AYAHUASCA

Ayahuasca art, also called the tea, the vine, and la purga, is a drink made from the leaves of the Psychotria viridis bush and the stalks of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine. Other plants and ingredients can also be added (1Trustworthy Source).

Ancient Amazonian tribes used this drink for spiritual and religious reasons. Some religious groups in Brazil and North America, such as the Santo Daime, still use it as a sacred drink.

Traditionally, a shaman or curandero, who is an experienced healer who leads Aya practices, makes the brew by boiling torn leaves of the Psychotria viridis shrub and stalks of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine in water.

To get more of the medicine out of the Banisteriopsis caapi plant, it is cleaned and broken up before being boiled.

When the brew has gotten as strong as the shaman wants, the water is taken out and saved, leaving the plant parts behind.

This process is continued until a liquid with a very high concentration is made. Once the brew has cooled, it is squeezed to remove any unwanted particles.

Different forms of Aya

Aya is a tea that is dark brown. Traditionally, the Banisteriopis Caapi plant and psycotra viridis are used as the base for ayahuasca. But the recipe may be different in different areas, and it is usual for other plants to be added to the mixture.

Some adds may have their own psychoactive effects, which may be made stronger by the -carbolines in the MAOI.

There are also times when plants like Mimosa, Acacia, and Syrian Rue, which have the same active chemicals as the originals, are used instead.

Effects of ayahuasca

Ayahuasca affects everyone differently, based on:

• size, weight and health
• whether the person is used to taking it
• whether other drugs are taken around the same time
• the amount taken
• the strength of the decoction (varies from batch to batch)
• environment (where the drug is taken).

The effects of ayahuasca can last between 4- to 6-hours and may include:

• nausea and vomiting (induced by drinking the decoction)*
• diarrhoea*
• euphoria
• feelings of connection and unity
• introspection
• intense visual and auditory hallucinations
• experiencing powerful emotions
• anxiety
• panic and fear
• moderate increase in blood pressure and heart rate
• increased body temperature.

*When ayahuasca is taken in a traditional or ritual setting, these effects may be perceived as cleansing or purging and a part of the spiritual or healing journey.

Medical Uses

New study on how ayahuasca affects the brain and how it might be used in clinical settings points to some positive effects on mental health.

In clinical settings, early findings point to antianxiety and antidepressant effects, as well as a decrease in suicidal thoughts in people with depression that doesn’t respond to treatment. It may have a role in helping people get over their addictions.

Clinical trials have shown that people who are dependent on other substances have more hope, feel more in control of their lives, are more mindful, and have a better outlook on life. They also use less tobacco, alcohol, and cocaine.

Benefits brain health

Some studies have shown that DMT and -carbolines, which are the main active ingredients in Ayahuasca, can protect and heal the brain.

DMT turns on the sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R), which is a protein that stops neurons from dying and controls the production of antioxidants that protect brain cells.

A test-tube study showed that DMT stopped oxygen deprivation from hurting human brain cells and made more of them live.

Harimine, the main -carboline in Ayahuasca, has been shown in test-tube and animal tests to reduce inflammation, protect nerve cells, and improve memory.

It has also been shown to raise the amount of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is a protein that helps nerve cells grow and survive.

Also, a test-tube study showed that harmine sped up the growth of human brain progenitor cells by more than 70% in 4 days. These cells cause new nerve cells to grow in your brain.

Health and safety

There is no safe way to use psychedelic drugs, including ayahuasca.

If you do decide to take ayahuasca retreat, it’s important to consider the following.

• It is difficult to predict the strength and effects of ayahuasca. People can have very different experiences taking the same drug on different occasions.
• People with mental health conditions or a family history of these conditions should avoid using ayahuasca.
• Sometimes other drugs may be sold claiming to be ayahuasca that aren’t.
• Taking ayahuasca in an environment and with people where you feel safe may alleviate unpleasant emotional effects.

Use of ayahuasca plant is likely to be more dangerous when:

• taken in combination with alcohol or other drugs
• driving or operating heavy machinery
• judgement or motor coordination is required
• alone (in case medical assistance is required)
• the person has mental health issues.
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