Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca is a psychedelic plant brew originating from the Amazon forrest. It is usually brewed into a tea or concentrated liquid. It can also be smoked. Ayahuasca is actually a mixture of plants. It is made with the stems of the Ayahuasca vine ( Banisteriopsis caapi ) and the leaves of the leaves of the chacruna shrub ( Psychotria viridis) . Sometimes it is made with peganum harmala as a source of harmala alkaloids. The ayahuasca vine contains N,N- Dimethyltryptamine( DMT) which is responsible for its psychoactive effects.
Ayahuasca translates to “vine of the soul” in the Quechua language, spoken by the indigenous people of South America. Documented history dates back to the 17th century, during the European colonization of the Americas. However, evidence of the use of Ayahuasca dates back a thousand plus years ago. Archaeological evidence includes small ceramic vessels, covered in spiritual animal drawings, associated with ayahuasca rituals dating back to 2400 BC. As well as, shamanic snuffs containing DMT and harming dating back to 1000 years.
Ayahuasca is used in many regions of Northern South America, including the Amazon and the Andean areas of Columbia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil. It is also used in the border areas of these countries . The use of Ayahuasca was originally restricted to these areas, but in the 20th century it became widespread in Brazil, in the context of appearance in religions that use ayahuasca as a sacrament, later expanding to several countries! These countries include the United States, Western Europe ,Eastern Europe, South Africa, Australia and Japan.
For more than a thousand years indigenous populations have used ayahuasca for medicinal, spiritual and ceremonial purposes.Today, many people from all over the world, travel to South and Central America to use in hopes of a spiritual cleansing. It has also become popular to those who seek a way to heal past traumas. During an ayahuasca ceremony, you take ayahuasca under the supervision of a spiritual practitioner , shaman or other guide. These ceremonial retreats can last from several hours to several days.
Two to four weeks before partaking in an ayahuasca ceremony, facilitators recommend abstinence from cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, sex, and caffeine. The ceremony often takes place at night. Those who take ayahuasca can experience vomiting, diarrhea , feelings of euphoria, hallucinations, mind altering psychedelic effects, fear and paranoia. These Adverse effects are considered normal parts of the cleansing.
To begin the ceremony , the space is prepared and blessed by a shaman. You would then have one final time to focus on your intentions. After, the ayahuasca is offered to the participants , sometimes split into several doses. You would be placed on a mattress to sit or lay down, while the shaman will typically chant or sing Icaros( sacred songs). The chants are believed to call on spirits and guide the participants through their visions.
Ayahuasca experiences are typically divided into three stages: The onset, the peak, and the after glow. The onset stage begins about 20-60 min after consumption. You might feel mild effects such as nausea, sense of disorientation and a mild state of bliss. The second stage, the peak, is the most intense stage which typically last for about 3 hours. During this stage you may experience things like powerful visions , intense emotions, as well as a deep connection to nature, humanity and ones self. In the final stage known as the afterglow, the medicine starts to wear off and often there is often a sense of heightened awareness and clarity that may last for hours after the ceremony.
