What Is Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca (pronounced eye-ah-wah-ska) is a plant-based psychedelic drug. It’s usually brewed into a tea or a concentrated liquid to drink. It can also be smoked. Other names include huasca, yagé, kamarampi, huni, brew, and ayahuasca tea.
When you use it, it can alter your ability to think, blur your sense of time, and heighten your emotions. You might also hallucinate, which is seeing or hearing things that don’t exist.
Ayahuasca plant
Ayahuasca actually contains a mixture of plants. Most often, it's made with the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and chacruna shrub (Psychotria viridis). The word ayahuasca translates to “vine of the soul” in the Quechua language spoken by indigenous peoples in South America.
What’s an Ayahuasca Retreat?
For more than 1,000 years, indigenous populations from Peru, Ecuador, and other countries along the Amazon basin have used ayahuasca for medicinal, spiritual, and ceremonial purposes.
But today, many people from all over the world travel to South America, Central America, and elsewhere to use it in hopes of “spiritual cleansing” for personal, spiritual, and emotional growth. At an ayahuasca retreat, you take ayahuasca under the supervision of a spiritual practitioner, shaman, or other guide. Retreats can last anywhere from one to several days.
These retreats may also offer treatment with other traditional plant remedies as well as services like vapor or smoke baths, poultices, and massages.
What to expect at an ayahuasca ceremony
At an ayahuasca ceremony, you'll likely gather in a group in a ceremonial space to drink ayahuasca tea. This usually happens at night, sometimes around a fire. The shaman or leader guides the group through an experience that may involve intense emotions and hallucinations. These effects can last several hours. Vomiting is a common side effect.
These ceremonies focus on spirituality and healing. They often feature traditional songs and live music.
How Does Ayahuasca Work?
The ayahuasca brew is usually made by boiling and mixing the broken stems of the ayahuasca vine and leaves from the chacruna shrub. In some cases, it might also contain the leaves of the Diplopterys cabrerana plant.
The brew is a brown-reddish drink that may have a strong taste and smell. It contains psychoactive chemicals called dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). The MAOIs act as antidepressants, while DMT is a psychedelic drug. When you take them together, the MAOIs work by blocking the enzymes that usually break down DMT before it reaches your brain.
Like many other psychedelic drugs, DMT stimulates the brain’s serotonin receptors. This stimulation boosts your mood and enhances your emotions.
What Does the Research Say About Ayahuasca?
Early research shows that the ayahuasca experience might be linked to improvements in some psychiatric symptoms. Some scientists think it holds promise for treating mental health conditions such as:
- Mood disorders like depression and anxiety
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Substance use disorder
- Eating disorders
But we need more research to understand this fully. Keep in mind that these studies have been done in controlled settings, often with no standard dosing.
According to some researchers, brain-imaging studies suggest that ayahuasca might reduce activity in a part of the brain called the default mode network. They think this may allow you to observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment. Some people may experience this as healing.
Other researchers say that certain chemicals in ayahuasca can stimulate new brain cells to grow or repair damaged ones. Experts are studying this effect, as it might help treat brain conditions that cause memory loss like Alzheimer’s.
Ayahuasca Effects
Ayahuasca affects everyone differently. Its effects depend in part on:
- Your size, weight, and health, including mental health
- Whether you’ve taken it before
- Whether you use other drugs at the same time
- How much you consume
- The strength and makeup of the drink, which may vary from batch to batch
- The environment in which you take the drug
How long does it take ayahuasca to kick in?
Within 30-60 minutes of taking ayahuasca, it can put you in a dreamlike state.
How long does an ayahuasca trip last?
The strong psychedelic reactions from ayahuasca can last 4-6 hours. The effects might peak 1-2 hours after you take it.
What happens during an ayahuasca trip?
The drug causes physical, emotional, and mental effects that vary from person to person.
Mental, sensory, and emotional effects may include:
- Seeing vivid, colorful geometric patterns
- Feelings of euphoria
- Feelings of connection and unity
- Loss of touch with reality
- Cheerful or peaceful state of mind (euthymia)
- Awareness of sense of self
- Observing or becoming aware of your own emotional state in a nonjudgmental way
- Anxiety
- Panic and fear
- Hearing sounds or seeing distorted images of things that aren’t there
Physical effects may include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Increase in blood pressure and heart rate
- Increase in body temperature
Some people who take ayahuasca during a ritual see these reactions as a form of “cleansing” or “purging,” considering than as part of their healing journey.
Long-term effects of ayahuasca
We need more research into the long-term effects of ayahuasca. In one large study, 56% of participants reported negative effects on their mental health in the weeks and months after they used the drug. But nearly 90% of them said they felt these effects were part of a positive growth process. About 12% sought professional help for these issues.
Ayahuasca is unlikely to be addictive. You're not likely to build up a tolerance for it if you use it repeatedly.
Ayahuasca Risks
There's no proven safe way to use ayahuasca. The drug's effects can be unpredictable, and it's hard to know exactly what you're getting when you use it. The brew might be stronger than you expect, or it may contain ingredients you don't know about.
If you or any close family members have a history of mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, it's probably best to avoid ayahuasca. According to some reports, there's a chance it could trigger a manic or psychotic episode.
Ayahuasca can also raise your blood pressure and heart rate, which puts extra strain on your heart. This could increase the risk of a heart attack, especially if you already have heart problems. In rare cases, it could lead to fainting or seizures.
It can also interact badly with several types of prescription and nonprescription drugs. And it can be dangerous when used together with alcohol, opioids, or similar substances.
Ayahuasca Harm Reduction
There's no fully safe way to use ayahuasca, and experts haven't yet fully studied its long-term impacts. But if you decide to use it, do so in a controlled environment where you feel safe. It's best to take part in a session led by a therapist or experienced guide who prepares you for the experience and follows up afterward.
Don't use ayahuasca when you're:
- Alone
- Drinking alcohol or taking other drugs
- Having mental health issues
- Driving, using machinery, or doing any other activity that requires good judgment and physical coordination
If you have a serious allergic reaction to the drug, call 911 or have someone take you to the nearest hospital.
Set and setting for ayahuasca
Two things that influence how ayahuasca affects you include your mood, or set, and environment, or setting. If you're feeling upset or afraid when you use it, for example, the drug will magnify those feelings. If you use it in a setting that's chaotic and noisy, your experience is less likely to be calm and peaceful.
Ayahuasca interactions
Using ayahuasca along with other medications or illicit drugs can lead to results that are unpredictable and dangerous.
Don't use ayahuasca while taking:
- Antidepressants or any other drugs used to treat mental health conditions
- Cough medicine
- St. John's wort
- Weight loss drugs
- Triptans
- Medications to treat Parkinson's disease
If you have a bad reaction, call 911, poison control, or have someone take you to the nearest hospital.
Is Ayahuasca Legal?
The plants used to make ayahuasca aren’t illegal in the U.S., but DMT is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substance Act and is illegal. It’s not approved for medical use in the U.S. While the risk of addiction is thought to be low, it can be abused.
If you’re traveling to South America to try ayahuasca, the tourism industry built around the drug use isn’t illegal. But ayahuasca tourism is not well-regulated and you might face risks.
For example, the ceremonies and rituals often take place in remote areas, such as the Amazon jungle. You might not have access to medical facilities if something were to go wrong or you need help.
And if you try to bring some back into the U.S., you’re likely to get into trouble with border control or drug control authorities.
Can You Have a Bad Trip With Ayahuasca?
Sometimes, the effects of ayahuasca can be unpleasant. You might have:
- Confusion or disorientation
- A feeling of lack of control
- Fear or paranoia
- Scary or disturbing hallucinations
Your mood and environment can affect whether you have a "bad trip." Some people view these experiences as part of a healing process.
Can you overdose on ayahuasca?
There's no known fatal dosage of ayahuasca. But using too much can be dangerous. In some cases, deaths related to heart attacks and suicides have been linked to ayahuasca use. But it's not clear that the drug was the direct cause.
Takeaways
Ayahuasca is a plant-based psychedelic drug long used by indigenous people in South America for medicinal, spiritual, and ceremonial purposes. Early research has indicated that it may hold promise for treating some mental health conditions, but we need more and bigger studies. Ayahuasca is illegal in the U.S., and there's no proven safe way to use it. If you choose to do so, make sure you're in a controlled environment where you feel safe. It's best to take part in a session led by a therapist or responsible guide.
Ayahuasca FAQs
How long does ayahuasca last?
Ayahuasca's effects generally last 4-6 hours. You may start feeling the effects 20 minutes to an hour after you use the drug.
How to prepare for ayahuasca
If you plan to take part in an ayahuasca ceremony, you may be asked to follow a plant-based diet beforehand. It may be best to avoid eating 4-6 hours before you take the drug. Some guides also recommend that you avoid sex.
Talk to your doctor if you use any drugs that may interact with ayahuasca. You may need to stop taking them 2 weeks ahead of time. Never stop taking any prescribed medication without checking with your doctor.
Don't use alcohol, stimulants, or illicit drugs before taking ayahuasca. Try to get enough sleep, and make sure you're well-hydrated.
Does ayahuasca get rid of anxiety?
Some early studies have found that ayahuasca could reduce anxiety symptoms when used in a controlled research environment.
What is an ayahuasca ceremony?
An ayahuasca ceremony is an experience in which a shaman or spiritual leader guides a group of people through the experience of taking the drug.
