There’s a “healing drug” that has been making headlines over the past decade. The name of this drug is Ayahuasca. Ayahuasca is a drink made from leaves (which contain DMT) and vines (which enable the DMT in your brain) found in South America. So, why are people traveling to South America to take it?
People that have consumed ayahuasca claim that it is an enlightening experience. You find out about yourself, and make sense of the emotions that you feel. Also, it’s said that ayahuasca can heal past trauma, and depression. This is how ayahuasca is being marketed to consumers. There are special retreats in South America dedicated to ayahuasca rituals.
Ayahuasca is a hallucinogen (drug that makes you hallucinate). The Default Mode Network in your brain is the part of the brain that deals with anxiety, depression, and social phobias. There is decreased activity in this part of the brain while you are on ayahuasca, thus nulling your anxiety, depression, and social phobias. This is why some people come out of an ayahuasca trip feeling better, and more purposeful.
The ayahuasca ritual is usually similar from what I’ve read and watched. Typically, ceremonies are held at night. There’s a room in which all participants are gathered and given a bucket; as soon as everybody is in their space, the ceremony begins. There’s a prayer held, and people grab their cup of ayahuasca. There’s a briefing of instructions, intention, and recommendations. After consuming the drink, healing songs called icaros are played, and spiritual smoke ensues the room to cleanse the room of bad spirits.
The experience allegedly gets so intense that you eventually throw up. This is why you have a bucket near you. People have cried, screamed, and had their worst nightmares hallucinated in front of them. It’s definitely dangerous, as ayahuasca-related deaths have reported as well. Hopefully people get the clarity they are searching for taking the risk to do ayahuasca therapy.
