Hallucinogens 101: Ayahuasca
by MADELINE FERGUSON
Ayahuasca Fast Facts
DEA Classification: Schedule 1
Other Names: Ayahuasca, DMT, caapi, yaje
Naturally occurring
Tea made from stem and bark of tropical liana Banisteriopsis Caapi
Typically ingested as warm tea
The primary hallucinogenic substance found in Ayahuasca is called DMT (dimethyltryptamine). Ayahuasca is a tea made from the stems and bark of a tropical plant referred to as Caapi mixed with the leaves of a Chacruna plant. Ayahuasca teas can also contain other botanical ingredients.
The strong hallucinogenic tea originated in indigenous South American cultures of the Amazon Basin but has spread to most corners of the globe because of its potential for helping people heal. Still, it was initially used in religious ceremonies. There are endless accounts of people using an Ayahuasca journey to heal themselves and live much happier lives.
Most ayahuasca journeys are taken under the supervision of a guide or shaman. Usually, people travel to South America for a ceremony. DMT is an illegal substance stateside though finding practitioners is possible. Ayahuasca is only used in rituals and for healing, not recreationally like other hallucinogens.
Users report powerful trips, including visions and otherworldly sensations. It is also common to hear reports of a “purge,” which can cause vomiting, digestive upset, intense sweating, and emotional expression because of the strong effects of the tea. But many say the purge is not just physical but emotional, which is part of what makes a journey so healing.
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Visuals are typical during an ayahuasca trip, but the visuals can vary significantly from person to person. They can simply be colorful, fractal-type moments when your eyes are closed but can also be childhood memories, other worlds, and even alien or foreign places and people.
An ayahuasca trip can last between two and 12 hours (it can vary significantly from person to person and even trip to trip), and most people report not being able to move much. Many ceremonies will require people who partake to remain in their own space or on a mat.
Another essential step in healing through this medicine is integration, meaning the work doesn’t end when you return home from your journey. You’ll need to do the work to implement the things you’ve learned and healing that has taken place in your current, day-to-day life.
Ayahuasca can heal someone from a lifetime of pain; it has enormous potential. Still, it is also important to understand what you are getting into when you take the medicine and follow any guidance your guide (usually a shaman) has to offer.
To learn more about other hallucinogens and plant medicines continues in our Hallucinogen:101 series.