Ayahuasca

"Ayahuasca" refers to a diverse complex of South American entheogenic brews, but classically comprises a source of DMT made orally active by the addition of a plant containing harmala alkaloids for monoamine oxidase inhibition.

In its classic form, Ayahuasca represents a sophisticated pharamcological technology, discovered by indigenous South American peoples many years ago. DMT is found in a huge variety of plant species (Psychotria viridis prominent among them in modern native ayahuasca brews), but is not normally active when taken orally, as it is broken down in the stomatch by the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO). Ayahuasca brews circumvent this by inhibiting the enzyme by use of harmala alkaloids found in Banisteriopsis vines and other species.

It seems likely that this combination of inebriants evolved over many years, beginning with the harmala alkaloids, which are potently psychoactive in their own right.

Modern experimentation has discovered a variety of other plants that serve in place of sometimes rare or endangered tropical species. Best known and most reliable among these is syrian rue (Peganum harmala) as a source of harmala alkaloids.

The term "Ayahuasca" originally was specific to Banisteriopsis caapi, but has since evolved to cover a vast array of ayahuasca analogues. Ayahuasca prepared from pharmaceutical-grade chemicals is commonly known as "Pharmahuasca".

Documents:

• MAOIs -- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
  Miscellaneous Snippets of Info
• How to Make an Ayahuasca Analogue
  Based on Jonathan Ott's work.
• The Ayahuasca-Alien Connection
  Excerpts from "Ayahuasca Visions: The Religious Iconography of a Peruvian Shaman"
• Ginsberg's Writings on Yage
  Information on his 1960 expedition to South America, along with other interesting excerpts.
• Practical Uses of Yage
• "Vine of the Soul" Banisteriopsis caapi (ayahuasca, yage) usage, habitat, effects
  The entire B. caapi section from 'Food of the Gods' by Schultes & Hofman
• The Use of Psychoactive Plants Among the Hupda-Maku
  A tribe's usage of Banisteriopsis caapi, Virola spp., Psychotria, and other plants
• Pharmahuasca, Anahuasca and Vinho da Jurema; Human Pharmacology of Oral DMT Plus Harmine by Jonathon Ott
  Originally printed in the Yearbook for Ethnomedicine 1997/98
• Taking Ayahuasca by Peter Gorman
  Peter Gorman's account of an ayahuasca experience in the Amazon
• When Ayahuasca Speaks - An Unexpected Venture into Healing by Peter Gorman
  Shamanism and the Healing powers of Ayahuasca

more...

Contacts and URLs:

• Ayahuasca Dreams (homepage, more info)
• Ayahuasca Homepage (homepage, more info)
  Excellent source of information on this entheogenic brew.
  • Ayahuasca FAQ
    Frequently Asked Questions about Ayahuasca (related items...)
• Erowid (homepage, more info)
  "Documenting the Complex Relationship between Humans and Psychoactives"
  • Ayahuasca Page (related items...)
  • MAOI Vault (related items...)
• Friends of the Forest (homepage, more info)
• International BioPark Foundation (homepage, more info)
  • Chacruna
    Info on the botany and biochemistry of Psychotria species (related items...)
• Santo Daime (homepage, more info)
  A religion which makes use of sacramental ayahuasca
• Xenopharmacophilia (homepage, more info)
  • The Necessary Entheogen Explorer Files (related items...)
• Miscellaneous URLs
  • Abuta grandifolia
    Brief info about the plant and its use (related items...)
  • Tryptamine FAQ (related items...)

more...

Images:

• Phalaris arundinacea
  Batch of healthy phalaris grass growing outdoors
• Phalaris arundinacae
  A field of Phalaris arundinacae in the wild
• Phalaris aquatica - Pile of seeds
  Enough seeds for an acre of P. aquatica
• A large pot of ayahuasca being prepared
  large pot of ayahuasca being prepared traditionally in the rainforest
• Mimosa hostilis harvested (Jurema Preta)
  A pile of ground Mimosa hostilis & tenuiflora rootbark
• Phalaris arundinacae
  Color Drawing of Phalaris arundinacae
• Banisteriopsis caapi
  A huge B. caapi growing in the Amazon
• Phalaris tuberosa (aquatica)
  A field of Phalaris tuberosa
• Sickly looking home grown Psychotria viridis specimen
  This is not how your P. viridis should look
• Mimosa hostilis drawing
  Black and white Mimosa hostilis botanical illustration

more...

Trip Reports:

• Ayahuasca Rules: A low-dose experience
  Substances: Ayahuasca, Voacanga africana, Peganum harmala, Mimosa hostilis
• A Wonderful Synergy: the combined wisdom of Salvia and Ayahuasca
  Substances: Ayahuasca, Salvia divinorum, Peganum harmala, Mimosa hostilis
• "Sick as Dogs": Harmaline problems
  Substances: Ayahuasca, Peganum harmala
• Dream from Hell: Telepathy, time travel, and assorted craziness
  Substances: Ayahuasca, Peganum harmala, Mimosa hostilis
• Quite an odd journey: An encounter with Mimosa hostilis hostility, which ends in the ER
  Substances: Ayahuasca, Banisteriopsis caapi, Mimosa hostilis
• Dr. D.M.T.: or, How I Learned to Stop Reality and Love Psychedelics
  Substances: Ayahuasca, Peganum harmala, Acacia phlebophylla
• The Caviar of Psychedelics: Extreme time distortion, and more..
  Substances: Marijuana, Ayahuasca, Peganum harmala, Mimosa hostilis
• Flying with friends: Ayahuasca entities
  Substances: 1,4-butanediol, Ayahuasca, Peganum harmala, Mimosa hostilis, Psychotria viridis
• Enter the DMT Room: Report on the visuals experienced during 3 Ayahuasca sessions
  Substances: Ayahuasca, Acacia phlebophylla, Peganum harmala
• Threshold ayahuasca: Includes preparation details for the Desmanthus/Rue brew.
  Substances: Ayahuasca, Peganum harmala, Desmanthus illinoensis

more...