Ayahuasca tourism

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Ayahuasca is a vile-tasting concoction used ceremonially in certain Peruvian and Brazilian religions. It makes you vomit and shit, and basically feel terrible. At first you're afraid you're going to die, then you're afraid you're not going to die. Obviously, New Age loonies -- mainly American -- besiege the Amazonian villages where this can be obtained, seeking "spiritual enlightenment." This is ayahuasca tourism, and whether the tourists find enlightenment or not, they certainly get their wallets enlightened by the "shamans" (some of whom are even genuine) who supply the concoction.

Contents

[edit] Pharmacology

The active ingredient is dimethyltriptamine (DMT)[1], which is illegal in the USA. DMT is normally metabolized in the stomach, so never reaches the bloodstream, but those cunning shamans long ago discovered that a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) prevents this, allowing the full effect of the DMT to be felt. As luck would have it, DMT is plentiful in shrubs of the Psychotria genus, and MAOI can be found in a jungle vine of the Malpighiaceae family. Let the party begin.

[edit] Benefits and dangers

Claimed benefits are roughly the same as for LSD and other hallucinogens -- namely, it may be a terrifying experience but you feel great when it's over. Complications include death, cardiac arrhythmia which may be temporary or permanent, and psychosis (ditto)[2]. Documented social dangers include rape of female ayahuascarians and, obviously, daylight robbery of the rich by the poor. There have been reports of much stronger hallucinogens being mixed in, to give the turistas "that extra buzz". Other than those little problems, there's really nothing to be afraid of.

A secondary risk not related to the DMT itself but associated with ayahuasca is the MAOI required to get it into the bloodstream. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors strongly potentiate many prescription drugs, specifically serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, so your otherwise harmless anti-depressant can kill you.

[edit] Where to find it

  • Iquitos, Peru (Blue Morpho is the popular spot)
  • Shimbre Shamanic Center, Tres Islas, Peru
  • Yarina, Peru
  • San Francisco, Peru (wouldn't you know it? Are there huts called Haight and Ashbury?)
  • Pullcalpa, Peru (ceremonies with Lucho or Don Marcial)
  • Yurimaguas, Peru
  • Barrio Florida, Peru
  • Bogotà, Colombia
  • La Chorrera, Colombia
  • Mocoa, Colombia (but beware -- if you die they won't give a shit)
  • Kentucky, United States of America (Aya Quest-UDV/USA-KY)

[edit] Celebrity ayahuasca tourists

[edit] Further reading/viewing

[edit] Footnotes

  1. Erowid info page
  2. See The Dark Side of Ayahuasca: Kelly Hearn, Men's Journal March 2013 (retrieved August 2013)
  3. Quote from his Rolling Stone interview: "There's a certain amount of dread attached to taking it. You have a hallucinogenic trip that deals with death and your mortality. So it's quite an ordeal. It's not something you're going to score and have a great time on."
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