Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and a plant containing dimethyltryptamine (DMT), like the leaves of Psychotria viridis. Traditionally prepared in the Amazon, the brew is used by Indigenous cultures for spiritual and medicinal purposes. The name, from Quechua languages, means “spirit rope” or “liana of the soul”.
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Main ingredients:The brew is traditionally made by boiling the stems of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with leaves from a DMT-containing plant.
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Active ingredients:The combination of these plants results in a brew containing DMT and harmala alkaloids, which act as an MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor).
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Preparation:The preparation is a traditional, ritualistic process that can involve macerating and boiling the plants for multiple days.
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Usage:It has a long history of use among Indigenous peoples in the Amazon for shamanic and healing rituals.
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Legal status:Due to its toxicity and the presence of controlled substances, the preparation and sale of ayahuasca are illegal in many places
