What is Ayahuasca?

In recent times the practice of Ayahuasca has been popularized by the west, resulting in an increase in Ayahuasca ceremonies and the travel to South American countries to have them conducted by Shaman. Many people across the globe are delving into an ancient and little-known practice. This article is written in the hopes to shed a little light and provide a base level of insight into the science and spiritual practices of the natural medicine, Ayahuasca.

What is Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is as a combination of carefully selected Amazonian plants that are believed by ancient South American tribes to possess the power to adjust and correct the consciousness of an individual immediately after 4-8 hours of initial consumption. Ayahuasca has a range of effects that include extreme visions to mild stimulation. It’s well-recognized as a shamanic form of communicating with the inner spirits and also used as a form of medication.

Typically, the medicine is physically ingested in ceremonial occasion under strict guidance of an experienced shaman or an Ayahuasca practitioner. It’s not recommendable to consume Ayahuasca by yourself but instead do so under the full supervision of a shaman.

How is Ayahuasca prepared?
The technique of preparing Ayahuasca requires the use of banisteriopsis caapi, also known as “the vines of the soul”. The vines are customarily cooked with Chacruna leaves that are rich with DMT.

Ayahuasca consists of several compounds that are known as harmala alkaloids. The compounds are responsible for preventing the actions of all the naturally occurring agents that are identified as monoamine oxidase. Harmala alkaloids are the compounds that manifest the psychoactive effects of the Amazonian plant used. DMT is the compelling vision inducing agent that is naturally produced in the human beings body. However, it can’t be delivered in hundreds due to MAO inhibitors. Consumption of MAO inhibitors that contain harmala alkaloids brings on the effects of the DMT.

Effects of Ayahuasca
After Ayahuasca has been ingested it crafts a state similar to daydreaming. Its effects are witnessed when you are fully awake. The patient may appear to be dreaming but under full awareness of all the contents of the dream. Some believe it triggers the brain to reveal the information in the subconscious world and bring it into a state of consciousness.

Ayahuasca is not addictive, nor does it cause any loss of consciousness. The Ayahuasca plant induces total body control, significant alertness and full awareness of the drinkers environment. The properties of the Ayahuasca plants take effect after 30-50 minutes of consumption. The ordinary consciousness is wholly altered causing a change in brain waves.

Shaman’s say it is typical for a patient to have a decreased respiratory rate, change in PH level, decreased metabolism, decreased blood pressure among other temporary alterations. In turn, all these welcome an increased sense of smell, hearing, touch, vision, and taste.

The state of consciousness witnessed arouses the neurons which elevate the patient’s creativity and the intellectual capability. The patient also experiences reduced fear and anxiety by greatly balancing the central nervous system.

Health benefits of the Ayahuasca
There are several believed benefits attached to the Ayahuasca. Emotional, physical and spiritual benefits are said to be witnessed during the Ayahuasca ceremonies. The following are the believed benefits that can be achieved during Ayahuasca celebration.

• Physical healing of the body organs which cleanses a variety of internal systemic diseases like Alzheimer and cancer.
• The ability to bring out full consciousness which in turn dramatically reveals one true self. In the past, it has been believed to assist people to understand their visions and desires in life which helps sharpen a brighter and clearer future.
• Ayahuasca assists the patients to overcome fear and worries, bringing calmness and allowing the drinker to focus on essential objectives in life.
• Ayahuasca creates patterns in the brain that erases past traumatic events and associated negative memories.

• Hallucinations .i.e. sound distortions
• Sedation
• Strong visions
• Distorted relationship with time and space

• Fear
• Vomiting
• Body aches
• Paranoia
• Difficulty in walking
• Chills and sweating

In the traditional way, the ayahuasca was used by the Shaman more as a diagnostic tool, like an X-ray, the patient would not drink the medicine, only the shaman would, giving him the ability to see into the person energetic field and diagnose the problem. today the ayahuasca experience has evolved to different forms of use and is becoming more and more popular. read more about the different ayahuasca ceremonies type in our blog post here.