Ayahuasca promotes brain health and psychological well-being, as studied by some researchers. Discover other of its benefits, as well as its possible adverse effects.
Ayahuasca, also known by the name of yagé , is a traditional drink of various indigenous peoples of the Amazon. In general, it is used for spiritual and religious purposes.
Today there are those who still consider it a sacred brew. While others believe that it could benefit health, treating problems of addiction, anxiety and depression. We show you more details about ayahuasca and its hallucinogenic effects.
What is ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is a decoction is prepared when two plants themselves Amazon combine: the Banisteriopsis caapi , common name ayahuasca or yagé , and Psychotria viridis , known as chacruna or chacrona . Now, although these are considered the main ingredients, adding other components is also allowed.
It is believed that the first to prepare this concoction and use it for spiritual and religious purposes were the ancient Amazonian tribes of what is now Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia. Today, it is still used for religious rites, as is the case with the Santo Daime church in Brazil.
By tradition, it is the shaman, an experienced healer, who is in charge of presiding over the ayahuasca ceremonies and preparing the infusion. To do this, clean and crush the Banisteriopsis caapi stems , add them to a pot with water and, together with the Psychotria viridis leaves , wait for them to boil.
Once the concoction is reduced, remove the water, reserve it, and set the plant debris aside. The shaman will repeat this process as many times as necessary to obtain a concentrated liquid, which when cooled must be strained to remove impurities.
Why does this experience occur?
Ayahuasca can alter the perception of reality of those who consume it. According to research published in The Mental Health Clinician , this is because its main ingredients, the plants Psychotria viridis and Banisteriopsis caapi , have hallucinogenic properties.
On the one hand, Psychotria viridis is a source of N, N-dimethyltryptamine or DMT, a substance that acts as a powerful hallucinogen, but has little bioavailability, since it is degraded by monoaminooxidase (MAO) enzymes in the liver and intestinal tract. .
On the other hand, Banisteriopsis caapi contains MAO inhibitors (MAOIs), called β-carbolines , which are necessary for DMT to take effect.
In this sense, the combination of these plants turns ayahuasca into a psychedelic drink that has a direct effect on the central nervous system, capable of altering consciousness to the point of causing hallucinations, out-of-body experiences and euphoria.
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