Ayahuasca

Preparation of ayahuasca

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Ayahuasca (a.k.a. yagé) is a hallucinogenic and entheogenic concoction used ceremonially in certain native Peruvian and Brazilian religions. The use of ayahuasca was first described outside of South American communities in the 1950s by ethnobotanist Richard Evans Schultes.

Users of ayahuasca describe having "profound life-changing spiritual experiences," and "a sense of inner peace and acceptance of self, others, and the world." However, it also 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. In recent years, people from other countries have been traveling to South America to have such an experience. This is ayahuasca tourism. Some shamans charge a whole heap of money for their goods and services.

Pharmacology

The active ingredient is N,N-dimethyltriptamine (DMT), which is a Schedule I substance in the USA. DMT, also known as "the spirit molecule", is normally metabolized in the stomach by monoamine oxidase (MAO), and so never reaches the bloodstream; but those cunning shamans long ago discovered that a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) prevents first pass metabolism of DMT, which in turn allows 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 (e.g., Banisteriopsis caapi). Let the party begin.

History

The use of psychoactive plants is known to have occurred in precolonial Mesoamerica dating back hundreds or thousands of years, but the exact origin of ayahuasca use is unknown.^{[citation needed]} In recent years, ayahuasca use has been increasingly the subject of so-called "spiritual tourism" from non-indigenous populations.

Benefits and dangers

Claimed benefits are roughly the same as for LSD and other psychedelic hallucinogens — namely, that it produces experiences described as being "spiritual" or "life-changing" in nature. MAPS has also conducted a preliminary observational study suggesting that ayahuasca may be helpful for treating certain aspects of addiction.

Complications include death, cardiac arrhythmia caused by the harmala alkaloids, and acute psychosis. Documented social dangers include rape of female ayahuascarians and, obviously, daylight robbery of the rich by the poor, which is arguably a benefit. There have been reports of other hallucinogens being mixed in (usually plants which contain scopolamine), to give the turistas "that extra buzz".

As the harmala alkaloids in ayahuasca are MAOIs, they strongly potentiate many prescription drugs. Specifically, they allow serotonin re-uptake inhibitors to generate far greater levels of extracellular serotonin, which may cause serotonin syndrome or death in extreme cases. Participants are advised not to take drugs unless they're sure they do not interact with MAOIs.

Where to find it

• Iquitos, Peru (Blue Morpho is the popular spot)
• Varillal, Peru (Caya Shobo is the only western owned center endorsed by the Shipibo Konibo Tribal Council)
• Shimbre Shamanic Center, Tres Islas, Peru
• Yarina, Peru
• Pullcalpa, Peru (ceremonies with Lucho or Don Marcial)
• São Paulo, Brazil (ayawakening Personalized Retreats & Ceremonies in Brazil)
• Yurimaguas, Peru
• Barrio Florida, Peru
• Bogotá, Colombia
• La Chorrera, Colombia
• Mocoa, Colombia (but beware — if you die they won't give a shit)
• Kentucky, United States of America (Aya Quest Native American Church)
• Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador (Retreat Directory)

Celebrity ayahuasca tourists

A cruel mistress…

• William S. Burroughs
• Terence McKenna
• Paul Simon
• Sting
• Tori Amos
• Robin Quivers
• Graham Hancock (his Tedx ayahuasca talk was censored)
• Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly
• Aaron Rodgers
• Techbros who think it will make them better techbros

External links

• See the Wikipedia article on Legal status of ayahuasca by country.
• "Erowid Ayahuasca Vault" (retrieved October 2015)
• Think Twice Before Bringing Ayahuasca Back to the US After Your Retreat (retrieved August 2014)
• Stepping Into the Fire — documentary, mainly about the Shimbre Shamanic Center
• Kyle Nolan story from Mail Online 12 Sept 2012 (retrieved August 2013). Nolan died from ayahuasca in 2012 having paid $1200 for the experience.
• 50-min documentary Shamans of the Amazon by Dean Jefferys
• Web site promoting the film.
• New-Age proponent Taylor Marie talking about how ayahuasca changed her life.
• Taylor again, this time with clean hair, talking about how ayahuasca tourism has somewhat corrupted the "pure" experience.
• Ayaadvisor.org — an ayahuasca resource in the English language
• Online aya forums
• 5-min Video about the Gringo Shaman of the Amazon
• Ayahuasca: Grieving parents issue warning to backpackers after son's death on jungle drug retreat
• How an ayahuasca retreat claimed the life of a 24yo Kiwi tourist in the Amazon
• Peru's brutal murders renew focus on tourist boom for hallucinogenic brew
• Ayahuasca Retreats in Brazil with Yoga and Workshops for Spiritual Development