Ayahuasca FAQ
This is intended to be a FAQ for people who wanna get some basic information about Ayahuasca. If you have any suggestions and ideas that can be added to improve this FAQ, please post them below!
Basic information about Ayahuasca
What is Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew that contains [MAO-I's] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_inhibitor) and the psychedelic substance [DMT] ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N,N-Dimethyltryptamine ). It is used by the shamans and healers of the Amazon since thousands of years to treat various physical and mental illnesses, to gain insights about life and the nature of existence or to communicate with the spirit world by inducing a psychedelic trance that lasts several hours.
Within the last few years the brew has become more and more popular in the west and many people travel to the Amazon to find healing and insights.
What can Ayahuasca heal and what not?
Ayahuasca has the potential to heal various mental and physical illnesses, but not all. There have been studies in the recent years that suggest that psychedelics like Ayahuasca, LSD or Magic Mushrooms can help with anxiety, depression, drug addiction, PTSD and other mental illnesses and are much more effective than psychotherapy or psycho-pharmaceutical drugs when the are taken in the right context. However, psychedelics should be avoided if you are suffering from schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
For more specific information you can make a post in this subreddit.
What effects will Ayahuasca have on me when I consume it?
That depends. The effects that Ayahuasca can have reach from painful and terrifying to mystical experiences where time, space and ones own identity are transcended and absolute bliss is experienced. It also depends on the context in which Ayahuasca is consumed, as well as the physical and emotional condition of the person that consumes Ayahuasca.
In many cases Ayahuasca causes vomiting, sweating and/or diarrhea in order to cleanse people from physical toxins and emotional baggage. The consciousness altering effects kick in about 20-60 minutes after the tea has been consumed and emotionally charged visions are often experienced. Many people report that they have let go of fear, anger or trauma after the plant helped them to face these issues.
Where can I find a reliable retreat/shaman?
You can look at these websites for ratings and reviews of various places that offer Ayahuasca in a ceremonial and/or therapeutic setting all around the world:
Is there anything that I should be aware of before consuming Ayahuasca?
Yes! Ayahuasca contains [MAO-I's (Monoamin Oxidase Inhibitors)] ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoamine_oxidase_inhibitor ), which can be toxic to various degrees if you combine them with certain foods, drugs or medication. You definitely should avoid taking Ayahuasca in combination with anti-depressants like SSRI, which could lead to a dangerous and possibly fatal serotonin syndrome.
For more information on what foods and drugs to avoid, check out the following link:
http://www.ayahuasca.com/science/what-foods-and-drugs-need-to-be-avoided/
If you take medication, please take a look at your patient information leaflet or ask your doctor if you can combine the medication with MAO-I's!
Anything else that I need to know about working with Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca isn't a recreational drug. It is serious work that sometimes can be difficult and even painful & terrifying. It is recommended to consume Ayahuasca under supervision of an experienced healer who you trust, because he or she can guide you through the trip and offer help if something unexpected or overwhelming happens.
Also keep in mind that Ayahuasca is not a magic cure and although it can produce astonishing results for some people, your healing process might take time, maybe even years, depending on your condition.
Posted Nov 9, 2017, 9:12 PM UTC · edited