It turns out that the dimethyltryptamine (DMT) substance contained in Ayahuasca is already on the list of the Dutch opium law. This problem had already been discussed in court with members of the Santo Daime church using a brew similar to Ayahuasca the “Daime” for their religious rituals.

Like the United States, Santo Daime has been officially recognized as a religion by the Netherlands. Therefore the use of the drink “Daime” was allowed in the strict context of their religious rituals in accordance with the European Convention of Human Rights. Several charges had been filed against members of Santo Daime but resulted always in an acquittal.

This is an appeal procedure brought by the prosecutor at the Amsterdam court which will perhaps put an end to this “preferential regime”. By verdict of 28 February 2018 the Amsterdam court includes Ayahuasca with the DMT, and according to the opium law it is declared a threat to public health and society in general. This decision, which did not take religious considerations into account, seems largely motivated by the explosion of the use of Ayahuasca in the Netherlands in recent years.

A glimmer of hope

This case nevertheless seems far from closed. The defense appealed to the Supreme Court in The Hague. This case may even go to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. That gives back some hope and also give to Santo Daimes a little respite since the decision of the Supreme Court of the Hague ruling on the judgment of the Amsterdam court will only be issued within one or two years.

Meanwhile a team of experts will be formed to counter the current decision of the Amsterdam court. An important argument could be made against the recent attachment of Ayahuasca to DMT. The International Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 outlawed dimethyltryptamine (DMT). But this does not apply to plants containing DMT. Therefore, preparations from such plants as Ayahuasca are not prohibited.

However, faced with the craze of Ayahuasca, cases will succeed and it’s a safe bet that the current “gray zone” in which is the Ayahuasca now can not survive as long as the absence of legal and therapeutic framework remains. In this regard, we invite you to consult our article on the latest researches on Ayahuasca and the project of its use in psychiatric institutions in Zurich.

The post Ayahuasca now banned in the Nederlands appeared first on Ayahuasca-Retreats.info.

It is above all a powerful emetic acting on the stomach, the digestive system and the urinary system. It also helps to get rid of parasites and some microbial infections. Native Amazonians have been using Ayahuasca for millennia. In many tribes, especially in Brazil, it is consumed in a collective ritual where all members of the tribe (including children) are invited. This collective medicine can be compared to another Amazonian medicinal practice called “Kambo”, known as the forest vaccine. But Ayahuasca’s collective rituals often look more like a party than a mass vaccination campaign. Indeed, ayahuasca is not only an emetic but one of the most powerful natural antidepressants. Scientists are just beginning to measure its true potential. Meanwhile, Amazonian tribes far from wondering about the issue are just healing themselves by consuming and vomiting Ayahuasca and get drunk.

Another aspect of Ayahuasca is the effects and visions it causes. Many Westerners looking for a cure for various diseases such as psychological disorders have begun their initiation with this medicine. This growing phenomenon and some misusings have led Western countries to qualify Ayahuasca as a drug and prohibit it. Nevertheless, a growing number of Westerners continue to travel to Peru, “the mecca of Ayahuasca”. They sometimes stay for months in indigenous communities or in Ayahuasca centers, with generally positive results, especially in the case of psychological traumas. Scientists on their side did not remain inactive, and some of them took the risk of doing research on this controversial medicine.

It appears that ayahuasca, a mixture of two plants (Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis) has a great medicinal potential that is not limited to the treatment of psychological disorders, but may well help cure many modern degenerative diseases such as autoimmune diseases, certain cancers, neuropsychiatric diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, bipolar disorder, atherosclerosis, diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disorders… Click on this following link to read more about Ayahuasca chemistry . “We already knew it!” Would say the natives. It is deeply human to be wary of foreign medicine like Chinese one for example, just because it does not fit our way of thinking.

Traditional Amazonian medicine is not just about Ayahuasca

Since their medicine has so much potential, it would be wise to learn and consider all of their healing process as a whole. And I have to apologize to the skeptic and Cartesian minds, but that also includes shamanism. Amazonian shamans call themselves vegetalists. This means they have a strong spiritual connection with medicinal plants called “master plants” acquired during a hard process of restrictions called “the diet” that one could compare to asceticism. These plants are their teachers and help shamans make a diagnosis to heal their patients. They also give shamans the power to heal by giving them medicine songs (ikaros) that they use in Ayahuasca rituals.

What can Amazonian shamans teach us about medicine? One of the most crucial aspects of healing is to fully engage in the process. And that may involve drastically changing our way of life to restore health and harmony within. All this is common sense you might say, and resembles the teachings of many Eastern philosophies. To be healthy or to heal we need to pay attention to what we eat, how we feel and what we think. Did not the father of Western medicine, Hypocrates, say, “Let your food be your medicine”. The well-known “mens sana corpore sano”, a healthy mind in a healthy body is still used today.

The origin of degenerative diseases

We knew this before, but it was before embracing our modern way of life. Junk food, stress, pollution, addictive behavior, all these factors seem to cause chronic inflammation at the base of modern degenerative diseases, as recent research suggests. Combined with cellular stressors, including cell suicide, a vicious cycle occurs, resulting in abnormal protein build-up, followed by complications. These chronic inflammations seem to have their origin in the microbial degradation of the intestines increasing the intestinal permeability.

So most modern diseases would have originated from the intestines… but it is precisely the favorite terrain of Ayahuasca! As stated before, it is an emetic, cleansing the digestive system of parasites and microbial infections. Since the DMT (psychoactive substance) contained in Ayahuasca is a serotonin agonist (capable of mimicking serotonin), it actually increases the level of serotonin but also increases the brain’s ability to capture it. This helps to gradually reduce stress and provide the patient with greater emotional stability.

But there is another neuro-receptor capable of capturing the DMT contained in Ayahuasca; the Sigma 1-R receptor. And it appears to play a major role in curing degenerative diseases. Recent research tends to prove that it prevents the accumulation of misfolded proteins, reduces the apostose cells (cell suicide) under stress as well as cellular stress. Other research reveals that Ayahuasca has anti-cancer potency. It destroys cancer cells, inhibits sugar consumption by cancer cells (warburg effect) and blocks their spread.

Is Ayahuasca an alternative to modern diseases?

Thus, Ayahuasca proves to be a potential alternative to cure most degenerative diseases. Some people have already taken the risk of healing with Ayahuasca and have gone to Peru to cure cancer for example. Some have healed, others have not. Like modern medicine, it is not 100% sure that you can cure yourself of serious diseases like cancer. It also depends on what type of illness you have and the level of its progression, but also consider that traditional Amazonian medicine can not be reduced simply to Ayahuasca. It is a medicinal science that combines hundreds of plants, and unfortunately we are sorely lacking in information about it … One or a few of these plants will be consumed by the patient during a process called “healing diet”. This is a very important process and much of the outcome will depend on how the patient gets involved in this process. Then there is also the power of the shaman. They know how to cure various diseases but sometimes their “diet” or their knowledge is not adapted to cure serious diseases. You would do well to choose the right one. Therefore, it is also difficult to speak with certainty about the effectiveness of a cure with traditional Amazonian medicine. So many factors are at stake.

Many Westerners have since experienced Ayahuasca during a retreat in Peru and spoke of it as a strong and unique experience. During the Ayahuasca sessions, they were able to see what was wrong in their lives, and during this emotional , spiritual and physical process they were able to see what needed to be changed in order to heal themselves and restore harmony. In many cases, it led to radical changes in addictions, spirituality, work, place of life and even relationships. It’s easy to advise to eat healthy and with plenty of fresh food, live close to nature away from stress and pollution; however, modern society is adapted to an urban lifestyle where most people live and work, and it’s even harder to consider when you have a serious illness. When we do become ill, we take pills and sometimes follow dietary restrictions in order to be operational again, but as soon as we feel better we return to our routine as if nothing had happened. Over time, inflammations and stress factors weaken our bodies while diseases become more severe and sometimes to the point where we can no longer be operational. We Westerners should really reconsider the concept of healing as a whole and admit the obvious. We are the master of our lives, and we have the choice to change for our well-being.

Warnings and therapeutic limits

Despite all this, and the extraordinary potential of Ayahuasca, it is necessary to approach this practice with great circumspection, especially in the case of serious illnesses. We advise people with serious illnesses not to take Ayahuasca without preparing themselves in advance. The acidity of Ayahuasca combined with acidity and weakness of the body could cause a devastating effect. As with many other diseases, the patient will have to undergo a cleansing process that can last one or two months as appropriate, before working with Ayahuasca. One must take care as well with serious psychological disorders such as psychosis or bipolar disorder.

Although Ayahuasca has proved very effective in dealing with psychological problems, we can not deny that the framework in which traditional Amazonian medicine is practiced does not offer the same level of security as modern psychiatric institutions. Several cases of suicide, psychosis and decompensation syndromes have been reported in some healing centers in Peru. This lack of framework is easily understandable since  traditionally, healers did not treat this type of modern psychological disorder in their own communities. Although they have sometimes had to deal with people who have “lost their minds” and are aware of Ayahuasca’s possible interactions with modern psychiatric treatments, they are not always prepared to respond to crises or regressive episodes. Some Western-run centers like Takiwasi based in Tarapoto, Peru, provide a safe framework for patients with psychological issues.

Legal use of Ayahuasca in western lands: dream or reality?

It seems that the great therapeutic potential of Ayahuasca no longer seems to be in doubt. But if we want to open the chapter of traditional Ayahuasca medicine to the Western world, we must take into account the needs of the modern world in order to practice Ayahuasca safely. Several so-called shamans organize Ayahuasca ceremonies in Western countries. These people who surf the “Ayahuasca business” without having received a reall “jungle training”, practice Ayahuasca out of traditional settings and often ignore the true potential of this medicine. This will not help Western countries to reconsider Ayahuasca as a serious therapeutic alternative. We recommend to people who want to heal with Ayahuasca to practice it in ceremony with serious shamans. If it is not possible for them to travel, at least choose qualified practitioners who have been “jungle trained” according to tradition, and whom have been really dedicated to this medicine. It would not occur to us to be operated on by an unskilled surgeon. It’s the same with Ayahuasca.

Switzerland new eldorado?

How could we consider the legal therapeutic use of Ayahuasca in Western countries? There have been some precedents with LSD for example. Stanislav Groff treated his patients with LSD in a psychiatric hospital and had good results, but when LSD was banned he had to stop his research.

In Switzerland, however, the country of A.Hoffman who invented of LSD, research on psychedelic therapies never really stopped. In Zurich, several psychiatrists including Dr Franz X. Vollenweider or Dr Milan Scheidegger to name a few are working on protocols for the therapeutic use of psychedelics such as hallucinogenic mushrooms in the treatment of psychological disorders. A Swiss citizen recently told me that Ayahuasca was of great interest to the medical authorities and that they were in the process of reconsidering the use of Ayahuasca for therapeutic purposes. If it’s true it truly is a big step for humanity, but a small step for the recognition of native peoples. Do doctors have the qualifications to know how to practice this medicine in its true potential as shamans do? Obviously not.

However in the same country, a collaborative project was born, with the aim of legally practicing Ayahuasca traditional medicine in Switzerland in collaboration with ashaninca shamans from Brazil. We wish them a lot of success and hope that this project will help create a synergistic model combining modern medicine and traditional Ayahuasca medicine for the benefit of all.

Sources: 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4773875/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4687784/

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Ayahuasca-retreats.info invites you to participate in a retreat of Ayahuasca in the shipibo community of Dinamarca, near the city of Pucallpa in Peru. These stays in immersion of a minimum of twelve days to one month take place in a family of healers, under the guidance of two accomplished maestros with more than twenty years of experience in the medicine. You will be welcomed upon your arrival in Pucallpa. Two apprentices will participate as organizers and facilitators to ensure the logistics of your stay, providing translation services (French, English, Spanish, German), and psychological support.

Healing Center in Dinamarca

Situated on shipibo-conibo's land, the community of Dinamarca is one of the cradles of traditional amazonian medicine.

Why taking  Ayahuasca during a Retreat ?

Concerning the question of knowing the value of taking a trip to Peru to participate in a retreat with Ayahuasca, there is another question that might be worthwhile. Why spend in an Ayahuasca retreat in Peru when you can find Ayahuasca in your own country? It is quite plausible that by simply taking Ayahuasca, one can achieve visions, and perhaps even teachings. However, this quest for vision could also be done with other psychotropic drugs such as hallucinogenic mushrooms or LSD. Why then want to experience Ayahuasca by far the most unpleasant psychotropic, if not for the purpose of initiation? And how can one come to learn Ayahuasca without guides, referents or therapeutic framework? One needs to understand that Ayahuasca is not just a strico-senso simple beverage. It is a medicine belonging to a coherent whole, bringing together the ancestral knowledge of the healers, their connections to the spiritual worlds of the master plants, and their knowledge of the medicinal plants. Thus, to truly live this experience and fully benefit from its therapeutic potential, it seems essential to approach this medicine in a traditional context. This is what an Ayahuasca retreat can offer.

First it offers a therapeutic and safe environment under the guidance of traditional healers. Their knowledge of medicine and the spiritual worlds associated with them are accompanied by a protocol which is the pathway to the introduction to the medicine of master plants. By connecting to the master plants, the patient initiates a dialogue with their spiritual world, the purpose of which is to reconnect with oneself, to measure one’s true potential, and the path that will have to do to make this vision a reality. Finally, undertaking this journey of initiation is to give real value to his experience, so that these few weeks are dedicated to him entirely. To implement the conditions conducive to its evolution is already the first step required for all changes.

What is included in these retreats ?

How can I book for this retreat ?

To validate your subscription to one of our retreats, you will be asked to pay a deposit by bank transfer of a minimum of 50 % of total amount. As soon as the transfer is done, your participation for the retreat is confirmed. Otherwise, your booking may be denied. The deposit can not be refunded. On the other hand, if you are unable to participate in the retreat, this amount will be provisioned for a later date. The balance has to be paid before the beginning of the retreat in cash (USD or EUROS). Banknotes must be intact. Precision for dollars, we do not accept banknotes whose numbers begin with the letters CB. Regarding the payment of your stay, if you didn’t pay in advance, we advise you to come with cash. Some credit cards are not functioning in Peru. Also, Peruvian banks put also daily & monthly limits on foreign cards. You might not be able to pay for your stay.

How to contact us ?

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Can I take Ayahuasca ?

Regarding your physical or psychological state, the healers can reserve themselves the right not to give Ayahuasca to a patient if they feel that his physical or mental health could be compromised. But this does not prevent anybody who seeks for healing to receive a treatment. It is not necessary to take Ayahuasca to be healed. Traditionally only the healer drinks Ayahuasca in order to see what type of energy or misbalance of energy is affecting the patient. Traditional amazonian medicine doesn’t resume itself with Ayahuasca. For amazonian people, the most important part of the healing is the Diet. We invite you to see if you’re able or not to consume Ayahuasca by reading the chapter speaking about contraindications related with the consumption of Ayahuasca.

Recommendations

In order to guarantee a suitable environment for all the participants during the retreat, it is asked to respect certain instructions. The retreat is a moment of introspection for everyone, dedicated for a therapeutic work. It is important to respect this framework as well as the rules of community life. Each participant will be into a process that can lead to emotional instability. These transition phases are completely normal. Nevertheless, everyone has the right to live this experience serenely. It is important to ensure that everyone’s space of tranquility is respected, especially in the rooms. Dining room or maloca on the other hand are spaces dedicated for sharing and communication.

During the ceremonies, it is asked to come to Maloca ( house where ceremonies are taking place) 20 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony, in order to prepare and focus on your intention. During the ceremony, there may be difficult times. The healers are there for you and will take care of all the participants. However, do not hesitate to call on the facilitators who are there to accompany you and to help you if necessary. Maloca is a sacred space. We ask you to respect the workspace of the healers, and to remain silent as much as possible until the end of the ceremony. For your safety, we ask every participants to stay near the maloca during the ceremony, until the effects of Ayahuasca vanish.

By joining this retreat, each participant commits himself to respect the therapeutic protocol established by the healers including the respect of the diet.If a patient violates these prerogatives, he may compromise his own safety and the safety of other patients.

The post Two Weeks Immersion Retreats in Peru – Spirit of the Amazon appeared first on Ayahuasca-Retreats.info.

Preparation for the Ayahuasca Ceremony

Here are some important recommendations to follow before attending a ceremony. Like the Diet (see the diet of master plant chapter), it is important to follow certain rules in order to prepare for the care process and to ensure everyone’s safety. Like all energetic treatments, it is about preparing the body and mind for deep cleansing including some dietary and behavioral modifications. The work with Ayahusca begins with the implementation of these recommandations. It allows each patient to seriously consider this work and fully invest oneself, to ensure optimum results.

Process of an Ayahuasca Ceremony

An Ayahuasca ceremony lasts about 4 to 6 hours. It always takes place at night in an enclosed space, traditionally in a maloca (house of spirits). Each participant sits on his mattress and takes time to meditate on his intentions and the work he wants to accomplish during this ceremony. Then begins the distribution. In turn, the participants will come to sit in front of the healing maestro to receive Ayahuasca. Once the shot is drunk, the group waits in silence until the effects begin to be felt after about 40 minutes, sometimes less.

Culturally, only the healer drank Ayahuasca to diagnose and care for his patients. Participants are not required to drink Ayahuasca for treatment. It is a personal choice that must be decided according to its needs and objectives.

Ceremony opening

The healing maestro then begins the icaros, sacred songs to open the effects of Ayahuasca, the energy of his medicine, to allow all participants to enter a space of collective trance. After this step, the healer can work directly on the patients by providing them with specific care and make a diagnosis. This care can also be given in the form of massages. The healer also uses other tools such as chapaka (rattle), tobacco and perfumes, which he blows on the patient accompanied by the energy of his singing (soplada).

During the ceremony

During a ceremony, it is common to feel nauseous and experience vomiting and diarrhea. This process is a normal part of the purge and is often experienced as a release. This cleansing step resolves emotional, energetic, and physical blockages (see the chapter on the effects of Ayahuasca). The combination of the drink and the experience of the healer opens a space of trance punctuated with sensations, visions and introspection. Participants can see and experience all types of phenomena, meet animals, plants, observe geometric shapes, travel through space and time, … They can also receive help in the form of teachings, answers regarding their themes and initial intentions, in a process of healing and spiritual awakening. It would be tempting to summarize the Ayahuasca experience with mere hallucinations. It is only when one enters the world of Ayahuasca that one can really grasp the extent of it and begin to consider the extent of its possibilities.

End of the ceremony

The effects of Ayahuasca can last a good part of the night and sometimes until early morning. It is essential that the participant remains in the maloca or close to it until the effects dissipate. Once the effects are over they can go back to their room or sleep in the maloca. Sometimes the effects happen later. Should this be the case, do not hesitate to ask for help.

Food contraindications related to Ayahuasca

One week before the ceremony please refrain from consuming: 

• red meat (beef, lamb, veal, …)
• pork (ham and bacon included)
• seafood
• dairy products (yogurt, milk, cheese, butter, beurre, cream,…)
• fermented products (tofu, sauerkraut, soy sauce, niokmam, …)
• smoked products (dried fish, smoked salmon, …)
• protein extracts (steroids, liquids, …)
• canned soups, bouillon cubes
• dietary supplements (vitamins, hydrogenated foods, …)
• dried fruit (raisins, prunes)
• candied fruit
• dill seeds (in large quantities)
• Kombucha or other liquids from lacto-fermentation (in large quantities)
• caffeine, chocolate (in large quantities)
• aspartame
• hunger suppressant pills
• sodium glutamate (present in Chinese soups)
• As the ceremony approaches please reduce your consumption of oil, salt, pepper, condiments (peppers, mustard, vinaigrettes, pickles, Teriyaki sauce, …), sugar (sodas), pastries , biscuits.

Whenever possible, avoid eating industrially prepared meals. Instead, prefer healthy and natural food until the day of the ceremony.

Behavioral contraindications related to Ayahuasca

One week before the ceremony it is imperative to refrain from: 

• all sexual practices! (masturbation included)
• We also recommend that you avoid watching pornographic videos or horror movies. The content of these tend to cause interference in the visions and can disrupt the smooth running of the ceremony.

DRUGS: You must refrain from using drugs at least two weeks before the ceremony and two weeks after the ceremony (including alcohol, tobacco may be consumed).

Medical contraindications related to Ayahusca

If you are subject or have been subject to the following pathologies, the consumption of Ayahuasca is not recommended:

• cardiovascular illnesses
• hypertension, tachicardia stroke, hypotension
• stroke
• diabetes (serious)
• asthma (serious)
• Crohn disease, intestinal ulcers
• psychological disorders resulting in psychiatric treatment
• schizophrenic state
• bipolar disorders
• psychoses
• psychoses depression during treatment (use of anti-depressant drugs such as IRSS should be stopped at least one month before taking Ayahuasca)
• Cancer or any other autoimmune disease

If you are pregnant or if you are breastfeeding, it is strongly discouraged to take Ayahuasca.

Please refer to chapter speaking about drugs & active principles contraindicated with the taking of Ayahuasca

Warnings

Even when in good hands, sometimes the first experiences with Ayahuasca are difficult and even in some cases very unpleasant. These negative effects are in most cases inevitable. They translate the lack of clarity of our heart, our body, our mind, … and have the effect of plunging us into a great confusion. The same confusion that lies inside, we see it as a whole, it can be confusing or even discouraging. This helps us, however, to become aware of the extent of the path we will have to go through, as well as the invaluable help that the healer can give us throughout this process.

On the subject of visions: it is also necessary to take a step back. One can misunderstand the meaning of visions because they are primarily constructed from our own cognitive material. Only time allows us to have an overall vision, and as the process progresses, the understanding that integrates deeply gets rid of the confusion little by little.

Messiah complex: It is tempting to want to identify with symbolic phenomena and to feel as the new prophet with the teachings that we receive during experiences with Ayahuasca. Be careful not to fall into the trap of the ego! Keep your feet on the ground or you may miss out on your experience.

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Preparation at Ayahuasca

“He who wants to travel far away takes care of his mount” An old adage certainly, but full of common sense. When getting ready to take a trip with Ayahuasca, one must observe some rules. It is an intense experience that can be dramatic if one has not respected the therapeutic framework in which it must be practiced. We ask you to read the following list in order to prepare yourself for your Ayahuasca ceremony with foresight.

At the same time, this period of preparation is conducive to introspection. What are the reasons that drive you to undertake this journey? What do you expect from this experience? What are in the shadows that you would like to see clearly? What are the personal questions you would like answered? Finally, what are the changes you would like to see in you?

Food Contraindications related to Ayahuasca Consumption

One week before the ceremony please refrain from consuming: 

• red meat (beef, lamb, veal, …)
• pork (ham and bacon included)
• seafood
• dairy products (yogurt, milk, cheese, butter, cream,…)
• fermented products (tofu, sauerkraut, soy sauce, niokmam, …)
• smoked products (dried fish, smoked salmon, …)
• protein extracts (steroids, liquids, …)
• canned soups
• dietary supplements (vitamins, hydrogenated foods, …)
• dried fruit (raisins, prunes)
• candied fruit
• dill seeds (in large quantities)
• Kombucha or other liquids from lacto-fermentation (in large quantities)
• caffeine, chocolate (in large quantities)
• aspartame
• hunger suppressant pills
• sodium glutamate (present in Chinese soups)
• As the ceremony approaches please reduce your consumption of oil, salt, pepper, condiments (peppers, mustard, vinaigrettes, pickles, Teriyaki sauce, …), sugar (sodas), pastries , biscuits.

Whenever possible, avoid eating industrially prepared meals. Instead, prefer healthy and natural food until the day of the ceremony.

Behavioral Contraindications related to Ayahuasca Consumption

One week before the ceremony it is imperative to refrain from: 

• all sexual practices! (masturbation included)
• We also recommend that you avoid watching pornographic videos or horror movies. The content of these tend to cause interference in the visions and can disrupt the smooth running of the ceremony.

DRUGS: You must refrain from using drugs at least two weeks before the ceremony and two weeks after the ceremony (including alcohol, tobacco may be consumed).

Contraindications related to Ayahusca Consumption

If you are subject or have been subject to the following pathologies, the consumption of Ayahuasca is not possible:

• cardiovascular illnesses
• hypertension, tachicardia stroke, hypotension
• stroke
• diabetes (serious)
• asthma (serious)
• Crohn disease, intestinal ulcers
• psychological disorders resulting in psychiatric treatment
• schizophrenic state
• bipolar disorders
• psychoses
• psychoses depression during treatment (use of anti-depressant drugs such as IRSS should be stopped at least six weeks before taking Ayahuasca)
• Cancer or any other autoimmune disease

If you are pregnant or if you are breastfeeding, it is strongly discouraged to take Ayahuasca.

Medicinal Plants contra-indicated with Consumption of Ayahuasca

It is advisable to stop using the following medicinal plants at least two weeks before taking Ayahuasca and two weeks after taking Ayahuasca:

• St. John’s wort (may cause heart failure)
• Wormwort/Wormwood/Mugwort/Absinth (Artemisias)
• Kava
• Kratom
• Ephedra
• Ginseng
• Yohimbe
• Sinicuichi
• Rhodiola Rosea
• Kanna
• Boswellia
• Nutmeg
• Scotch Broom
• Licorice Root 

Drugs and Active Principles Contraindicated with Ayahuasca Consumption

Contraindicated drugs include anti-depressants, anti-congestive, bronco-pulmonary, antiallergic, antihistamines, sedatives, tranquillizers, amphetamines (including Adderall), hypertension treatments, sympathomimetic amines including pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, carbamazepine, methylphemidate (Ritalin), macromerine, phenelanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, asarone / calamus, and ventolin. These treatments must be suspended at least two weeks before taking Ayahuasca and two weeks after taking Ayahuasca. For Prozac type anti-depressants and ISSR, treatment should be discontinued 6 weeks before Ayahuasca.

However, it is possible to consider working with plants by combining a gradual reduction of anti-depressants in favor of plants until total cessation of anti-depressants. Taking Ayahuasca in this case is not to be considered before 6 weeks of treatment discontinuation.

A

• Actifed
• Adderall
• Alaproclate
• Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin)
• Amantadine hydrochloride (Symmetrel)
• Amineptine
• Amitriptaline
• Amoxapine (Asendin)
• Atomoxedine

B

• Befloxetone
• Benadryl
• Benylin
• Benzedrine
• Benzphetamine (Didrex)
• Bicifadine
• Brasofensine
• Brofaromine
• Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
• Buspirone (BuSpar)
• Butriptyline

C

• Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Epitol)
• Chlorpheniramine
• Chlor Trimeton
• Cimoxetone
• Citalopram
• Clomipramine (Anafranil)
• Codeine
• Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
• Cyclizine (Marezine)

D

• Dapoxotine
• Desipramine (Pertofrane, Norpramin)
• Desvenlafaxine
• Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
• Dextromethorphan (DXM)
• Dibenzepin
• Dienolide kavapyrone desmethoxyyangonin
• Diethylpropion
• Disopyramide (Norpace)
• Disulfiram (Antabuse)
• Dopamine (Intropin)
• Dosulepin
• Doxepin (Sinequan)
• Duloxetine

E

• Emsam
• Ephedrine
• Epinephrine (Adrenalin)
• Escitalopram

F

• Femoxitine
• Fenfluramine (Pondimin)
• Flavoxate Hydrochloride (Urispas)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Fluvoxamine
• Furazolidone (Furoxone)

G

• Guanethedine
• Guanadrel (Hylorel)
• Guanethidine (Ismelin)

H

• Hydralazine (Apresoline)
• 5 Hydroxytryptophan

I

• Imipramine (Tofranil)
• Iprindole
• Iproniazid (Marsilid, Iprozid, Ipronid, Rivivol, Propilniazida)
• Iproclozide
• Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
• Isoniazid (Laniazid, Nydrazid)
• Isoniazid rifampin (Rifamate, Rimactane)
• Isoproterenol (Isuprel)

L

• L dopa (Sinemet)
• Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa)
• Linezolid (Zyvox, Zyvoxid)
• Lithium (Eskalith)
• Lofepramine
• Loratadine (Claritin)

M

• Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
• Macromérine
• Medifoxamine
• Melitracen
• Meperidine (Demerol)
• Metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel)
• Metaraminol (Aramine)
• Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)
• Methyldopa (Aidomet)
• Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
• Mianserin
• Milnacipran
• Minaprine
• Mirtazapine (Remeron)
• Moclobemide
• Montelukast (Singulair)

N

• Nefazodone
• Nialamide
• Nisoxetine
• Nomifensine
• Norepinephrine (Levophed)
• Nortriptyline (Aventyl)

O

• Oxybutynin chloride (Ditropan)
• Oxymetazoline (Afrin)
• Orphenadrine (Norflex)

P

• Pargyline (Eutonyl)
• Parnate
• Paroxetine (Paxil)
• Pemoline (Cylert)
• Percocet
• Pethedine (Demero)
• Phendimetrazine (Plegiline)
• Phenergen
• Phenmetrazine
• Phentermine
• Phénelanine
• Phenylephrine (Dimetane, Dristan decongestant, Neo Synephrine)
• Phenylpropanolamine (in many cold medicines)
• Phenelzine (Nardil)
• Procarbazine (Matulane)
• Procainamide (Pronestyl)
• Protriptyline (Vivactil)
• Pseudoephedrine

Q

• Quinidine (Quinidex)

R

• Rasagiline (Azilect)
• Reboxetine
• Reserpine (Serpasil)
• Risperidone

S

• Salbutemol
• Salmeterol
• Selegiline (Eldepryl)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)
• Sibutramine
• Sumatriptan (Imitrex)

T

• Terfenadine (Seldane D)
• Tegretol
• Temaril
• Tesofensine
• Theophylline (Theo Dur)
• Tianeptine
• Toloxatone
• Tramidol
• Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
• Trazodone
• Tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Elavil)
• Trimipramine (Surmontil)
• Triptans

V

• Vanoxerine
• Venlafaxine (Effexor)
• Viloxezine

Y

• Yohimbine

Z

• Zimelidine
• Ziprasidone (Geodon)

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In a good number of alternative medicines, the deterioration of the patient’s physiological state is originally caused by psychological or emotional disorders. For Amazonian medicine, the health of the body and mind is inseparable. The observation of physical symptoms, psychological and mental disorders, emotional state, is considered globally as a series of phenomena originating from energetic disorder. According to them, man is composed of energies that represent his animal condition, his mode of feeding, his social and emotional relations, his beliefs, … He represents an energetic sum that should be released, channeled, harmonized and aligned. Of course, their conceptions of the energies differ from the Western view. They obviously reflect their cultures and traditions, but they are mostly related to the symbolic frame of reference and the cognitive material that Ayahuasca brings them.

The visions it provides as we saw earlier in the effects of ayahuasca, are diagnostic tools that have been used by these healers for thousands of years, this can also provide insight into the degree of affinity that these people have with this medicine. These communities hold an understanding and keys to reading a meaningful spiritual and sensory world that can guide the experienced traveler to the purpose of his journey. Thus one could say during an individual care for example, the healer will travel through his visions, unravel, clean and re-balance the “energies” affecting the individual, thanks to his experience and the energy of his icaros (sacred songs); which will result in a re-alignment of body and mind. The therapeutic effect on the physical and psychic body being the result of this energy balancing.

Amazonian Medicine and Plants

In order to understand what traditional Amazonian medicine is, let us imagine what the master plants represent for the peoples of the Amazon basin. Ayahuasca is commonly called “la madre” (the mother), tobacco is considered by some as the father, and so on … It must be understood that the plants are perceived by the Amazonian peoples as parents of the spiritual world, with whom they can communicate. Inseparable from nature and the plants that surround them, they have managed to bond with it, and have shaped a whole medicinal science. If mythologies differ between communities, the plants they use and the relationships they have with them are much the same. This is largely due to inter-tribal fluvial exchanges, which have always been practiced. Without this “sharing” of knowledge and medicinal plants, traditional Amazonian medicine could not have developed and still be passed on today. This is an important point to keep in mind when trying to learn about this medicine.

Traditional Medicine of Ayahuasca

The traditional medicinal use of “entheogenic” plants such as Ayahuasca leads the user to a modified state of consciousness. Entheogenic according to the Latin root “theos” – God, means to be converted into God inside, to be possessed by God, to feel God. In this sense, it allows us to reconnect with the soul that connects man to God. Ayahuasca makes it possible to touch with the finger what is sacred in the man. It revives the energy of life and awakens the divine part inherent to every human being. For the Amazonian people, the use of Ayahuasca is a way of living in full consciousness, like real human beings. Ayahuasca sublimates sensations, feelings, develops intuition, opens the doors of the imagination, and allows to enter a magico-religious spiritual world. For millennia, ancient indigenous cultures and their healers have been using this method of non additive trance without loss of lucidity, to treat various diseases, to question the world around them, to go to the root of problems and to recover health. The Ayahusca called “vine of death” is considered as “little death” because it leads us through a stage of destruction of the routines of life, vices, illusions of the ego, false beliefs, to then illuminate our consciousness, cut dependencies, heal relationships, in order to become strong and fully conscious.

Sacred Songs and Icaros

The icaro (shamanic song) contains a feeling, a consciousness and the power to guide participants during the Ayahuasca ceremony in the abyss of visions. The icaro heals and guards the patient while in the trance during treatment. Each master plant has its own medicine and icaros. When the healer connects to the energy of his plants, he receives their healing power and melodies that he then channels into an energetic song: the icaro.

There are two types of icaros, icaros in human language and icaros in nonhuman language. The human icaros are sung in the languages of the native peoples: shipibo, quechua, ashaninca, machiguenga, … They are a legacy of melodies, techniques and knowledge transmitted by the healers from generation to generation. Non-human spiritual languages are a deep language composed of unintelligible sounds referring to sounds of nature accompanied by beautifull melodies that the curandero channels as a message full of feelings. These icaos have no translation in human language but have a great emotional impact and an undeniable therapeutic value.

The Diet

The notion of Diet as the Amazonian natives conceive it does not correspond to our definition in the West. Originally the native peoples began a “Diet” to cure diseases or to support the tribe by becoming healers or hunters, … The Diet is a method of learning how to connect to the energy of a plant to receive its strength, power and knowledge. For the hunter or the fisherman this allows him to develop his instincts, to conceal his smell, and to detect the presence of animals. The healer began an apprenticeship in order to receive the healing power of plants, their knowledge of remedies, and their icaros.

The diet consists mainly in the preparation and taking of one or more master plants administered in a precise dosage and prescribed for a period defined by the healer. It is accompanied by dietary and behavioral restrictions in order to provide a therapeutic environment that is beneficial to the healing or learning process. Click on the following link if you wish to learn more about diets of master plants.

The Purge

It is common before initiating a process of care (Ayahusca ceremony and Plant Diet) that the healer gives his patient a purgative. There are several such as Tobacco that will be prepared as a decoction, the seeds of Piñon blanco will be toasted and then ingested, the bulb of the Azucena crushed and diluted, etc … These plants are toxic, emetic and laxative and must be carefully dosed and administered by a competent healer. It is advisable to drink a lot of warm water so that the purge can be carried out in depth, always under the supervision of the healer.

Traditional Amazonian medicine considers the treatment of a patient from these different angles: physiological, psychological, emotional, energetic … The purge represents an essential phase in the healing process because it acts on all these aspects both aimed at unloading the patient, cleansing and releasing the body to prepare for the Ayahuasca ceremony and allowing the plants to work in depth. At the end of the purge, the patient may still need some cleansing. Thanks to the Ayahuasca known for its purgative properties, the cleansing may possibly continue during ceremonies.

Flower baths and Steam baths

To help the patient in his process, the healer will administer healing in the form of flower baths. These are composed of master plants (it can be leaves or fragrant flowers) and sometimes colognes (ex: Agua de Florida). It is advisable not to rinse after bathing with the flowerbath so that the energy of the plants penetrates deeply into the patient’s body. Flower baths are used quite frequently before the Ayahuasca ceremonies to calm the mind and prepare the body to receive healing energy. Finally, let’s not forget that Ayahuasca is a gateway to the spiritual world of plants. Just as man is sensitive to nice smells, so are plants!

Steam baths are also part of the care of healers. Composed of boiled plants, the steam bath will penetrate the body in depth and cause sweating, to eliminate toxins from the body. Steam baths have been practiced all over the world, whether in huts or hamams. They are mainly used in case of fever, broncopulmonary infections, osteoarthritis, muscular pains, febrile states, etc … to evacuate the cold airs retained in the body.

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A hint of controversy

Apart from Ayahuasca being perceived as a tool for introspection and awakening, it must be emphasized that the visionary dimension of this medicine was traditionally the tool of diagnosis and care of the healer. Nowadays, it is often the main element that motivates Westerners to come to Ayahuasca retreats. Without condemning this approach, however, we must at least point out some current drifts. Indeed, Western practitioners tend to break free of tradition and offer a jumble of holistic practices around an Ayahuasca retreat, reducing this medicine to the new marketing product “trend”. One must remember that Ayahuasca is the heritage of the indigenous communities of Amazonia. Using Ayahuasca in this way demonstrates pure and simple appropriation, but above all ignorance of its real therapeutic potential.

Main Effect of Ayahasca

Drinking Ayahuasca causes a state of “modified” consciousness, a sort of meeting between the conscious and the unconscious that can bring the hewho consumes it to a state of dialectical lucidity. This visionary phenomenon makes it possible to be both the examiner and the examinee, and highlights the root of the conflicts that affect the individual. According to Dr. Riba’s neuroscience experiments (see below), Ayahuasca acts on emotional footprints by reactivating our old memories while keeping our conscious part awake. As the brain automatically links new experiences to old ones, the patient creates new connections in the brain to heal repetitive, harmful and limiting patterns. Sometimes, however, you feel lost, confused or panicked. These states are often unavoidable and represent our resistance to the phenomenon. This kind of resistance frequently causes most of the time a feeling of nausea very often followed by vomiting. Vomiting is also a symbolic act in which evil energies are expelled from oneself.

... I felt a kind of discomfort, I could not hold still on my mattress. While I struggled to keep my concentration, the effects became stronger and stronger, I began to sweat, my breathing was more and more difficult. I finally grabbed my bucket and started throwing up. I saw fluttering, black bugs coming out of my mouth. Then I slumped on my mattress. I was exhausted but strangely serene. A feeling of well-being was running through my body ...

— Testimony of a patient having drunk Ayahuasca

The hours following the ceremony are often times when one feels good and calm. Coincidence or not, Ayahuasca is an excellent anti-depressant (see chapter on the Ayahuasca Chemistry). This is also why it is very appreciated in the treatment of addictions, depressions and traumas. This feeling of well- being and liberation allows to accompany the patient in his process of care, an initial step to any subsequent work. The Ayahuasca ceremonies are a first approach that enables one to see the benefits of intense work, as in the context of a Diet of Master Plants.

Neurological effects :

Ayahuasca obviously activates the visual cortex. However other areas of the brain are also activated. According to Dr. Riba’s research, Ayahuasca activates the neo-cortex, the seat of perception, reason and decision-making ability. It also activates the amygdala, a region of the medial temporal lobe that contains all our old emotional memories including traumatic events, mourning,… The insular cortex is also activated. It is considered the link between our emotional impulses and our decision-making ability.

Physical effects and therapeutic use :

One can not speak of the effects of Ayahuasca without addressing its purgative properties. It is common at a Ayahuasca ceremony that the patient has nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, … This “cleaning” step is quite natural and happens in some communities for the most important phase of the process of healing. Note that purging is very often necessary so that the patient can have visions. Consumption of Ayahuasca may also be accompanied by physical pain other than nausea, such as stomach upset, headache, burning and heaviness on the skin, chills, sudden back pain or any other kind of pain in other parts of the body. These lasts one are often caused by “ghost” pains, residual energies from traumas, buried emotions, … They can also be the result of poor monitoring of the “diet” preceding the consumption of Ayahuasca. (See the contraindications related to the consumption of Ayahuasca).

Ayahuasca is also a potent anti-parasite that works on the digestive system and the urinary system. It also helps to rid the body of microbial organisms such as E. Coli, Salmonella, and  yeast. Besides, Ayahuasca also contains many active ingredients, including DMT.

It turns out that DMT could play a major role in the treatment of many degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, bipolar disorders, atherosclerosis, diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disorders as indicated in the following scientific article: The Therapeutic Potentials of Ayahuasca: Possible Effects against Various Diseases of Civilization.

Finally, Ayahuasca also has anti-carcinogenic properties. It stimulates the production of white blood cells promoting the destruction of cancer cells, stops the spread of cancer, and prevents the use of cancer cells (warburg effect). For more information, please refer to the following article : Ayahuasca and cancer treatment.

Energetical and emotional effects:

Ayahuasca has the property of harmonizing the energies by undoing the “knots” that could be present. The liberated energies then re-circulate in a more harmonious way. During this process of liberation, the buried emotions resurface. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by conflicting emotions. This is the case when a lot of emotional material is released at the same time. The direct consequence of this energy rebalancing is that one feels more “centered”, more energetically stable, able to look at what surrounds us with a new and more contemplative eye.

According to an article in Journal of Psychopharmacology, Ayahuasca activates the frontal and paralymbic regions of the brain, while inhibiting the passive mode “default mode network” that is supposed to manage self-awareness through introspection and autobiographical memories. This mode of functioning seems absent in regular Ayahuasca consumers who, on the other hand, tend to cultivate a form of mindfulness based on the feeling and the experience of feelings. Amanda Feilding, a British researcher who has worked with Dr. Jordi Riba, says that Ayahuasca acts on the mind and helps to free oneself from the grip of the ego. One study correlates this fact, demonstrating that the regular consumption of Ayahuasca could be likened to the practice of meditation, having the effect of detaching from one’s thoughts and emotions. It has also been shown that ayahuasca promotes neurogenesis (neuron production) as well as neuroplasticity (ability to modify the synaptic network), causing changes in communication between neural circuits carrying inappropriate addictive habits. Thus Ayahuasca stimulates the production of new neural circuits and facilitates a neurological rewiring of the brain’s reward pathways, as a sort of “reboot”. For more information please refer to the following scientific article: The Therapeutic Potentials of Ayahuasca: Possible Effects against Various Diseases of Civilization

Effects of Ayahuasca on spirituality

It is quite common that after a stay in a Ayahuasca center, one feels the need to live more intensely one’s spirituality. Ayahuasca medicine helps us to reconnect with ourselves, through the work of self-acceptance, of letting go, and by the revelations that visions induce. It allows us to renew the dialogue with our soul. Be careful not to lose your footing. It is common for patients to think of themselves as the new prophet and to make a “*messiah complex“.

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Ayahuasca is consumed in the form of a tea obtained traditionally after decoction of the liana of ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis Caapi) and leaves of a plant called chacruna (Psychotria Viridis). The ayahuasca liana is composed of so-called alkaloid substances with many active ingredients. The principle that will be retained in the first place comes from the alkaloids “harmine”: harmine, harmaline and tétrathydroharmine. They belong to the group of β-carbolines which have the distinction of being inhibitors of monoamine oxidase (MAOI), allowing the Dymethyltryptamine (DMT) contained in the chacruna leaves to reach the neuronal receptors of the brain. It is to note that another plant is currently being used as a substitute for the preparation of Ayahuasca, called *Syrian Rue (Peganum Harmala). Other herbs also contain monoamine oxidase inhibitors as in the case of wormwood, but it is strongly discouraged to mix them with Ayahuasca.

The active ingredient of the ayahuasca liana prevents the destruction by the body of a psychoactive substance contained in the Ayahuasca beverage which is DMT. Without these harmine alkaloids, the monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzymes in the stomach would destroy the DMT before it can pass from the bloodstream to the brain.

The B-Carbolines Group

Β-carbolines are naturally present in many plants. Their effects on mental, neurological and physiological health have been recognized for centuries. They have been used since ancient times in the Eastern world to cure various types of diseases including cancer and malaria. Apart from the “harmine” alkaloids “, the other alkaloids of the group of β-carbolines contained in Ayahuasca are harmol and 5- methoxytryptamine. Harmol has been studied for treatment of lung cancer. It turned out to cause apostosis (programmed suicide) of cancer cells, as in the case of CBD (cannabidiol) contained in marijuana. The 5-methoxytryptamine stimulates the production of aldosterone which regulates the level of sodium in the body as well as the blood pressure. Reminder: It is strongly discouraged to use Ayahuasca in the case of arterial hypertension. The β-carbolines “harmine” (harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine) are also recognized for their beneficial action on the level of serotonin known as the “pleasure hormone”. By inhibiting the monoamine oxidase enzymes, the programmed destruction of serotonin is also avoided, which substantially increases its concentration in the body while tetrahydroharmine is also a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor acting in the manner of anti-depressants (SSRIs). A study in 2016 on harmine showed that it inhibits the gene (DYRK1A) associated with Trisomy 21 and Alzeimer’s disease. We are just beginning to measure the potential of these substances for the treatment of degenerative diseases. It is to note that “selective” monoamine oxidase inhibitors are already used to treat Parkinson’s disease. These drugs are considered “selective” due to the use of non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors like Ayahuasca, and come with many contraindications.

MAOI Inhibitors: Some Warnings

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can come into conflict when there is an excess of tyramine.Tyramine is an amino acid naturally present in the body that regulates blood pressure. Consuming foods that cause the production of an excess of tyramine may cause a sudden increase in blood pressure with Ayahuasca, and in rare cases heart attack, cerebral hemorrhage, or death. This is why the traditional use of Ayahuasca is always accompanied by a strict diet. (See the chapter on the Ayahuasca Ceremony).

MAOIs should not be combined with tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid for the synthesis and release of serotonin. It is particularly prescribed in the case of stress and sleep loss. Since MAO inhibitors already have an effect on the level of serotonin, the addition of triptophane can cause a “serotonin syndrome” causing headaches, tremors, confusion, loss of bearings, amnesia, delusional episodes, … “The best is the enemy of good. ” Likewise, MAOIs should not be combined with anti- depressants such as Prozac. This medication is indeed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Mixing it with MAOIs can have devastating effects due to excess serotonin. You can go through the list of foods and substances that are incompatible with Ayahuasca in the chapter dealing with contraindications related to Ayahuasca consumption.

The Chacruna Leaf: DMT

What is Dymethyltryptamine? Dymethyltryptamine (DMT) is an alkaloid naturally found in small amounts in the human body, particularly in the brain area. However, it is produced in larger quantities, especially during sleep and according to some people in large quantities at birth and death. This neurotransmitter that “opens the visions” is present in most living organisms in its natural state, and some plants have a very high concentration of DMT, such as chacruna (Psychotria Viridis) and chaliponga (Diplopterys cabrerana) native to the Amazonian cradle. There are also plants belonging to the genus Acacia, used in particular by the Zulu tribes of South Africa in their shamanic rituals. Several varieties of Mimosa also have high levels of DMT. The latter, highly prized by psychonauts, are commonly used as is the case with mimosa hostilis by resorting to the use of chemicals to extract the DMT.

Small Disgression

The process of chemical extraction of psychoactive substances although effective tends to privilege the active principle of the plants to the detriment of their spiritual and energetic dimension. This approach is however not reprehensible. The use of LSD has been very successful, as Stanislas Groff showed in many cases of psychopathology including schizophrenia. But it is clear that the use of these substances is in most cases recreational, often leading the user to addiction. These drifts deviate from the therapeutic approach of traditional Amazonian medicine, which aims among other things to free man from his addictions. Ayahuasca, on the other hand, does not involve addiction. Unlike many hallucinogenic substances, it does not cause a “craving effect” due to any imbalance of serotonin or dopamine. On the contrary, the level of serotonin and the number of its receptors increase very clearly thereafter. Finally, its taste and effects are far from pleasant, whether physical or psychological, which deter recreational use.

The Chemical Principles of DMT

DMT (dymethyltryptamine) is far from having delivered all its secrets. It was first suggested that it could be produced in a natural state by the pineal gland, like melatonin, but this fact found in the rat is still not proven. However, research has shown that enzymes in the lungs and liver produce DMT from tryptamine. DMT is one of the rare neurotransmitters to pass from the bloodstream to the brain. When taking Ayahuasca, a large amount of DMT passes the barrier of digestion. It is then sent to the brain and is mainly bound to serotonin receptors. It is known that DMT acts on both serotonin and dopamine levels, two neurotransmitters essential for the balance of sleep, moods, Sexual desire, memory, … But DMT is a serotonin agonist, that means it is captured by serotonin receptors (5-HT1A, -2A and -2C) in the same way as serotonin. Binding to serotonin receptors, DMT influences antidepressant effects, subsequently increasing our ability to capture serotonin. Unlike dopaminergic substances, contained in cocaine or heroin for instance, which tend to reduce the number of dopamine receptors producing a “craving effect”, DMT on the contrary increases the number of serotonin receptors, as well as our ability to capture serotonin. Moreover, it regulates at the same time the level of dopamine in the case of craving (low level) or when there is an excess of dopamine. DMT proves to be an excellent way to treat addictions, especially drugs. It is also known that DMT acts on other receptors, the TAAR-6 associated trace amine receptor and the Sigma 1-R receptor.

The associated trace amine receptor TAAR-6 appears to play an important role in cases of psychosis, including schizophrenia. Our knowledge of this receptor is increasing quite rapidly, but it is about the Sigma-1R receptor that scientific interest is becoming more and more important. Recent research suggests that most degenerative diseases are caused by an accumulation of misfolded proteins taking origin from intestinal inflammations and microbial infections of the intestine. These factors exacerbated by cellular stress and oxydative stress, including cell suicide, would cause a chain phenomenon, as a kind of vicious circle. Now it happens that the Sigma-1R receptor seems to regulate the accumulation of misfolded proteins, and prevent aposthosis (cell suicide), especially in cases of hypoxia (lack of oxygenation) and cellular stress. Since DMT is a Sigma-1R receptor agonist, it represents a scientific and medical interest. Its role in the treatment of modern degenerative diseases might even be decisive in the future, as explained in the following scientific article, which we have used to support this chapter: The Therapeutic Potentials of Ayahuasca: Possible Effects against Various Diseases of Civilization.

Nevertheless, the process by which DMT induces hallucinations remains poorly understood. Simple mediation with neurological receptors does not explain the hallucinogenic effects produced by DMT. However, it is likely that these hallucinations are the result of the combination of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor with proteins, producing a chain phenomenon as shown in the following drawing. This hallucinogenic process is more complex than psilocybin for example (magic mushrooms). This may explain why, unlike psilocybin, the repeated consumption of DMT does not lead to tolerance phenomena.

All this is not enough, of course, to explain the therapeutic virtues of Ayahuasca, especially as regards its neurological action and its psychological effects. To better understand how Ayahuasca medicine works, please refer to the chapter on the neurological and psychological effects of Ayahuasca. 

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For thousands of years Ayahuasca has been watching over the native peoples of the Amazonian basin of South America. Whether for medicinal, social or spiritual purposes, it is part of their lifestyle and accompanies them throughout their lives. For thousands of years she has been caring for them, enlightening their vision, helping them to hunt, to fish, to color their dreams … It is found in Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil … It is even used today by about 75 ethnic groups throughout the Amazon basin and may well be over 2500 years old! During an archaeological dig conducted a few years ago in Quito, Ecuador, traces of Ayahuasca were found in a ceremony cup (see photo below). Ayahuasca is definitely a “magic potion” crowned with mystery. One of the first puzzles lies in the secret of his preparation, a thorny problem raised by Jeremy Narby in 1995 in his book “The Cosmic Serpent”. How could this beverage from the combination of two plants be found among more than 80,000 plant species found in Amazonia? The probability that his discovery would have been fortuitous is almost impossible.

Probability calculation: 80000 x 80000 = 6400000000. The probability that Man has discovered Ayahuasca by chance is 1 in 6.4 billion chance about 36 times more unlikely than pulling the winning numbers of the Powerball !

Many Stories circulate about it

«At the time of our grandfathers, we did not have access to hospitals. There were no dispensaries, no drugs. We were isolated in the forest and each family was a nucleus that needed to be nourished and protected. Our ancestors did not have access to what we have now, so they had to look in the forest for the plant that could cure a fever, a wound, stomach pains, indicate places where to find animals, fish, etc. ... Little by little, through determination and experimentation, our ancestors shaped our medicinal science. By questioning the world around them, asking for solutions to heal, their dreams showed them a special plant that they would soon meet on their way. So the need to survive has led my people to find medicinal plants and to build close relationships with them.»

— Testimony of a curandero shipibo

«In my family there is a story about the discovering of Ayahuasca and its medicine. A grandfather who wanted to heal his family went to isolate himself in the forest. After a few days sitting in meditation without eating or drinking, the energy of the nearby Ayahuasca came into his dream telling him to drink its tea. By drinking only Ayahuasca and meditating, the Ayahuasca came back into his dream. She told him she would help to turn him to doctor but he has to learn to diet. And that's how the spirit of Ayahuasca began to turn us into doctors.»

— Testimony of a curandero shipibo

According to some shipibos the recipe for the preparation of Ayahuasca would have been given by the “Incas” wo were endowed with great knowledge. A story commonly heard in the shipibo communities bordering the Ucayali River, speaking of Inca spirits who appeared “in broad daylight” draped in their traditional clothes to give medicine of Ayahuasca and share their medicinal knowledge with their people. For other communities, cooking was reported to have been discovered by chance after children threw chacruna leaves into the ayahuasca pot. However this hypothesis as explained above seems very improbable … Others say that when using other “visionary plants” like the Toé* (Datura Brugmantia), these tribes would have had the intuition to combine these two plants between them. It is possible that none of these stories are true or on the contrary that they are all true if one takes into account the extent of the use of Ayahuasca throughout the Amazon basin. Yet according to Steve Beyer, the discovery of Ayahuasca seems rather from an area in Ecuador in the Napo River Valley, a tributary of the Amazon particularly conducive to inter-tribal river trade. In his book “Singing to the Plant”, he bases himself on the works of Brabec of Mori, Gow, and on his own observations affirming that the commercial and cultural exchanges practiced at all times by the natives of the Amazon allowed Ayahuasca to extend to all the Amazon basin.

Ayahuasca History from Westerners Perspective

In the 16th century the Spaniards embarked on the exploration of the Amazon basin. During this trip, they condemned in their journals some shamanic practices such as the use of Wilka* and tobacco, but at this time no reference is made about the Ayahuasca ceremony or the drink of Ayahuasca. It was only in the 18 th century that the Jesuits made reference to the use of Ayahuasca. It was then described as a poisoned drink used for mystical experiences and witchcraft rituals. It was not until the middle of the 19th century that an English botanist , Richard Spruce, discovered Ayahuasca first among the Tukano tribes of Brazil under the name of caapi. His research would lead him two years later to tribes in Peru and Ecuador around the same drink but this time called “Ayahuasca”. His studies would not be published until 30 years later and the analysis of active principles of Ayahuasca would be undertaken at the beginning of the 20 th century. Scientists at that time succeeded in isolating the alkaloid contained in the liana of Ayahuasca, and then called it telepathine. In the middle of the 20th century, we finally managed to isolate the DMT. The main active principles of Ayahuasca are then listed and cataloged but its alchemy still eludes us …

Meanwhile a pioneer of the psychedelic movement is about to embark on an initiatory trip. In 1953, William S. Burroughs, the author of “Junkie” landed in South America via Panama with the intention of drinking Ayahuasca to develop its dreamlike potential. His journey will take him from Colombia to Ecuador, ending in Pucallpa, Peru. In 1960 it was his poet friend Allen Ginsberg’s turn to visit the Peruvian Amazon. Later they will write “the letters of Yagé” (Yagé is another name for Ayahuasca) emblematic work of the Beat Generation. Other authors will follow in their footsteps, such as Peter Matthiessen, W.S. Mervin, but also the Peruvian novelist Vargas Llosa and his compatriot the poet Caesar Calvo. Finally scientists such as Wade Davis or Alberto Villoldo will try to unravel the secrets of Ayahuasca in a process of personal experimentation. In 1983, Dennis McKenna, the brother of Terrence McKenna (known for his work on hallucinogenic mushrooms), unveils Ayahuasca by describing, with the help of other scientists, the role of MAO inhibitors in Ayahuasca. sine qua non for the DMT extracted from chacruna leaves to deliver its psychoactive properties.

Since the 1970s, the Ayahuasca experience has not stopped growing in popularity. Followers of psychedelic experiences and the New Age movement come to learn Ayahuasca. At the same time, Peruvian artists such as Pablo Amaringo draw inspiration from their visions under Ayahuasca, paving the way for a very flourishing visionary art. Ayahuasca is now becoming a real social phenomenon, opening a new chapter on the therapeutic use of psychotropic plants.

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Ayahuasca: a Booming Tourism

In recent decades, Western enthusiasm for Ayahuasca has continued to grow. The number of Ayahuasca centers has multiplied, particularly in Peru, to such an extent that we no longer hesitate to describe this phenomenon as “Ayahuasca-business”. The experience often described as intense even for the most experienced *psychonauts has long conquered the “New Age” public in search of spiritual connection, as well as people suffering from depression or psychological trauma. However, it seems to attract more and more diverse profiles. A growing number of people keen on the topic are going to Ayahuasca centers in Peru today. Finance, marketing and creative professionals already adept at *micro-dosing are now overcoming their limits by attending an Ayahuasca Retreat in Peru. Beyond the motives that drive so many Westerners to brave the taboos to experience this exotic medicine, why is Ayahuasca becoming so popular ? The main reason lies in three letters: DMT.

« Over the last 25 years ayahuasca has gone global, with thousands of people learning about it, and drinking it too…»

— TheGuardian Read More...

DMT

As Peyotl or Datura, Ayahuasca is a visionary plant with *entheogenic properties known to cause mystical and spiritual experiences. However, what distinguishes it from other psychotropic substances is the substance it contains: DMT. DMT (Dymethyltryptamine), described by Dr. Rick STRASSMAN as a “molecule of the mind”. His research shows it is a neurotransmitter that is naturally present throughout our body as well as in living organisms. It is present as well in large quantities in the leaves of Chacruna, which are used in the preparation of the Ayahuasca drink. DMT, a mysterious substance, causes a high dose of alteration of perception that can lead to mystical or psychotic experiences. For those who consume it, Ayahuasca is reputed to be a “teaching” plant that offers clairvoyance, inner dialogue and connection to the spiritual world. Sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, all the senses are exhilarated and sometimes even bombarded with information. These can help to resurrect what was buried, to unravel the emotional, psychological, and physical complexes, to free us from the past. Sometimes it can also be experienced as a traumatic event. Ayahuasca means in Quetchua “creeper of the spirit” or “creeper with a spirit” but it is also called the “creeper of death”. A coincidence or not, some say that at the time of birth or death, our body would produce DMT in significant amounts. It is true that Ayahuasca can in some cases cause the sensation of an imminent death (Near Death Experience). Nevertheless, these intense “dramatic states”, as psychiatrist Stanislav GROFF explains, are an excellent way of letting go. They represent a kind of ritual of passage necessary to any rebirth, and can even in certain cases prove to be determining during a process of care.

A Shamanic Practice Preserved

The other reason for the current craze for Ayahuasca is that this shamanic practice has remained relatively intact. Unlike other cultures that have suffered greatly from the presence of Spaniards, the Amazonians by their geographical isolation have relatively less suffered the presence of invaders. Despite the pressure of the missionaries, their ancestral knowledge continues to be transmitted to this day. This is precisely what modern man is in search of in these communities: an authentic experience. The reason for such a craze is also that the Ayahuasca experience can be considered as a ritual passage where the man becomes an adult and changes his relationship with the world. But this stage common to traditional societies is sorely lacking in our modern world. It represents an opportunity to reconnect with the “self” and the world around us. Traditional Amazonian medicine is a shamanic practice still alive, unlike other traditions that have already fallen into Folklore.

Scientifically Proven Results

Many Westerners therefore do not hesitate to spend weeks or even months in centers of Ayahuasca in Peru to get to know each other better, to heal psychological and emotional disorders such as depression, problems of addiction to cocaine, marijuana, alcohol or tobacco, … but also to cure parasitic diseases, joint diseases and even degenerative diseases. Isolated cases of people who have been treated were reported, particularly in the case of cancer, but the discrepancy in follow-up between the medical records does not allow us to affirm that Ayahuasca has treated them or even to refute the role of the “placebo effect”. It should be emphasized, however, that treatment of diseases in Amazonian traditional medicine is not limited to Ayahuasca, but uses others medicinal plants (cf master plants), and we must admit that we lack of information on this subject. Despite all of this and the climate of prohibition prevailing on the scientific study of psychotropic plants, researchers have recently been able to highlight the effectiveness of Ayahuasca in the treatment of degenerative diseases, demonstrating its strong therapeutic potential. (See the chapter on the effects of Ayahuasca and the chemistry of the Ayahuasca Plant Diet Mistresses). It is also recognized as a very effective way to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Jessica NIELSON, a researcher at the Brain Injury Center at the University of California, San Francisco, observed the healing of war veterans in Ayahuasca centers in Peru. Other neurological research carried out in Spain by Dr. RIBA corroborates this fact. Ayahuasca has the particularity of activating an area of the brain called the amygdala where are stored all our old emotional memories such as traumatic events, mourning, etc … You will find more information on the neurological effects of the Ayahuasca by following the previous link.

From Prohibition to Rehabilitation

Ayahuasca, however, has had dark hours … In the early 2000s the growing phenomenon of “Ayahuasca- business” and the death of Westerners who had consumed Ayahuasca almost convinced the Peruvian government to forbid its use. It is thanks to the combined efforts of representatives of various Amazonian communities and practitioners such as Dr. Jacques Mabit, head of the Takiwasi center (a center of traditional medicine specializing in the treatment of addictions) that Ayahuasca was saved. Its traditional use has been inscribed in the cultural heritage of Peru since 2008 and in Brazil since 2011. It is also tolerated in the Amazonian communities of Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, … as well as other countries of Central / South America like Mexico or Costa Rica. However, the lack of legislation and the relative tolerance that can be seen in these countries as well as in some European countries (Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Portugal, etc.) do not prevent ad hoc arrests. Paradoxically, the use of Ayahuasca has been recently tolerated in the United States ! But under certain conditions … After many administrative detours, rare syncretic and religious movements were allowed to use Ayahuasca as part of their rituals, such as the *Santo Daime born in Brazil, which largely contributed to public awareness Ayahuasca on the American continent.

…Towards Legalization ?

There is still a long way to go before Ayahuasca can be practiced legally. This is due, among other things, to the lack of supervision of this medicine. Currently there are no or few certifications of healers supposed to guarantee patients the quality of care they are entitled to expect. Every year, tourists find themselves in trouble with “shamans”, and the risks of seeing this practice newly threatened are real. It should be noted that a quality and ethics charter is currently being put in place between the ASA (Ayahuasca Safety Association) and some Ayahuasca centers in Peru. Similarly, there are certifications issued by recognized healers, guaranteeing that the practitioner has done a “learning diet” in a traditional way (see the diet of master plants) and / or that he himself is a “Maestro” (able to handle a ceremony and care at an Ayahuasca ceremony). But this does not reflect its degree of practice and has no official value. Let’s hope that, like marijuana, the use of Ayahuasca for medicinal purposes can be exercised within a legal framework.

Ayahuasca Victim of its Success

The other direct consequence of the Ayahuasca boom is its overexploitation. Like *Iboga in Africa, Ayahuasca is tending to become scarce due to rising demand. As the supply of quality liana becomes more difficult, it is necessary to go further and further into the forest to find a mature liana ayahuasca (about 15 years). The direct consequence is, of course, the increase in the price of Ayahuasca, the increase in the price of ceremonies and retreats of Ayahuasca, gradually making this medicine less accessible … Initiatives are slowly seeing the day as is the case with the association Isa Weni in the community of Santa Rosa de Dinamarca in Ucayali. This medium-scale ayahuasca plantation project is currently being carried out in the forest without uprooting existing trees.. This remains an isolated case. Major resettlement projects are being carried out, but with their main motivation being financial, these settlements are done to the detriment of the surrounding forest and are practiced by resorting to deforestation, as underlines the following article of the Guardian.

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