In many South American jungles, curanderos and Shamans sing ceremonial songs as people go up and receive the ayahuasca tea. The brew of a mixture of plants will often take people on one of the most profound journeys of their lives. Ayahuasca is sought by people from different cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds for its potential to bring out repressed memories that have been forgotten but in some way shaped who they have become. So, what is ayahuasca like? Experiences may vary, but let’s go over the basics below.
How Long Does Ayahuasca Last?
The ayahuasca experience comes in many different stages. As the moment passes, another layer is unfolded, taking the user back sometimes to their childhood or a time in their life when they had a troubling experience. Ayahuasca gives people the opportunity to take out everything in them to see it from a different perspective.
If there is a problem with that specific and vivid memory, people can fix what affected them without feeling the emotional burden. Some trips can be complicated since ayahuasca can make a person face their deepest fears. However, living daily with those distressful events of the past can be more difficult because they prevent a person from living a psychologically happy and healthy life.
Ayahuasca ceremonies are usually performed at night and last until the participants are no longer feeling any effects. From the moment the brew is ingested, it can take twenty to sixty minutes for the journey to start. Depending on the dosage, a trip can last up to six hours although, this can vary from person to person. Height, weight and the health condition of the person all play a factor. Some people are more experienced and can have built a tolerance, so this will have a different effect than a person experiencing it for the first time. Those who do have some tolerance to the brew have no risk of getting addicted to it.
Why Does Ayahuasca Make You Vomit?
Curanderos sing songs while they make the bitter and earthy beverage and use that as a form of communication with the spirits about their intent. The mixture of the ayahuasca vine and a shrub called Psychotria Viridis, or chacruna, create the ayahuasca brew. They clean the vines and bark from the soil they were once in, and sometimes that alone can take up to a day. In that case, curanderos will make the brew the following day. It is a long process as the pot is put over a fire. It has to be boiled and reduced repeatedly over twenty-four hours. Once it reaches a thick molasses-like consistency, it is ready to be consumed.
As the layers unravel during the trip, there becomes a point that the body starts purging. Not everyone will vomit from an ayahuasca trip, but about fifty percent of them do. Purging is needed for some people to cleanse their souls. When they vomit, it also allows them to go deeper into the experience.
Purging also permits people to reach their full potential and give in to their journey. Often they will try to fight off the medicinal drink to stay in control. It gets to the point that the body has to throw up and when that happens, people usually feel better and can enjoy the experience that is to come to get the most out of it.
In other cases, people will experience a psychological purge, but they don’t vomit. The body will feel like they are throwing up, but it doesn’t happen. It is just another way of letting go of everything that does not serve that person. Negative experiences and emotions are expelled through purging for people to focus on their true destiny.
Where Is Ayahuasca Legal?
Originally ayahuasca was used for religious purposes. However, as it has become increasingly popular, it is being used to cure depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and addiction. Ayahuasca triggers three parts of the brain: the neocortex responsible for determining what types of decisions a person makes and the amygdala that stores traumatic memories. The insula attaches emotions and reactions.
In the 1950s, researchers wanted to know more about the possible benefits of psychedelics. Psychoactive substances have chemicals that mimic serotonin, and those serotonin neurotransmitters are associated with perception, mood and memory. However, the studies were limited since psychoactive drugs were put on the list of controlled substances, with DMT being one of them. DMT is the active ingredient in ayahuasca, and it gives people a trip similar to LSD or magic mushrooms.
Despite Ayahuasca being illegal in the United States, it’s legal to consume and harvest DMT in some countries. In Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru and Italy, ayahuasca has been approved and is entirely legal. The drink can be used freely and is mainly offered at ayahuasca retreats. In other countries like Romania, Ayahuasca is supported by medical professionals for scientific and medical research only.
How to Prepare for Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is centered on its ceremonies, but individuals should do a few things before considering the experience. Looking for the correct shaman to help administer the ayahuasca is essential. Since it is very trendy, there are so many different retreats and shamans available. Shamans and curanderos are there as a support system and guide and therefore should be reputable in this area. They must have experience handling ayahuasca. Sometimes it can be a good option to be referred to one from a friend or relative. Going to South America without knowing one and just asking around can sometimes lead to a bad experience and is not advised.
The week before the ceremony, people should also start to prepare their minds and bodies. Most people will more likely go through the ayahuasca dieta or purging. Therefore, minimizing the consumption of animal products a few days before or at least the day of the ceremony is essential. Having a check-up with a physician can give people some confidence that they are in good health. It can also avoid adverse reactions to the tea, especially if the person is taking medications.
In addition, the intention of wanting to try ayahuasca is one of the most important things that people should figure out. Finding the reason and what an individual wants out of the experience will be beneficial to avoid any bad trips. Each member should also prep psychologically for the occasion by meditating a week or a few days before to ease their minds.
As the ceremony approaches, white clothes are provided for each participant. Shamans or curanderos can see the fluorescent color since these rites are held in complete darkness. A pillow and bucket are usually set up for each individual. Chanting, crying, laughing and vomiting can all be heard during the ayahuasca experience. Ceremonial songs are sung in the dark, and once the tea is consumed, people can be sure that the visual hallucinations are to come.
Ayahuasca is a powerful plant that can bring back all of the traumatic experiences someone has gone through. Every phase of the experience helps the person grow spiritually and explore their inner world. During these phases, people will often release stress, pain and suffering. After an ayahuasca ceremony, most people will have a different outlook on life and be full of positive energy.
If you or someone you know has consumed ayahuasca, we would like to hear about your experience. Let us know by leaving a comment below!
