Ayahuasca
Effects
DURATION #
Caution : Reactions and experiences may vary dramatically from person to person. [see below]
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EFFECTS LIST #
POSITIVE
- Mild to extreme mood lift, euphoria
- Ego softening / ego loss
- Oceanic feeling of connectedness to the universe
- Feelings of love and empathy
- A sense of inner peace and acceptance of self, others, and the world
- Profound life-changing spiritual experiences
- Emotional healing / mentally therapeutic
- Claimed physical healing (such as anti-cancer effects)
- Purging, including vomiting and even diarrhea, is considered a positive effect and a fundamental part of the spritual process with Ayahuasca by many ayahuasca groups, shamans, and users.
NEUTRAL
- Sedation
- Strong visions; some typically reported include snakes, big cats, insectoid aliens, female goddesses
- Meaningless visual "noise"
- Auditory hallucinations / sound distortions
- Altered sense of space and time
- Increased likelihood of embracing magical thinking, paranormal ideation
NEGATIVE
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, sweats/chills (alternating), and other flu- or food poisoning-like symptoms, much less common after multiple experiences
- Fear and/or paranoia
- Disequilibrium, difficulty walking
- Feeling as though one is losing one's mind
- Feeling as though one is dying
- Unwanted and overwhelming feelings
- Unwanted or unexpected life-changing spiritual experiences or personal revelations
DESCRIPTION #
The main common denominator of ayahuasca brews is the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, which contains monoamine oxidase inhibiting harmala alkaloids. These alkaloids have a sedative effect and may be somewhat visionary at higher doses. However, the primary visions caused by ayahuasca come when Psychotria viridis or other DMT-containing plants are added to the brew. There are health concerns about some foods and drugs consumed in combination with the monoamine oxidase inhibiting harmala alkaloids; for more information, see our MAOI Vault.
Effects vary substantially from one ayahuasca brew to another because a wide variety of admixture plants are found in some ayahuasca brews, including Brugmansia, Coca, and Tobacco.
Effects vary substantially from one ayahuasca brew to another because a wide variety of admixture plants are found in some ayahuasca brews, including Brugmansia, Coca, and Tobacco.