What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
B. caapi contains alkaloids that act as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or anti-depressants.
Ayahuasca is the hispanicized spelling of a Quechua word, a language spoken in Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia.
In Brazil, the practice and use of ayahuasca, or daime, has been combined with Christian and Afro-Brazilian religious beliefs, giving rise to the Santo Daime, the União do Vegetal, the Barquinha, and other spiritual movements.
Ayahuasca is a brew made out of two plants: the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the Psychotria viridis leaf.
But others believe that its usage dates all the way back to the primitive inhabitants of South America.
So "ayahuasca" has been taken to mean "liana of the dead" or "liana of the soul."
In an indigenous context, ayahuasca was primarily used by the shamans of the Amazon region for healing and divinatory purposes.
For centuries, these cultures have believed that the tea provides access to the human psyche.
Some users also report enhanced hearing, claiming that sounds become more clear and distinct.
How the shamans began to mix the vine and the leaf of the two different plants remains a mystery. On their own, the plants are relatively inert.
Normal emotions, like happiness, sadness, or anger, are also said to intensify when under the influence.
Many users have likened the experience to the sensation of dreaming.
The hallucinations are said to come and go in waves, and do not happen continuously.
Users also report gaining new insight into personal concerns.
The rise of these new spiritual movements has contributed to the spread of ayahuasca throughout South American societies, and beyond.
Ayahuasca saw a surge in interest in the late 1960s and 1970s with the psychedelic revolution.
Ayahuasca is legal in Brazil and Peru, which are the countries with the largest number of retreats. In the US, two religious groups (the UDV and Santo Daime) have been given approval to use ayahuasca.
Ayahuasca’s legal status is complicated. It contains DMT, which is an internationally prohibited drug. However, the preparation is considered sacred in many countries, so exceptions exist.
Retreats have started to pop up where people outside the traditional lifestyle can attempt to receive the healing benefits of the sacred brew.
You've probably heard of ayahuasca by now. And you've probably heard some misconception about it along the way. This South American sacred brew is an ancient, powerful, and traditional tool that has been used by dozens and dozens of different peoples who have depended on it for medicinal and spiritual reasons.
Click through the gallery and delve into this often misunderstood tradition.
Explore the rich history of the ancient ayahuasca tradition
This ancient tea has been part of Amazonian peoples' rituals for centuries
LIFESTYLE Ayahuasca
You've probably heard of ayahuasca by now. And you've probably heard some misconception about it along the way. This South American sacred brew is an ancient, powerful, and traditional tool that has been used by dozens and dozens of different peoples who have depended on it for medicinal and spiritual reasons.
Click through the gallery and delve into this often misunderstood tradition.