances
Viewed not just as medicine, but as a sacred teacher or spirit in many tribal cosmologies
In the 20th century, Santo Daime and União do Vegetal (UDV) emerged in Brazil—syncretic religions blending Christianity, Indigenous spirituality, and ayahuasca sacrament
Introduced to Western explorers, researchers, and anthropologists in the mid-1900s
Today, ayahuasca ceremonies are held globally—in retreat centers, spiritual communities, and neo-shamanic circles on every continent
Effects
Vivid visions, purging, ancestral imagery, emotional catharsis, time loops, and deeply symbolic narrative content. Often accompanied by icaros (healing songs).
Risks & Side Effects
Nausea and vomiting are common and traditionally viewed as a form of energetic or emotional purging (“la purga”)
May cause digestive upset, tremors, sweating, and transient increases in blood pressure and heart rate
Often induces intense emotional states, including fear, grief, or euphoria — emotional overwhelm is possible
In some cases, it may lead to dissociation, confusion, or short-term anxiety, especially in unprepared users
Can trigger psychosis or manic episodes in individuals with a personal or family history of psychotic disorders
Should not be combined with SSRIs, MAOIs, or psychiatric medications — due to risk of serotonin syndrome or dangerous interactions
A small number of participants in clinical settings report worsened anxiety or distress during integration if the experience is not properly supported
Adverse effects are often context-dependent — risk increases when used without trained facilitators, and without a safe setting, or integration support
Duration & Onset
Onset: 20–60 minutes
Peak: 1–2 hours
Total: 4–8 hours
Dosage
Varies by brew strength. Typically served in 1–3 small doses during a ceremony.
Interactions
Dangerous with SSRIs, SNRIs, stimulants, or tyramine-rich foods. Always follow the recommended diet protocols.
If you’re taking prescription medications or have a diagnosed mental health condition, always consult a medical professional or qualified psychedelic-informed therapist before use. Drug interactions can be complex, and set, setting, and personal health history all matter.
Therapeutic & Cultural Resonance
Used to treat trauma, addiction, and depression. Seen as a powerful "teacher plant" for transformation and spiritual realignment. Ceremonial use has expanded globally, blending Indigenous traditions with Western therapeutic frameworks.
However, this rising demand has led to concerns about cultural appropriation, overharvesting, and ayahuasca tourism—which can disrupt Indigenous communities, exploit sacred traditions, and threaten plant biodiversity. Ethical participation involves informed respect for cultural origins, transparency around facilitation, and awareness of ecological and social impact.
“Ayahuasca loves to take prideful people and rub their nose in it. I mean it can make you beg for mercy like nothing. You have to really approach it humbly."
- Terence McKenna
Integration Tips
Requires long-term integration. Diet, dreams, journaling, therapy, and community support are vital.
Watch
This 15-minute short film explores how ayahuasca—often marketed as a mystical shortcut to healing and enlightenment—has become entangled in a cycle of commodification and cultural extractivism. Indigenous storyteller Nina Gualinga reflects on how these practices impact the Amazon and its people.
