This article is part of the Yaogará Ark, a living research archive documenting Amazonian teacher plants, ancestral pharmacology, and the intersection of traditional and contemporary healing knowledge.
See also: ayahuasca-summary for a concise encyclopedic summary.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive plant preparation of the Amazon Basin with deep ethnomedical, spiritual, and pharmacological significance. Traditionally brewed from Banisteriopsis caapi (Malpighiaceae) and Psychotria viridis (Rubiaceae), it represents a refined Indigenous pharmacology based on the synergistic interaction between β-carboline alkaloids and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT).
Used for millennia by nations such as the Shipibo-Conibo, Tukano, Cofán, and Shuar, the brew functions as a sacrament, medicine, and conduit for communication with plant and ancestral spirits. In recent decades, it has become a focus of scientific, clinical, and ethical debates worldwide.
1. Botanical Composition
Banisteriopsis caapi — The Vine
B. caapi, often called ayahuasca, caapi, or yagé, is a large woody liana endemic to lowland Amazonian forests. It contains β-carboline alkaloids—harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine (THH)—which act as reversible monoamine oxidase-A inhibitors (MAOIs). This biochemical action prevents the degradation of DMT, allowing it to become orally active.
→ See banisteriopsis-caapi for the complete botanical profile.
Psychotria viridis — The Leaf
P. viridis (chacruna), a shrub of the Rubiaceae family, provides the tryptamine N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). It grows throughout the Amazon Basin and belongs to the same family as coffee.
→ See Psychotria viridis (Chacruna) for details.
Other Admixtures
In some regions, Diplopterys cabrerana (chaliponga) replaces P. viridis as the DMT source. Other additives—such as Brunfelsia grandiflora or Justicia pectoralis—may modulate flavor, effect, or symbolic value depending on lineage or healer preference.
2. Preparation Process
Traditional preparation is a sacred act transmitted through generations. Mature vines are cleaned, sectioned, and pounded; fresh leaves are layered into the pot. The mixture is slow-boiled for many hours or days, often accompanied by prayer, song, and smoke offerings.
The decoction is filtered and concentrated into a thick, bitter brew. Each healer adjusts ratios, temperature, and duration to achieve a specific energetic and pharmacological balance.
Typical Ratio: ~50 g B. caapi vine : 25–30 g P. viridis leaves per serving (variable).
Duration: 6–24 hours of boiling, sometimes in multiple extraction rounds.
Cultural Names for Preparation: Feitio (Brazil), Pachamanca del alma (Peru), Cocinada del yagé (Colombia).
3. Traditional Contexts and Cosmology
Healing and Vision
Among Indigenous peoples, ayahuasca is not viewed as a drug but as a teacher—a living intelligence that instructs, heals, and reveals. Ceremonies address physical and energetic illness, emotional imbalance, social conflict, and spiritual learning.
The Role of the Curandero or Taita
The curandero (healer) mediates between the human and spiritual worlds, guiding the experience through icaros—medicine songs transmitted by the plants themselves. These songs direct visions, invoke protection, and facilitate diagnosis and extraction of harmful energies.
The Dieta (Sama)
The dieta is a period of isolation, food restriction, and communion with specific teacher plants. Through abstinence from salt, sugar, alcohol, and sex, practitioners cultivate receptivity to plant spirits. The practice is fundamental to Amazonian medicine lineages and is said to “tune” the body to the vibrational frequency of the plant.
Purging as Cleansing
Vomiting (la purga), sweating, and emotional catharsis are considered essential elements of the healing process, releasing dense energies, toxins, and psychological burdens. The experience integrates body, mind, and spirit into harmony.
4. Syncretic and Contemporary Evolution
Brazilian Religious Movements
The twentieth century saw ayahuasca incorporated into syncretic Christian-Spiritist religions:
- Santo Daime – founded by Mestre Irineu in Acre, Brazil, emphasizing love, harmony, and moral purification.
- União do Vegetal (UDV) – established by Mestre Gabriel da Costa, using hoasca in structured meditation and study sessions.
- Barquinha – merging Afro-Brazilian and Catholic traditions.
These groups standardized preparation, introduced liturgical hymns, and gained legal recognition in Brazil, framing ayahuasca as a legitimate sacrament.
Global Diffusion
By the 1990s, ayahuasca reached Europe and North America through religious branches and independent facilitators. Today it appears in wellness retreats, psychotherapeutic settings, and neuroscientific research. This global expansion has amplified both scientific interest and ethical concerns regarding appropriation and safety.
5. Phytochemistry and Pharmacodynamics
| Compound | Source Plant | Class | Primary Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harmine, Harmaline, THH | Banisteriopsis caapi | β-carbolines | MAO-A inhibition, mild psychoactivity |
| DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine) | Psychotria viridis | Tryptamine | Serotonin 5-HT₂A agonist, visionary effects |
Mechanism of Action:
β-carbolines inhibit MAO-A, allowing DMT to cross the blood–brain barrier and activate serotonergic and sigma-1 receptor pathways. The combination produces a vivid yet controllable altered state characterized by introspection, emotion, and symbolic imagery.
Pharmacological Features:
- Duration: 4–6 hours
- Peak: 90–120 minutes
- Half-life (DMT): ~2–3 hours
- Known interactions: SSRIs, MAOIs, certain antidepressants (contraindicated)
6. Neuroscience and Clinical Research
Recent studies indicate that ayahuasca enhances neuroplasticity and emotional regulation.
- fMRI imaging shows reduced Default Mode Network activity, associated with decreased rumination and ego dissolution.
- Blood assays demonstrate increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and markers of neurogenesis post-session.
- Randomized trials (e.g., Palhano-Fontes et al., 2019) report rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in treatment-resistant depression.
Potential Applications:
- Depression and anxiety
- Addiction and trauma recovery
- End-of-life existential distress
While promising, researchers emphasize the necessity of context: therapeutic benefits appear greatest when pharmacological, psychological, and ritual components interact harmoniously.
7. Legal and Ethical Considerations
International Law
Under the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, DMT is Schedule I—but the convention excludes naturally occurring plants. Consequently, legality varies:
- Permitted or Tolerated: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia
- Religious Exemption: U.S. (UDV & Santo Daime), Canada
- Prohibited: France, U.K., Australia, most EU countries
Cultural Rights and Biopiracy
In 1986, a U.S. citizen patented a B. caapi variety (“Da Vine”), sparking global outrage from Indigenous organizations such as COIAB. The case remains a key example of biopiracy and has shaped international discourse on intellectual property, traditional knowledge, and consent.
Modern ethics frameworks emphasize:
- Free, prior, and informed consent
- Equitable benefit-sharing
- Acknowledgment of Indigenous custodianship
- Sustainable harvesting practices
8. Conservation and Sustainability
The surge in global demand has led to overharvesting near major tourism centers like Iquitos, Peru. B. caapi requires 3–10 years to mature, and unsustainable cutting can devastate local ecosystems.
Sustainable responses include:
- Community-based agroforestry systems integrating ayahuasca vines with native trees.
- Seed-banking and genetic preservation programs.
- Support for Indigenous land tenure, proven to reduce deforestation rates dramatically.
Conservation is inseparable from cultural continuity—protecting the vine means protecting the people who know how to use it.
9. Terminology and Cultural Notes
| Term | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ayahuasca | Quechua: aya (spirit, ancestor) + waska (vine) | “Vine of the soul” |
| Yagé | Tukanoan languages | Common term in Colombia and Ecuador |
| Caapi / Mariri | Brazil | Refers to B. caapi vine itself |
| Daime / Hoasca | Brazil | Names used in syncretic churches |
| Icaro | Shipibo-Conibo | Medicine song or vibration used in ceremony |
10. References
- Palhano-Fontes, F. et al. (2019). Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression. Psychological Medicine, 49(4), 655–663.
- Ruffell, S., Gaskins, A., & Williams, M. T. (2020). The pharmacological interaction of compounds in ayahuasca. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 42(3), 314–321.
- Morris, K., & Wallach, J. (2020). Biodiversity of β-Carboline Profile of Banisteriopsis caapi and Selected Plants Used in the Preparation of Ayahuasca Beverages. Journal of Natural Products, 83(8), 2446–2456.
- Schultes, R. E., & Hofmann, A. (1992). Plants of the Gods. Healing Arts Press.
- Rätsch, C. (2005). The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants. Park Street Press.
- Reichel-Dolmatoff, G. (1971). Amazonian Cosmos. University of Chicago Press.
- Morales-García, J. A. et al. (2017). Harmine stimulates adult neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 8, 63.
- Mongabay News (2021). Global ayahuasca trend drives deforestation in Brazil’s Acre State.
- ICEERS (2023). Ayahuasca: Basic Info.
- Chacruna Institute (2024). Indigenous Peoples’ Medicine Heritage and Globalization of Ayahuasca.
License: CC BY-SA 4.0 – Yaogará Research Archive
You are free to share and adapt this material with attribution.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
A condensed encyclopedic summary is available at ayahuasca-summary.
References and Licensing
This article is part of the Yaogará Ark Research Archive — an open ethnobotanical repository documenting sacred plants and Indigenous ecological knowledge of the Amazon.
Publisher: Yaogará Research Initiative — Fundación Camino al Sol License: Creative Commons Attribution–ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) Citation: Yaogará Research Initiative (2025). Ayahuasca (Traditional Amazonian Brew). Yaogará Ark Research Archive. https://ark.yaogara.org/preparations/ayahuasca
Related Reading
- Explore more research soon.