Ayahuasca, also known as yagé, is made by brewing certain leaves and vines together. In Quechua, the name means "vine of the dead" or "vine of the soul."
The preparation involves the vine Banisteriopsis caapi and components of the Psychotria viridis plant.
When combined, the plant released the powerful hallucinogen DMT, and the vine releases compounds that cause the DMT effect to last for hours. Alone, DMT would just last about 20 minutes.
The most significant effects of DMT are feelings of being separated from the body, experiencing an unearthly environment, encountering mystical or otherworldly beings, having an altered perception of time, feeling peace and joy, and having heightened senses.
The physical effects of ayahuasca are often described as miserable, including serious vomiting, though they are temporary.
But it's the effects on the mind that are most fascinating.
Ayahuasca is considered a powerful psychedelic, and there's always the risk that people have a scary experience on psychedelic substances. Potentially negative effects include anxiety and fear are associated with the hallucinations.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdMany people report that their experiences with the drug are transformative, offering clarity and healing.
Certain people experience something like a near-death experience.
There are striking similarities between DMT trips and near-death experiences, which many people report are transformative, spiritually significant, and beneficial, according to a recently published study. Many say that they experience a sort of "death" on the drug, though this is often meant in a beneficial way.
Researchers and religious communities think ayahuasca may help treat depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
From a neuroscientific and psychological perspective, ayahuasca seems to induce effects on the brain that are similar to meditation.
Though the substance is generally considered safe, there are still some risks.
A study of poison control centers in the US concluded that most use seems to be safe and has "possible beneficial effects," but there have been a tiny fraction of people that have experienced cardiac arrest or seizures. Because the vine has effects on seratonin, there may be dangerous side effects for people using certain antidepressant medications.
next slide will load in 15 secondsSkip AdSkip AdAyahuasca seems to enhance creative thinking.
Small studies show enhancements to creative thinking and psychological flexibility for people who take ayahuasca, which could also increase its therapeutic potential.
It's a fascinating substance, though one that researchers would like to learn more about.
Researchers think there's good reason to be excited about the therapeutic possibilities of ayahuasca and other psychedelics. In the US, there's even legal use, in the context of religious ceremonies. But much more research on how ayahuasca and other psychedelics work is needed.