Ayahuasca ceremony and retreat: effects, DMT and recipe
Introduction
The Ayahuasca ceremony is a tradition at least 2,500 years old, originating among the Indigenous peoples of South America. Compared with cacao ceremonies and guayusa ceremonies, it is therefore relatively recent, probably because of the complexity of an Ayahuasca recipe. Preparing Ayahuasca tea requires at least two ingredients, for example the stem of a vine and the leaves of another plant.
This article explores why Ayahuasca is such a complex subject and what you can expect from its effects, from a ceremony, or even from a retreat lasting several days.
Contents
- What is Ayahuasca?
- Ayahuasca ingredients and effects
- Ayahuasca ceremony
- Ayahuasca ceremonies and retreats in Germany
- Is it legal?
- Positive experiences of an Ayahuasca ceremony
- Ayahuasca risks and negative experiences
- Ayahuasca vs DMT
-
Ayahuasca recipes
- Travelling for Ayahuasca
- Conclusion
1. What is Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is a vine from the South American rainforest. In Kichwa, the language of the Indigenous people of the Amazon, its name means something like “vine of the soul” or “vine of the spirits”, reflecting the medicine’s promise of a deeply spiritual journey. More literally, “aya” means spirit or ancestor, while “huasca” means vine or rope. Stone bowls used in Ayahuasca ceremonies have been dated to around 500 BC, suggesting that the practice has existed for at least 2,500 years.
The vine is used by indigenous tribes of the Amazon to achieve an altered state of consciousness in ritual ceremonies and ayahuasca retreats lasting several days in order to heal mental and physical illnesses.
People in the Amazon region of South America have used Ayahuasca for healing since ancient times. The medicinal plant is also attracting increasing attention in other parts of the world.
The shamans’ “magic brew” promises a great deal, which is why Ayahuasca is becoming increasingly well known in Germany too. It is said to expand consciousness, enable journeys into the past and glimpses of the future, and even cure illnesses.
The Ayahuasca vine is boiled together with leaves containing DMT, such as chacruna, to make a plant brew. DMT is a psychedelic compound found in nature, in many plants and also in the human body. When taken through the stomach, however, DMT only has an effect in combination with other plant compounds known as MAO inhibitors.
2. Ayahuasca ingredients & effects
To give an outline of Ayahuasca’s effects, we’ll start by describing its main ingredients, then move on to its effects on the body, mind and spirit.
Anyone who has experienced an Ayahuasca ceremony will recognise many of the effects described here, but will probably find that some are missing. Each participant’s experience is individual, and it is impossible to describe them all.
If you’re thinking about attending an Ayahuasca retreat, this article may provide useful information to help you prepare for the experience.
Anyone who follows our posts, or has even signed up to our newsletter, knows that we also look at the science. We don’t see the spiritual and scientific perspectives as opposing paths; both can benefit from each other.
For this article, we therefore looked closely at what official reports and studies say about Ayahuasca as a medicine and, in particular, as a therapeutic tool.
Later, we’ll look at individual participants’ experiences, which offer a much more spiritual perspective.
2.1. Ayahuasca ingredients
When people talk about Ayahuasca, they mean the finished brew — a drink, something like tea — made from at least two plants: the vine Banisteriopsis caapi, also known as Caapi, and Psychotria viridis, also known as Chakruna.
Caapi contains the following important compounds for an Ayahuasca recipe:
- Harmine
- Harmaline
- Tetrahydroharmine
All three are alkaloids that act as MAO inhibitors (monoamine oxidase inhibitors).
Chakruna, on the other hand, contains the psychoactive compound DMT (dimethyltryptamine).
For DMT in Chakruna to have an effect when taken orally, the MAO inhibitors in Caapi are needed. They prevent the oxidation — and therefore breakdown — of DMT in the stomach.
2.2. Effects
MAO inhibitors
Looking only at monoamine oxidase inhibitors, numerous studies have already demonstrated their effectiveness as treatments for the following conditions.
- Panic attacks
- Agoraphobia
- Social phobia
- Atypical depression
- Anxiety disorders of various kinds
- Bulimia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Bipolar depression
DMT
DMT is a compound that occurs naturally in plants, animals and humans. When taken by mouth, however, the body breaks it down without effect or uses it as an amino acid.
DMT only acts immediately when administered intravenously or by inhalation; when taken orally, an MAO inhibitor must also be taken.
DMT’s effects on its own include:
- a changed sense of time
- visual, auditory and tactile perceptions
- hallucinations of geometric shapes
- perceptions of various beings, often described as little gnomes, elves or people who speak in high-pitched voices
DMT is therefore the hallucinogenic compound in an Ayahuasca ceremony. Strictly speaking, there is no single Ayahuasca vine, and an effective recipe requires at least two plants: one containing DMT and another containing MAO inhibitors.
Scientists have also identified DMT as a substance produced by the brain, specifically the pineal gland. They attribute an important role to it in the REM phase of sleep.
Effects of Ayahuasca on the brain
The active ingredients in Ayahuasca, DMT and the β-carbolines from the Caapi Ayahuasca vine (harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine), are said to have a nerve cell-protecting and even renewing effect in our brain.
For example, DMT in Ayahuasca activates the production of the SIG-1R protein, which, by producing antioxidants, prevents neurodegeneration in the brain. Laboratory studies have also found a protective effect on nerve cells exposed to oxygen deprivation.
By contrast, Harmine has an anti-inflammatory effect and a positive effect on memory. It has also been observed to support nerve-cell growth through increased production of proteins that aid this process.
Laboratory studies also demonstrated a 70% increase in the growth of precursor cells from which nerve cells later develop.
This could provide a scientific explanation for why many participants can relive past events so vividly. Ayahuasca may have a positive effect on memory.
Effects of Ayahuasca on the mind
Several studies have found that Ayahuasca can significantly increase participants’ mindfulness and acceptance. In psychology, both are considered important components of well-being. Another study also reports improved mood and an improved ability to manage emotions.
In a study involving 57 participants in an Ayahuasca ceremony, all reported a substantial reduction in stress that lasted for several weeks after the ceremony.
Other effects of Ayahuasca on the mind include the positive effects on depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction and mood swings mentioned above. In one study, a single dose of Ayahuasca led to a significant improvement in 29 people with chronic depression; another study found that attending an Ayahuasca retreat directly relieved the depression described by participants.
Numerous studies have also reported positive effects of Ayahuasca tea made from leaves and vines in people with long-term cocaine, alcohol and nicotine dependence.
According to current research, Ayahuasca appears to have a positive effect on the formation and protection of nerve cells in the brain. It also appears to improve mood and depressive symptoms, support emotional regulation, and help people with addiction break away from the substances they depend on.
3. Ayahuasca ceremony
An Ayahuasca retreat that is as authentic as possible, including the preparation of a genuine Ayahuasca recipe, can probably only be experienced in South American countries such as Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Costa Rica. However, there are also a few providers of pseudo-Ayahuasca ceremonies in Germany.
You can attend a single ceremony or a retreat lasting several days or weeks, during which you may experience Ayahuasca’s effects more than once.
3.1. What happens during a ceremony
Ayahuasca retreats do not all follow the same format, though they have similarities. There may be minor or major differences depending on where you attend a ceremony, whether in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia or Germany. However, a “curandero” will always be by your side. A curandero is a shaman, or traditional healer.
The retreat usually begins days or weeks before the ceremony itself, with you following a special diet. You should avoid animal products, sugar, salt, and things such as tobacco and alcohol.
The Ayahuasca ceremony may begin with the shaman using smoke to cleanse you of negative energies. This is usually done with Mapacho, a type of jungle tobacco. The shaman does not inhale the smoke, but simply blows it towards you.
After the first cleansing, you receive the Ayahuasca tea. You might then withdraw to meditate, for example. More likely, however, your accompanying healer will guide you into the experience with special songs.
These songs are called Icaros. They allow the shaman to communicate with the spirits needed for healing and thereby guide the intensity of the ceremony. The effects of Ayahuasca tea made from vines and leaves begin around 30 to 60 minutes after drinking it and last for 2 to 6 hours, depending on the intensity.
Vomiting and diarrhoea may occur at the outset. These are regarded as a good sign and as part of a further cleansing process. The more closely you have followed the diet beforehand, the less pronounced these cleansing processes are thought to be.
The jungle medicine carries you into another, visionary world. The healing brought about by Ayahuasca comes from understanding what is happening in your life now and what has happened in the past. The ceremony lets you release anger, bitterness and fear and transform them into acceptance, joy and love.
3.2. Cost of an Ayahuasca ceremony in South America
Prices for Ayahuasca ceremonies vary widely, from €100 to €500 or more per day.
Some all-inclusive “hotels” offer stays of several weeks, with multiple ceremonies. There are also day courses.
Further down, our travel tips explain how to reduce the cost of an Ayahuasca ceremony in South America without compromising on quality.
4. Ayahuasca ceremonies and retreats in Germany
Besides travelling to South America, which we discuss with a few tips at the end of this article, you can also attend an Ayahuasca retreat in Germany. These are usually one-day ceremonies using MAO inhibitors comparable to those in the caapi vine used in genuine Ayahuasca.
As DMT is illegal in Germany, known MAO inhibitors such as Syrian rue are used and boiled to a particularly high concentration for the pseudo-Ayahuasca recipe. This is intended to activate the body’s own DMT, which our pineal gland produces.
4.1. Ayahuasca retreats in Berlin
Because DMT is banned in Germany, it is also difficult to find an Ayahuasca ceremony in Berlin. But if not here, then where? We recommend looking through Facebook groups and browsing Instagram to find possible gatherings.
Make sure beforehand that the Ayahuasca recipe is not prepared with DMT-containing plants, so that you do not commit an offence in Germany...
4.2. Cost of an Ayahuasca ceremony in Germany
Ayahuasca retreats and individual ceremonies in Germany cost roughly the same as those in South America, with prices ranging from €100 to €500 per day.
Usually, the price includes only the ceremony itself — that is, preparing the Ayahuasca brew and support during its effects. Accommodation costs extra, whereas in South America it is often included.
The question is whether a holiday and a full Ayahuasca retreat might be a better and more affordable way to experience an authentic ceremony in its original setting.
5. Is it legal?
As mentioned above, Ayahuasca — or its active compound DMT — is illegal in Germany. Plants containing DMT are not illegal, however. A ban on them would be difficult to enforce because many plant species contain DMT, in varying amounts.
However, the state has prohibited preparing these plants, consuming the resulting tea and possessing pure DMT crystals.
Broadly speaking, the situation is similar across Europe. Apart from Portugal, where drugs of all kinds have been decriminalised for personal use, we have not found a country where DMT or Ayahuasca is legal. You can find an overview of countries where Ayahuasca is legal here.
As a reminder, the Ayahuasca vine itself contains no DMT. Some shops sell the vine on its own, but it cannot be used for this on its own.
6. Positive experiences of an Ayahuasca ceremony
The positive experiences described here come from people who attended retreats and ceremonies in South America. We consider them the most authentic because they are close to Ayahuasca’s origins, both geographically and culturally.
“I was able to learn as much from the other participants as from the ceremonies themselves, simply by listening to their personal experiences.”
“Even weeks later, I’m still processing the experience and learning new things from it.”
“A deep understanding of myself and of how my mind works and keeps me in chaos every day.”
“Ayahuasca took me on a wonderful journey into myself. The Amazon showed and taught me so much; I miss the breathtaking sounds of the rainforest.”
“Magical sounds of the jungle.”
“The highlight of medicine was nature itself.”
“Crazy, wonderful and disappointing. Leave your expectations at home. Every Ayahuasca ceremony is different, unique and takes you to new levels.”
“It changed my life.”
“Ayahuasca helped me realise how wonderful life is and how beautiful it is to be alive.”
“It brings out the brutal truth.”
“The sounds of the jungle were a gift every evening and every morning.”
“I learned so much from the plant; it was almost as if I were communicating with my own cells. Alongside these wonderful experiences, it isn’t always easy. Vomiting can be extremely unpleasant, but even that experience taught me the greatest lesson of all.”
“I recommend an Ayahuasca retreat with many ceremonies to anyone who wants to grow as a person and find their own path.”
7. Ayahuasca risks and negative experiences
Alongside many positive experiences, there are also negative ones that highlight the potential risks of an Ayahuasca ceremony, as well as the possibility of abusive “shamans”.
The most common negative experiences arise when the Ayahuasca tea is too strong or when side effects such as vomiting, diarrhoea and anxiety, including so-called “bad trips” caused by hallucinations, predominate.
As well as negative experiences attributed to the brew itself, participants also report risks arising from the shaman.
Here are some of the negative experiences, translated freely by us:
“The staff are genuinely lovely people and mean well. In my case, though, they gave me a dose that was too high for me and that I wasn’t prepared for, which triggered my first-ever panic attack. The past two months have been hell: I had to be admitted to hospital in my home town.” Google source
“DO NOT GO HERE! I was sexually assaulted during a massage. It was a horrible, traumatic experience. I pray that no other girl has to suffer the same disgusting treatment from this man.” Google source
“If you’re a woman, please avoid this place. I was pressured into drinking Ayahuasca when I didn’t want to. I was told my boyfriend would leave me, and I felt unsafe. One of the shamans behaved inappropriately, saying he liked me and wanted to see me at my hotel while my boyfriend was still at the retreat.” Google source
“Now that I’m home again, I sometimes feel that life isn’t real, that I never came back and actually fell into a coma. I feel as though I’m in a coma and my parents and family are waiting for me to wake up.” Reddit post source
7.1. Ayahuasca and medication
If you take prescription medication, such as antibiotics, or have high blood pressure or heart problems, you probably should not take Ayahuasca. You should also discuss taking Ayahuasca with a doctor first if you take antidepressants.
It is also recommended that you stop taking any drugs or stimulants a few weeks before the Ayahuasca ceremony.
All medicines and herbs that affect serotonin levels should be stopped.
People diagnosed with personality disorders are advised against taking Ayahuasca.
8. Ayahuasca vs DMT
DMT is the psychoactive compound in Chakruna. The Caapi Ayahuasca vine, by contrast, contains only the MAO inhibitors needed for DMT to have an effect.
DMT can also be consumed on its own by inhaling smoke into the lungs; in that case, it does not require an MAO inhibitor.
The main difference between DMT and Ayahuasca is that Ayahuasca contains a combination of active compounds, whereas DMT is an extract. This is comparable to Guayusa tea and pure caffeine extract. In addition to caffeine, Guayusa tea contains various other compounds that together have a different effect from pure caffeine extract.
Consuming pure DMT produces a very strong high lasting a few minutes, which users describe as an intensely spiritual experience. In the 1960s, businesspeople often used DMT for a brief trip during work or between meetings.
There is also no evidence that DMT or Ayahuasca are addictive substances like heroin, crack, tobacco, alcohol or sugar. The ban on the substance is therefore highly controversial.
You can find an interesting documentary about DMT and Ayahuasca on YouTube. If you’d like to read more, Amazon has a range of books about DMT:
9. Ayahuasca recipes
There does not seem to be a single traditional preparation method. In general, though, completing the recipe takes several hours to a whole day and involves at least one plant containing MAO inhibitors.
Depending on the shaman, the caapi Ayahuasca vine is prepared on its own or together with chacruna leaves or another DMT-containing plant, such as chaliponga or mimosa roots. The most common Ayahuasca recipe uses chacruna and caapi.
Chacruna leaves should be picked in the morning at sunrise or in the evening at sunset, when their DMT content is highest. The vine’s stem must be broken up with a hammer or another hard object, such as a branch, until its fibres separate. All ingredients are then cleansed with mapacho smoke and prayers or chants.
The ingredients for the Ayahuasca recipe are boiled over an open fire in a large pot, or separately in two pots, until most of the liquid has evaporated. The remaining brew is the Ayahuasca tea; if the ingredients were cooked separately, they are combined in the last few minutes of preparation.
In practice, were it not illegal, Ayahuasca tea containing DMT could also be prepared in Germany, because certain grasses, such as common reed and reed canary grass, contain DMT.
9.1. Guayusa
Another interesting ingredient often added by Kichwa communities in Ecuador is guayusa. Guayusa is an intriguing plant that is brewed like tea, although it is not true tea. Its effects are described as particularly helpful for focus, wakefulness and stress reduction. You can learn more about the world’s most caffeinated plant in our article “What is guayusa?”.
The Ayahuasca vine, or more precisely the resulting drink, tastes extremely bitter. Guayusa is therefore added to the recipe to make the flavour more pleasant, while also giving participants enough energy for the ceremony and avoiding a hangover effect.
Like Ayahuasca, Guayusa has a tradition among the Kichwa dating back thousands of years. Besides its stimulating effect, which is one reason it is popular here, it is used for many ceremonial purposes, including lucid dreaming.
Unlike Ayahuasca, Guayusa can legally be bought and consumed in Germany. You can find it as an energy tea in our shop.
10. Travelling for Ayahuasca
As mentioned above, travelling to South America is a good opportunity to experience an authentic Ayahuasca ceremony or a whole retreat using a genuine recipe. As Ayahuasca is recognised as a legal medicine in some countries, it should in any case be the first choice to avoid possible difficulties with the authorities here in Germany.
As a guayusa company, we often travel to Ecuador and have seen how normal the use of Ayahuasca as a remedy is considered there. If you are already in the area, we can put you in touch with local people and even German- or English-speaking expatriates in the Napo region.
However, we cannot recommend a specific Ayahuasca retreat. When choosing, look for a place east of the Andes that has plenty of good reviews or has been recommended to you first-hand.
11. Conclusion
It is not easy to draw a conclusion about Ayahuasca ceremonies. We think such a ceremony, or even a full retreat, may be a wonderful experience for some people. If you feel afraid of taking part, there may be a reason for that, and you should avoid it for now.
The DMT molecule, which is responsible for the intense effects of an Ayahuasca recipe, occurs naturally in many plants and animals, as well as in humans. It is a fascinating substance that scientists also call the “molecule of consciousness”.
DMT and the finished Ayahuasca brew are illegal in Germany and throughout the EU, but buying a caapi vine or chacruna leaves is legal.
We think travelling to South America is the best option for an authentic and legal Ayahuasca experience, but everyone must make that decision for themselves.
We’d love to hear your feedback on this article. You can write to us on Facebook or Instagram. If you’re interested in our traditional Guayusa tea, you can buy it in our shop with a 5% discount by entering the code “BLOG-5” at checkout. Sign up to our newsletter to receive a 10% discount.