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Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca cooking in the Loreto region of Peru
The skeletal formula of DMT & Harmala alkaloids.
Ayahuascamolecule.png
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names Ayahuasca, Aya, Caapi, Cipó, Hoasca, Vegetal, Yagé, Yajé, Natem, Shori
Routes of Administration



Oral
Dosage
Differs between ingredients & preparation methods.
Duration
Total 5 - 10 hours
Onset 20 - 60 minutes
Peak 1 - 2 hours
Offset 1 - 2 hours
After effects 1 - 8 hours









Summary sheet: Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca (pronounced /eye-uh-WAHS-kuh/) or yagé is an umbrella term that refers to a wide variety of traditional and modern brews and infusions of natural plant sources of DMT combined with an MAOI or RIMA inhibitor to produce psychedelic effects. The inhibitor is necessary because although some effects can be had from consuming DMT containing plants alone, they are rendered almost completely inactive when digested without a source of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor such as syrian rue or B. caapi which both contain harmala alkaloids.[1]

The brew is used as a traditional spiritual medicine in ceremonies among the Indigenous peoples of Amazonian Peru, many of whom say that they received the instructions in its use directly from the plants and plant spirits themselves. Ayahuasca was first described outside of Indigenous communities in the early 1950s by Harvard ethnobotanist Richard Evans Schultes, who became aware of the Native communities who use it for divinatory and healing purposes.

Pharmacology

Main article: Serotonergic psychedelic

Ayahuasca's psychedelic effects have been confirmed to come from its efficacy at the 5-HT2A receptor as a partial agonist.[2] However, the role of these interactions and how they result in the psychedelic experience continues to remain elusive.

Harmala alkaloids are classed as MAO-inhibiting beta-carbolines. The three most studied harmala alkaloids in the B. caapi vine are harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine. Harmine and harmaline are selective and reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), while tetrahydroharmine is a weak serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI).[3]

This inhibition of MAO-A allows DMT to diffuse unmetabolized past the membranes in the stomach and small intestine, eventually crossing the blood–brain barrier (which, by itself, requires no MAO-A inhibition) to activate receptor sites in the brain. Without RIMAs or MAOIs of MAO-A, DMT would be oxidised (and thus rendered biologically inactive) by monoamine oxidase enzymes in the digestive tract.[4]

Subjective effects

The effects listed below are based upon the subjective effects index and personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. The listed effects will rarely (if ever) occur all at once, but heavier dosages will increase the chances and are more likely to induce a full range of effects.

Physical effects

  • Spontaneous tactile sensations - The "body high" of ayahuasca can be described as a pleasurable, warm, soft and all-encompassing glow. For some, it is manifested spontaneously at different unpredictable points throughout the trip, but for others it maintains a consistent presence that steadily rises with the onset and hits its limit once the peak has been reached.
  • Stimulation and Sedation - In terms of its effects on the physical energy levels of the user, ayahuasca is entirely setting dependent. For example, when taken in social settings with fast-paced music or during physically strenuous situations (such as running, walking, climbing or dancing) it becomes stimulating and energetic. In contrast, however, when taken in calm environments (such as darkened rooms with comfortable seating) it can become relaxing, peaceful and even moderately sedating.
  • Nausea - In its traditional form, ayahuasca is famous for its purgative properties which can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cold flashes. This effect is known as "la purga" or "the purge" and its presence is completely avoidable and dependent on the specific form or recipe of ayahuasca being used. The intense vomiting and occasional diarrhea it induces is often considered by many shamans and experienced users of ayahuasca to be an essential part of the experience as it represents a speculative healing process and the release of negative emotions built up over the course of one's life.[5] Studies have demonstrated a certain truth behind this speculation and shown that the purging process can clear the body of worms and other tropical parasites.[6] Harmala alkaloids themselves have been shown to expel parasitic worms from the body by either stunning or killing them.[7] Thus, this action is twofold; a direct action on the parasites by these harmala alkaloids (particularly harmine in ayahuasca) works to kill the parasites and the parasites are expelled through the increased intestinal motility that is caused by these alkaloids. It's worth noting that the overall cognitive positivity or negativity of an ayahuasca trip in psychologically balanced individuals depends greatly on how nauseating or purgative the chosen method of preparation is. For example, paranoia, anxiety, delirium and a difficulty stringing thoughts together often immediately manifest themselves during uncomfortable states of nausea for the inexperienced, but remain absent when purge-free methods of preparation are used.
  • Pupil dilation

Cognitive effects

The cognitive effects of ayahuasca are described by many as extremely sober and clear-headed in style when compared to other commonly used psychedelics such as LSD or psilocin. This is despite the fact that it contains a large number of psychedelic typical and unique cognitive effects.

The most prominent of these typical effects include:

Visual effects

Enhancements

Distortions

Geometry

The visual geometry that is present throughout this trip can be described as more similar in appearance to that of psilocin than LSD. It can be comprehensively described through its variations as intricate in complexity, abstract in form, organic in feel, structured in organization, multicoloured in scheme, glossy in shading, equal in sharp and blurred edges, large in size, fast in speed, smooth in motion, equal in rounded and angular corners, non-immersive in depth and progressive in intensity. At higher doses, it is significantly more likely to result in states of level 8B visual geometry over level 8A.

Hallucinatory states

Ayahuasca and other forms of DMT produce a full range of high level hallucinatory states in a fashion that is more consistent and reproducible than that of any other commonly used psychedelic. These effects include:

Auditory effects

Multi-sensory effects

Antidepressant effects

A 2015 preliminary report has found and significant reduction of up to 82% in depressive scores following ayahuasca administration.[8] The report concludes that "these results suggest that [ayahuasca] has fast-acting anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in patients with a depressive disorder." Its acute and fast-acting effects show promise for the treatment of depression as common antidepressants, such as Prozac, take weeks to show significant effects and are simply ineffective for many users.

The mechanism by which ayahuasca produces antidepressant effects is not well-known, but studies have hypothetized that the MAO-inhibitor and weak serotonin reuptake inhibitor effects of ayahuasca alkaloids may be of relevance. Research on the antidepressant potential of psilocin suggests that the subjective effects of 5-HT2A agonism also contribute to antidepressant effects, but further research is required to understand the effects of psychedelic drugs on depressive disorders.

Recipes and preparation methods

Natural plant sources

Other

Toxicity and harm potential

Main article: Responsible use § Hallucinogens

Ayahuasca is non-addictive, is not known to cause brain damage, and has extremely low toxicity relative to dose. Similar to other psychedelic drugs, there are relatively few physical side effects associated with ayahuasca. Various studies have shown that it presents no negative cognitive, psychiatric or toxic physical consequences of any sort when taken in reasonable doses and in a careful context.[9][10]

Lethal dosage

The only available study that tried to estimate the lethal dose (LD50) of ayahuasca in rats failed to do so due to the very large amount of brew necessary for the procedure. The authors estimated, however, that ayahausca's LD50 is around 50 times a regular dose. This speaks in favor of the safety of ayahuasca usage.[11]

It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this drug.

Tolerance and addiction potential

Ayahuasca is not habit-forming and the desire to use it can actually decrease with use. It is most often self-regulating.

Similar to DMT, tolerance to the effects of ayahuasca do not build up with repeated usage and this compound can therefore be used repeatedly to any extent. Ayahuasca does not present a cross-tolerance with other psychedelics, meaning that after the consumption of ayahuasca psychedelics will not have a reduced effect.

Ayahuasca ceremonies

There have been several documented cases of avoidable deaths caused by frauds pretending to be shamans during "traditional" ayahuasca ceremonies.[12][13] The ingredient known to cause problems is known specifically as brugmansia, which can cause issues when co-administered with an MAOI. An effective ayahuasca brew does not have to be more complicated than a suitable source of DMT (such as mimosa or acacia) and a reversible inhibitor of mono-amine oxidase A (RIMA or MAOI). Using other ingredients along with the ayahuasca can potentially be dangerous; any potential interactions should be carefully researched before ingestion.

Another concern of ayahuasca ceremonies is the culture of mysticism and pseudoscience produced from centuries of mythological ritual, leading to a bias following the delusion of a single cultural narrative. There is an irrational belief that ayahuasca should only to be used in the Amazon rainforest in the presence of a shaman. This belief leads many to shun the idea of taking ayahuasca outside of this potentially toxic environment for no logical reason.[14]

Dangerous interactions

As a result of its MAOI effects, ayahuasca is more likely to induce serotonin syndrome or general neurotransmitter overload (especially at high dosages) than other serotonergic psychedelics. This makex it dangerous to combine it with other MAOIs, stimulants and certain substances which releases neurotransmitters such as serotonin or dopamine. These substances include but are not limited to:

Legal issues

  • International: Under the UN 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, DMT is classified at Schedule I, meaning that use of DMT is supposed to be restricted to scientific research and medical use.
  • Brazil: The religious (but not therapeutic or recreational) use of ayahuasca is legal. However, the production, distribution, or possession of DMT is illegal.
  • Canada: DMT is a Schedule III drug.
  • Estonia: DMT is a Schedule I drug.
  • Germany: The production, distribution, or possession of DMT is illegal.
  • New Zealand: DMT is a Class A drug.
  • Norway: DMT is a Schedule I drug.
  • Peru: The traditional use of ayahuasca for therapeutic purposes ("vegetalismo") is legal.
  • Russia: The production, distribution, or possession of DMT is illegal.
  • UK: DMT is a Class A drug.
  • USA: DMT is a Schedule I drug. Rules are relaxed regarding the religious use of ayahuasca however.
  • Latvia: DMT is a Schedule I drug.[15]

Experience reports

Anecdotal reports which describe this compound within our experience index include:

Additional experience reports can be found here:

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040402006012373
  2. ↑ The Visual Effects of Ayahuasca in Humans: The First Study to Employ a Ketanserin Blockade | http://www.beckleyfoundation.org/2016/03/the-visual-effects-of-ayahuasca-in-humans-the-first-study-to-employ-a-ketanserin-blockade/
  3. ↑ Pharmacokinetics of Hoasca alkaloids in healthy humans (ScienceDirect) | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874198001688
  4. ↑ RIBA, J. Human Pharmacology of Ayahuasca. Doctoral Thesis: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2003.
  5. ↑ Don Jose |title=The Shaman & Ayahuasca: Journeys to Sacred Realms |year=2011 |pages=81–85
  6. ↑ Sociopsychotherapeutic Functions of Ayahuasca Healing in Amazonia | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02791072.1989.10472145#.UeQ_9o03vMc
  7. ↑ Some folk uses of Peganum harmala in India and Pakistan | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF02860378
  8. ↑ Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report - http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-44462015000100013&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en
  9. ↑ Safety and side effects of ayahuasca in humans--an overview focusing on developmental toxicology. -- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23662333
  10. ↑ Health status of ayahuasca users. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22761152
  11. ↑ Pic-Taylor et al (2015). Behavioural and neurotoxic effects of ayahuasca infusion (Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis) in female Wistar rat. Behav Processes (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26049017
  12. ↑ British backpacker dies after taking hallucinogenic brew in Colombia | http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/27/british-backpacker-dies-hallucinogenic-drug-colombia
  13. ↑ Kiwi traveller in Peru dies after Amazon drug ritual | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11516673
  14. ↑ http://psychedelicfrontier.com/entities-plant-spirits-real-skeptics-guide-tripping/
  15. ↑ Noteikumi par Latvijā kontrolējamajām narkotiskajām vielām, psihotropajām vielām un prekursoriem (2.6.punkts) | http://likumi.lv/doc.php?id=121086
Last modified on 28 July 2016, at 01:49