Ayahuasca

[winstonsmith]

Anyone tried it? I'd be interested to hear peoples experiences with it as I've been thinking about trying it myself for a while now...

[auron]

Anyone tried it? I'd be interested to hear peoples experiences with it as I've been thinking about trying it myself for a while now...

I'm the same mate! I will eventually take it, but it will be at a time when i'm 100% prepared! :)

[tejas]

Ive tried it -
and nothing happened!

Its VERY difficult to prepare -takes about six hours - i dont think i did it correctly :( Definately read up as much as you can before trying it

[the festival spirit]

I spoke with someone recently about this, it DOES sound very interesting doesnt it!

My serious advice would be go and stay with the experts for a little while and then try it. Less seriously, lets all make shitloads.

[seanx]

The key is your mental preparation before hand.

When you take it, it will take you to the vibrational level
(dimension?) that you are 'vibrating ' at.

You can't fool your frequency...whatever you are deeply feeling is
the 'force' that will determine your journey.

That's why the experience can be hellish or ecstactic.

I think that's the reason that most shamans would spend at least a
week in deep meditation and quit befire they undertook a 'journey with
this intelliegent teaching plant.

[the jock rock]

I'm the same mate! I will eventually take it, but it will be at a time when i'm 100% prepared! :)
No amount of preparation will help with this one.
It is your Hell while alive-ENJOY!

[cheeb]

I tried DMT, datura, and potters asthmatic remidy,
Those stupid non entity things that come up and try to ruin your trip,
well they can bog off as far as i was concerned,
#i wasn't having none of it'
and neither shouild you
if on your trip
these mind parasites start interfering
with your subconscience
tell the tricksters where to get off,
theyll get the message soon enough ,
and leave you be

Is that the same as ayatheusia

[the festival spirit]

The key is your mental preparation before hand.

When you take it, it will take you to the vibrational level
(dimension?) that you are 'vibrating ' at.

You can't fool your frequency...whatever you are deeply feeling is
the 'force' that will determine your journey.

That's why the experience can be hellish or ecstactic.

I think that's the reason that most shamans would spend at least a
week in deep meditation and quit befire they undertook a 'journey with
this intelliegent teaching plant.


Packed full of sound advice there. "The key is your mental preparation before hand." as with any altered consciousnes.



I think that's the reason that most shamans would spend at least a
week in deep meditation and quit befire they undertook a 'journey with
this intelliegent teaching plant.

Sounds like first hand experience to me! Nice one.

Can you embellish a bit more on the "intelliegent teaching plant" part? ........ please ?

EDIT: lol Cheeb, some good advice there too!

Love Peace and Respect.

[chris]

My Ayahuasca experience was truly beautiful.

The only bad thing was that it's so horrid that I couldn't keep it down long enough to get 100% of it's effects. I have one of the strongest stomaches around, I've only been sick while drunk twice (and believe me, I've been drunk!) but I literally couldn't keep this shit down, the puke even stained my toilet and needed bleach to get it off...for this reason next time I'm going to extract the DMT from the plants and make it into powder and then take the MAOI inhibitors and have it all orally without the extremely harsh taste and tainted colour...

The trip for me was absolutely beautiful, it differs from the mushrooms and lsd in the fact that the latter feels like an external influence is frying your circuits and you are 'tripping.' Ayahuasca was much more like an extention of my imagination, for instance: when I started coming up, I decided to visualise an extremely bright star and when I did not only the star became very real but then I visualised amazing shapes coming out of it. I say visualised because it wasn't forced upon me but my mind had the power and interest to add it and it was beautiful, like I said; it was like an extention of my imagination.

Another thing was that it was very connected with nature, I was visualising nature growing all around me, not because my ego wanted it to but it was like a deep desire, i've heard the subconscious is more like the earth and nature and not the hellish fraudian theory and this seemed very true..

The best thing about it is that it feels very natural.

[chris]

The visuals were like your mind playing around, it wasn't an external source that you had no control over. It was like the feelings in your heart come to life and then extended upon and then they are extended upon...

For instance, you might be looking at your wall and see a small pattern, then your feelings would like there to be a continuation of the pattern and you will create that in your mind, once you see that then you might feel it would be better to add some more and then some colour...Mushrooms might be like 'Hey, WTF is that pattern doing there???' but ayahuasca you have much more of an understanding where it comes from. I'm probably only going to do this now as a psychadelic because mushrooms and LSD do not measure up.

[hapax]

Ayahuasca involves the full activation of DMT (as in the plant Psychotria viridis) by a MAO inhibitor plant such as Harmal (Peganum harmala) or Yage (Banisteriopsis caapi). Without this type of MAO inhibition, the DMT can't have its full effect. It's what you need, I assure you. And now, not later...

While meditating or fasting in advance does help, the main thing is getting it down right now. The real purification is achieved by the Ayahuasca itself. Allow it to help you.

It's called daime ("gimme") in Brazil because that's all you have to do - go to an ayahuasca daime church and ask - it sits there in big containers just waiting to be consumed. The daime church is around in Europe and the US nowadays. Find one, and drink some now.

Some Ayahuasca links:

http://www.santodaime.org/indexy.htm

http://diseyes.lycaeum.org/dmt/dmt.htm

http://www.rickstrassman.com/dmt/

The jurema is a bit different (from Mimosa hostilis), but contains DMT just the same:

http://yatra.yage.net/jurema.htm

[auron]

Good links there mate, cheers!

Here is a documentary well worth watching on google video:

Shamans Of The Amazon (52mins) (http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-8714482344821425610)

:)

[winstonsmith]

Good links there mate, cheers!

Here is a documentary well worth watching on google video:

Shamans Of The Amazon (52mins) (http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-8714482344821425610)

:)

Yeah, I've seen that documentary. It's good. It's actually made me want to go and live in South America, away from all this bullshit. I've already started saving up the money to do so!

There was another Ayahuasca documentary on Google video as well but it seems to have been taken down. I wonder why? :rolleyes:

[ashyr]

i had this weird trip the other day on something called "MOON JUICE"

the cook wont tell me the secret to making it but i do know this

it contains MILK and WEED simmerd for ages on a stove.
also its got some thing hes not telling me
+ he mentioned it took 6 hours preperation before even putting anything on the stove.


man when i was on it. i was glued to the couch. i couldnt really move.
i was all elasticy spastic. and the depth of feild on my vision became almost 2d. eg distance from the table and the wall in my vision was the same PLANE.

i was astraltraveling hardcore. i was off in distant universes. but at the same time i had horrible feelings because i didnt know what i had taken not knowing the secret ingredients. i myself like to know all. and i also self medicate and practice alot of shamanistic things. they call this stuff moonjuice for a reason.
then came the FIGHTER PILOT stage.

about 3 hours into it. weather your try to sleep or not. you just start pulling about 3 or 4 g's.

its bizarre. but i want to know more. anyone know if this is the same thing?

Ayahuasca?

[ashyr]

anyone ever gone AWAY on salvia divinorum? heheh 1 word.. WACKY

[auron]

Yeah, I've seen that documentary. It's good. It's actually made me want to go and live in South America, away from all this bullshit. I've already started saving up the money to do so!
Same with me mate!


There was another Ayahuasca documentary on Google video as well but it seems to have been taken down. I wonder why? :rolleyes:

I know which one you mean! I'll keep an eye out for it, sometimes they re-appear. :)

[auron]

anyone ever gone AWAY on salvia divinorum? heheh 1 word.. WACKY

Oh yes. :)

[danielg]

Spent 5 months there last year, well recommended, you'll not want to come back. Cusco Peru (ayahuaska and san pedro on sale everywhere) is an ideal place to move, cheap, mestizo women and a trans-Amazon highway being built straight to the east coast of Brasil.
www.anotherplanetperu.net < South African native runs an ayahuaska and san pedro pseudo-temple on a hilltop over looking Cusco, perfect location for it :-)

[auron]

Spent 5 months there last year, well recommended, you'll not want to come back. Cusco Peru (ayahuaska and san pedro on sale everywhere) is an ideal place to move, cheap, mestizo women and a trans-Amazon highway being built straight to the east coast of Brasil.
www.anotherplanetperu.net < South African native runs an ayahuaska and san pedro pseudo-temple on a hilltop over looking Cusco, perfect location for it :-)
Just the kind of thing I'd be interested in. I'll try that link again later, the website appears to be down at the moment.

Cheers. :)

[seanx]

is it an intelligent living plant?

Here are some ideas from Stephen Harrod Buhner from his book
The secret teaching of plants


Living organisms, including people and plants
exchange electomagnetic energy through
contact between their fields, and this electomagnetic
energy carries information in much the same way say
radio transmitters recievers carry music.

And:

The best outcomes are dependent on the state
of mind of the [participant] Extreme importance should
be attached to the kind of intention a participant has
as he works. The more loving and caring the participantthe
more coherence there will be in their electomagnetic field
and the better the healing /experience will be....

And this idea.....

When we are cared for or care for others, the heart
releases an entirely different casade of hormonal and
neurotransmitters substances than it does in other less hopeful circumstances

The question is... does our state of mind ...and our real intention affect
and determine how the Ayahuasca responds to us.

Can it 'read' our true intention and loving energy ( or lack of it) from
the casade of hormonal and neurotransmitters substances we emit
and respond accordingly?

Does it know when we are REALLY serious or just messing around
looking for short-cuts?

Will it emit certain substances for one person and much less for
another?

Anything will give up it's secrets if you love it enough
George wasington Carver

[brians201]

Anyone tried it? I'd be interested to hear peoples experiences with it as I've been thinking about trying it myself for a while now...

================================================== ===
Hi WinstonSmith,

Take a look at this link and check out this guy's experiences .. http://uazu.net/notes/ayahuasca.html

I have taken it several times in a shaman controlled setting after observing the recommended diet and abstinence and I agree with Chris's and Hapax's comments 100%. I do believe that it does tune into us but we have to play our part to by treating the eperience with the due respect.
One of the main things to take into account is that Ayahuasca is regarded not as a recreational drug but as a Teacher Plant that has it's own spirit and that when you are imbibing the Plant you are inviting a communication with a living entity. As such the process should be treated with a reverance and respect if one expects a meaningful experience rather than a "Saturday Night Trip".
My personal feelings are that the Plant should only be taken as part of a Spiritual learning journey whilst observing the time honoured rituals laid down by the South American shamans. However others may beg to differ and that of course is entirely their choice.
An integral part of the Ayahuasca experience is the "Purging" and one of it's nicknames is The Purge! ... One should accept the fact that one is going to be violently sick and that it is part of the cleansing process that the Plant performs. Coupled with it's vile taste these are reasons hopefully that it will never catch on as the latest "designer pyschedelic" and it is also extremely laborious and difficult to prepare. In fact the "brew" that I drank had came all the way from South America.

Here is one of the cheaper organisiations providing safe, controlled and healing ayahuasca experiences in Peru and a quote below from their site. http://www.ayahuasca-wasi.com/

"The Ayahuasca brew is considered by the Amazon's tribes as one of the master "teacher plants". It has been used by Shamans of the Peruvian Andes and Amazon jungle for centuries as an essential part of their traditional medicine as a way of expanding consciousness. In Quechua, the term "aya" means spirit or soul while "huasca" means rope (the soul's rope).
For the Shipibos, these psychotropic plants are known as "murayacai" which means "Shaman makers". The plants reveal to us the true world, while the normal world is considered an illusion."

--------------------------------------------------------

Also here is a fascinating tale of one man's personal journey in Peru.

http://www.lila.info/document_view.phtml?document_id=11

Danielg, I couldn't open your link but it sounds cool and I would love to know more details about your time there if you have any

Cheers :)

[auron]

Here is one of the cheaper organisiations providing safe, controlled and healing ayahuasca experiences in Peru and a quote below from their site. http://www.ayahuasca-wasi.com/

Thanks man! Looks like I'm going to Peru! :)

[danielg]

If you're doing a trek around Peru, try getting to Cusco, doing the Machu Picchu tour, or trail if you have time (stock up on weed!), also Puno on Lake Titicaca has some interesting sites, as has Copacabana (the original, where the Rio beach was named after) at the other end of the lake, over the border in Boliva. Has ancient Inca sites on the Isla De La Sol (Island of the Sun), just off the Copacabana 'coast'... some excellent places to visit.
Make sure you time it right with the weather.

[auron]

If you're doing a trek around Peru, try getting to Cusco, doing the Machu Picchu tour, or trail if you have time (stock up on weed!), also Puno on Lake Titicaca has some interesting sites, as has Copacabana (the original, where the Rio beach was named after) at the other end of the lake, over the border in Boliva. Has ancient Inca sites on the Isla De La Sol (Island of the Sun), just off the Copacabana 'coast'... some excellent places to visit.
Make sure you time it right with the weather.
Thanks for those tips. I'll remember those places! :)

This is a book I've posted before in many threads:

Ayahuasca Visions, by Shaman Pablo Amaringo.pdf (http://www.badongo.com/file/2723153)

Every tree, every plant has a spirit. People may say that the plant has no mind. I tell them that the plant is alive and conscious. A plant may not talk, but there is a spirit within it that makes it conscious, that sees everything, which is the soul of the plant, it's essence, what makes it alive. The channels through which the water and sap move are the veins of the spirit.

[joy division]

I am seriously considering this now.

How much will it cost? No prices on that website

[danielg]

Lightbeing from the illusionsforum.com (is he the same bloke as lightbeing on here?) will know the prices for santo daime Ayahuaska sessions, he did it in Manaus Brasil. In Cusco it cost either $80 or £80, kinda useless info given the difference in exchange rate.

[brians201]

I am seriously considering this now.

How much will it cost? No prices on that website

===============================================

Hi Joy Division,

Last time they had prices there it was under 1000$ for the 7 day retreat but if you email them you will get full details.

Here is another organisation which is very reasonably priced and has a mine of info if you check out all the links. Take a look at the Experiences link .. some of the stories are amazing ! thttp://www.ayahuayra.org/main.htm

And another link for general travel and info but I know nothing of the reputation of any of the travel sites.
http://www.enjoyperu.com/peru_travel_tours_information/ayahuasca/ayahuasca_traditional_medicine.html

I am aiming to get over there in November .. see ya there :D

[joy division]

Hi brians, cheers for the info,

I am definately going to go and do this, i have found my calling. Life has come to a dead end for me, and has done pretty much all my life.

I have to do this, now november sounds good to me, enough time to save up.

I sawe on that websites its 850 us dollars for seven days and of course plane ticckets.

Can we arrange on here a group trip to peru.


It would be an even greater experience with fellow forum members with the same ideas.

Let me know.

[chris]

Remember to research what you can and cannot eat.

Also after you've had the major trip have some really fresh strawberries, they taste so amazing.

[stomph]

The so called dieta varies strongly from Shaman to Shaman, IMHO. I was in Ecuador this April to travel with Mama Aya three times during a week. We ate quite normally (breakfast, lunch and dinner during the whole week.. even meat, eggs, coffee, tea etc.) Only on the evenings before a journey did we have only a soup, so as not to have a heavy stomach. Some people vomitted, some (me included) didn't.

The journey was much more powerful than usually here in Switzerland. The Shaman says that Aya is about 30% less powerful over here. And I did vomit on the last ceremony here in Switzerland just last month. But hey, it's very liberating ;-) But all these stories about the strict dieta weeks beforehand... well, as with so many things, it really is mostly in your head and what you believe is necessary/true. Some Shamans forbid bananas..others tell you to eat nothing but bananas... Believe you need a purge? Mama Aya will gladly comply ;-)

I have been journeying with Ayahuasca since July 2005 and the woman organizing the ceremonies here in Switzerland receives her Ayahuasca (Plant and Brew) from said Shaman in Ecuador. She also brews it herself. Her Shaman is very down to earth and says that you can basically eat what you like!

Just listen to your body/inner voice, that is my advice. Respect Aya (but no need to be afraid or even subordinate/submissive.. she wants you to be strong and powerful!! At least that's my experience.. it's all about "arriving at yourself".)

PS: I realize I haven't introduced myself yet.. my apologies and I will gladly write about my experiences with Mama Aya when I get around to it. For me, she really IS IT and had very transforming effects on my life :) Thanks who- or whatever for planting Mama Aya alongside us humans here on this lovely planet :)

PPS: Just had a thought: That citing the Shaman ('eat what you like') didn't feel 100% comfortable. It's of course not meant to encourage carelessness. He talks from his point of view. Living a life close to and quite in harmony with nature... not with so much processed and artificial food and other pollutants as we have here in the western "culture". So, just wanted to add this. If you live fairly healthy, eat consciously and take care of your mindset, the purging is really very much a head-thing. That's my feeling and experience so far.

PPPS: Goes to show I'm new here. Just wanted to add one more thing: This is truly a great forum and you're a really cool and lovely, fascinating and enlightening crowd. :) Thanks a lot!

[brians201]

Hi brians, cheers for the info,

I am definately going to go and do this, i have found my calling. Life has come to a dead end for me, and has done pretty much all my life.

I have to do this, now november sounds good to me, enough time to save up.

I sawe on that websites its 850 us dollars for seven days and of course plane ticckets.

Can we arrange on here a group trip to peru.


It would be an even greater experience with fellow forum members with the same ideas.

Let me know.

===================================

Hi JD .... Go over to the sticky posted in General by Soglad ... LimeLady kindly put it there for all who were interested to organise a trip. I am probably going to Aya-Wasi in November so send me a PM if you want more details.

[auron]

I came across this great article on http://forums.ayahuasca.com
Excellent for anyone that is new to ayahuasca and wants to know more. :)

Infinite Love.

Auron :)

Introduction

Since the 1980’s, Ayahuasca has become increasing popular in the west. As its popularity grows, it has come under increasing scrutiny from legal and medical authorities. This thread is intended to give tips and suggestions for a safe experience to people who are new to Ayahuasca and drink alone.

Please note that Ayahuasca mixed with the usual admixtures is illegal or of ambiguous legality in many places in the world. It is recommended that individuals check the laws in their locality.
Legal Issues Forum (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=15)


What plants go into Ayahuasca?

In the Amazon region, the most commonly used combination is Ayahuasca Vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) and Chakruna (Psychotria viridis).

The western psychedelic tradition, on the other hand, has in the past few decades developed the custom of using the word "Ayahuasca" for any combination of MAOI plus DMT -- most commonly, Peganum harmala (Syrian Rue) plus Mimosa hostilis.

Banisteriopsis Caapi and Peganum harmala are significantly different both chemically and subjectively.

And because of the toxicity of Peganum harmala (Syrian Rue), with a Harmala-based brew one tries to use the bare minimum necessary to potentiate the DMT effect, which is considered the main event. Too much Rue could cause a toxic overdose.

With the Vine, however, there is no overdose level. Increasing the Vine increases the richness and depth and transformative power of the experience. The Vine is also a wise and caring Presence that can guide and help you through difficult experiences.

The Vine and the Leaf are a "sacred synergy," a "marriage," to the Santo Daime church.

Here, and on this forum, the term "Ayahuasca" is used as much Ayahuasca-using groups around the world use it -- to mean the brew made from the Ayahuasca Vine and, most commonly, the admixtures Psychotria viridis or Diplopterys cabrerana.

Peganum harmala -- a sacred plant to people of South and Central Asia and to Persians in particular, who call is Aspand or Esphand -- has its own unique identity and deserves full respect for what and who it is. Mimosa-Harmala brew has its own powers, similar in some ways to Aya but also distinct.

The first thing to understand, in approaching Ayahuasca, is that these plants are beings, and you are entering into a relationship with these beings.


Obtaining the plants -- keeping your profile low

Purchasing plants online is a common way to obtain Ayahuasca and it’s admixtures. The plants are legal in many places around the world, but for safety sake, it is recommended that you minimize your public exposure. To accomplish this consider doing the following:

1) Obtain the plants from a vendor that is in your country. This will help you avoid customs inspections.

2) Use money orders and order forms instead of using a credit card.

3) Make sure that the vendor has a privacy policy in place and has a good reputation for honesty and excellent customer service.
Tradewinds Forum

4) Do not order any pre-made Ayahuasca. Importing large amounts of medicine to/from anywhere in the world (especially without a plant importation permit) may attract attention from authorities. Avoid traveling with brewed medicine, especially through airports or other public transportation hubs.

5) Do not distribute any prepared medicine to anyone.


Preparing the medicine

1) Preparing the medicine takes time. Avoid quick preparation methods as much as possible. There are many tecs in the preparations forum:
Preparation FAQ

2) Avoid using advanced techniques (HCL and phosphoric techs) at first, as these methods can produce strong reactions.

3) Do not mix the medicines. Avoid dreaming of ayahuasca with mushrooms, cannabis, or any man made substances. Stick to caapi and one of the usual admixtures.

4) The spiritual energy put into the process of preparation is said to affect the experience. Be attentive to the brew, smudge yourself and the preparation area, inhale the aroma of the brew... charge your brew with your love and gratitude. Do not play television or radio while preparing the brew.

Note: people who are in a long-term relationship with Ayahuasca sometimes report experiencing "olfactory flashbacks" in their daily lives, where the smell of brewing Ayahuasca briefly but vividly returns.


Telling others about it

The experience with Ayahuasca is transformative and naturally, people want to share their experiences with family, friends and coworkers. We know of many people, however, who have lost jobs or had their reputations damaged because they have shared these experiences indiscriminately, as it was viewed as illicit drug use.

Be discreet in sharing this with others.


Preparing yourself for the experience: Physical Safety

Ayahuasca is an MAOI, and, as such, can have interactions with certain foods and medications.

A list of food and drugs that should be avoided for safety reasons can be found in the post below. These foods should be avoided for 24 hours before and after the Ayahuasca journey.

Note that this information is inherited from medical information about pharmaceutical MAOIs. There have been fatal food interactions with pharmaceutical MAOIs, so to avoid lawsuits doctors and pharmaceutical companies issue strongly worded warnings. With Ayahuasca, on the other hand, MAOI interactions with foods are generally not life-threatening -- unless you already have dangerously high blood pressure, in which case an MAOI reaction could cause a stroke.

However, an MAOI reaction from Ayahuasca may cause a severe headache (radiating to the front of the head) that may in some cases last for days and be resistant to pain relievers. Other symptoms of MAOI reaction include stiff and/or sore neck, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, dilated pupils, sweating (sometimes with fever or with cold, clammy skin), chest pain, or heart palpitations.

Another possible consequence of consuming tyramines before drinking Ayahuasca is that that tyramine, as a building block of the amphetamine-like chemical epinephrine, or adrenaline, may exacerbate panic reactions. Anecdotal reports on this forum suggest a correlation between tyramines and panic attack.

Although many people have consumed MAOI-proscribed foods without consequence, anecdotal reports suggest that when MAOI reactions happen, they are often triggered by very small amounts of the proscribed foods. (Aged cheeses, soy sauce, peanut butter, stale nuts, and overripe fruits have all been anecdotally implicated by forum members. On the other hand, bananas, though they appear on some MAOI-proscribed lists, appear to be completely safe as long as they are not at all overripe.)

As a general rule, for 24 hours before and after drinking Ayahuasca, avoid foods that are fermented, aged, cured, pickled, overripe, wilted, past expiration date, or even slightly spoiled; stick to foods that are very fresh.

Fasting at least half a day before an Ayahuasca ceremony and also not drinking much water within a few hours of the ceremony helps minimize the possibility of vomiting prematurely and losing the brew before it takes effect.

Interaction with pharmaceutical medications is a much more serious matter than food interactions. Unlike food interactions, some pharmaceutical interactions can potentially be life-threatening. Pharmaceuticals to be avoided include some OTC pharmaceuticals such as antihistamines, decongestants, and cough medicines, but more dangerous are many antidepressants (including OTCs like St Johns Wort). If you are taking prescription medication (including antibiotics), are subject to high blood pressure, have a heart condition, or are under treatment for any health condition, consult your physician about the use of temporary monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI). Medical consultation is especially important if you are taking Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Zoloft or other antidepressants affecting serotonin levels, i.e. serotonin selective re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI). These medications may require a period of up to six weeks to completely clear the system and must be reduced gradually. Some may clear the system in a shorter period of time. But they still require more lengthy abstention than food. For example, be clear of antidepressents for five weeks (35 days) with SSRIs other than fluoxetine (Prozac), 8 weeks (56 days) with the latter. (Caapi itself is an effective anti-depressant. See Threads on Ayahuasca and Depression. (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7957))

Also potentially dangerous combined with Ayahuasca are amphetamines and amphetamine-like substances, including MDMA and ephedrine. (There is one death on record of a young man who combined Syrian Rue/Mimosa with cocaine.) Certain herbs, specifically St. Johns Wort, Ephedra, and Kava, can be dangerous with Ayahuasca. Ginseng and Yohimbine also should be avoided if you are taking Ayahuasca.

These substances need to be clear from your system before Ayahuasca is ingested. Some can be cleared in a few days, others need weeks.

An emergency medication that is given in the case of life-threatening MAOI reactions is Procardia, which is a medicine for angina.

Discussion of the safety diet can be found here:
Foods and Meds to Avoid with MAOIs (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7088)


Preparing yourself for the experience: Spiritual Preparation

In the Amazon, virtually every known Ayahuasca-using culture -- including indigenous cultures, mestizo shamans, syncretic churches, and modern drug therapy centers that use Ayahuasca to treat addiction -- incorporate some form of the dieta. (The Spanish word dieta is used here to distinguish from the MAOI safety diet.)

Basically, the common denominator of the dieta is flavorless food (no salt or spices, especially hot peppers, onions, and garlic) and no sexual stimulation. And no pork. Most versions also proscribe alcohol, sugar, and fried or fatty foods.

The dieta is not only about food. It also basically includes relative solitude and minimal talking, especially idle chitchat, and, as mentioned, avoiding sexual stimulation. For people in industrialized countries, a modern dieta would definitely include a fast from television, radio, mass media, advertising. etc. (And internet forums? You will have to follow your own guidance on that.)

Energetically, what is aimed for with dieta is a kind of transparency. Spend the day of the journey and the day after the journey in low stress situations. Walk in the woods, meditate, etc.

Nothing bad will happen to you if you don't follow dieta. Rather, that just limits the good you can receive. But since Ayahuasca is generally a long-term relationship, many solitary drinkers start drinking Ayahuasca first and then find themselves guided to do dieta as time goes on, in order to deepen the relationship. At the very least, diet colors the Ayahuasca experience.

There are many variations on the details of the dieta. They vary not only from culture to culture, but according to the purpose of the dieta -- a ceremony, a specific healing, a shamanic apprenticeship. The dieta cleanses the body of "subtle phlegm," helps you become more sensitive to the Plant's energies, and makes you more transparent to her healing.

The longer you remain on dieta after an Ayahuasca ceremony, the longer her healing can work.

An introduction to dieta:
Dieta and the Plant World (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7855)

A more detailed discussion of dieta:
The Spiritual Dieta. (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7851)


Setting

There are many people who dream in an urban setting or indoors. Dedicated a space in your home to dreaming and meditation. Smudging and energetically clearing the space before dreaming will help you feel safe, handled and ready for the experience. Darkness can help to facilitate the journey. (In the Amazon, ceremonies are traditionally held at night.)

It is suggested that, even if you are dreaming indoors, to have plants with you accompanying you on the journey. Even potted house plants. One of Aya's traditional roles in the Amazon is to help humans and plants communicate with each other. A plant you live with daily is best.

Sitter

Increasing numbers of people are going to South America to drink Ayahuasca under the guidance of traditionally trained shamans, who may may help you to navigate the difficult psycho-spiritual depths in the realms and assist the healing processes of the Vine. But this is not feasible for everyone.

If you have never drunk Ayahuasca before, and you are drinking alone, you may consider having a sitter. It is not necessary to have a sitter. Ayahuasca is not dangerous. The role of the sitter would simply be to provide support in case of panic.

Assuming that the physical environment is hazard-free, and precautions against food and medication interactions have been followed, there are no physical dangers with Ayahuasca. Ayahuasca (traditional brew with no other additives) has a disaster-free record. There are not even reports of allergic reactions. The Brazilian government did a series of in-depth studies of Ayahuasca use, totalling eight years, and concluded that the greatest physical danger posed by Ayahuasca was of stumbling and falling when one tries to walk.

Nevertheless, a person in a very deep Ayahuasca journey may sometimes believe they are dying, and, especially if they are drinking Ayahuasca alone, this might cause them to panic. So the sitter may be called upon to reassure the person, and to keep reminding them, as often as necessary, that no one has ever died from drinking Ayahuasca (Caapi + Chacruna) brew.

(This does not mean that people who are prone to panic attacks should necessarily avoid Ayahuasca; on the contrary, Ayahuasca has been known to help heal people from panic attacks, by helping them to get a sense of detachment from the experience that enables a better control of the panic reaction.)

The sitter's main emergency role, then, may be to be calming and reassuring if the person has a panic attack. A hot bath may help if, as common, the panicking person feels cold. Panic attack can be exacerbated by a reaction to food tyramines, so following the safety diet beforehand helps to minimize the chance of panic reaction. Panic attack is more likely with Harmala-based brews than with Vine-based brews; and with Ayahuasca (Vine-based brew) there is, commonly, the sense of a caring Presence, helping and guiding.

These are not "bad trips." There are no "bad" Ayahuasca experiences, even though things may become difficult and challenging. Ultimately, even the most difficult of Ayahuasca experiences can become part of the larger healing process as it is integrated. So a sitter who is supporting someone through a panic attack should not approach it as "something gone wrong." Being calm and positive is the best way to be supportive. Exploring the sensation that one is "dying" can be an important part of the Ayahuasca experience. (See "It feels like dying" (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=10476))

This thread contains a link to a video, in which, from 15:54 to 18:40, one can see a person on Ayahuasca undergoing panic and believing she is dying, and being handled by an experienced sitter who knows this is a normal part of the process:
http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=13996

For information on Ayahuasca and panic:
http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=9764
http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=97187
http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=98203
http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=13089

The sitter need not be physically present with the person on Ayahuasca, if that person prefers solitude. It is enough to be nearby and summonable if help is needed. If no in-person sitter is available, arrange with a trusted friend to have them stay near the phone, so that they can talk to you if you begin to panic. (Program their number on speed-dial if possible, because it may be hard to dial the phone.) Have them review these guidelines beforehand.

A second role of the sitter may be physical support, in case the person needs to walk. A person under Ayahuasca is as physically uncoordinated as a drunk. If the person needs to get up to go to the bathroom or get up and walk for another reason, they may require physical assistance.

If you are going to sit for another person, or if you are considering dreaming together with other solitary drinkers, please read

http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=2214 (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=2214)
http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=3617
http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=3653
http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=4178

If a human sitter is not available (or even if they are) it is suggested to have a plant sit with you during the journey.


The Purge

The Purge is an important, almost legendary, part of the Ayahuasca experience, yet not everyone purges. (See The Purge.)

The Purge usually takes the form of vomiting, but may sometimes take the form of diarrhea. The Purge is a spiritual cleansing and can help to remove deep spiritual and emotional blockages and toxins. Many people purge strongly in their earlier Ayahuasca experiences, and move into deeper spiritual experience as these blockages are removed. Other people experience the reverse: non-purging experiences early on, moving into cleansing purges in later experiences.

The Purge should not be confused with ordinary vomiting to relieve simple gastro-intestinal distress or nausea. If one feels nauseated, one may be tempted to induce vomiting to relieve the nausea, but if one resists the temptation and allows the brew to decide when the Purge should happen, then deep spiritual toxins may be released along with the physical matter.

However, there is a danger of vomiting too early, before the brew is completely absorbed, and losing the effects. This is a simple physical reaction. One should resist vomiting for at least the first half-hour. Nausea can be effectively relieved with Peppermint or Ginger (the Purge may happen later with little or no accompanying nausea). Also, avoiding drinking water or eating for several hours before the journey reduces the possibility of premature vomiting.

If you are dreaming indoors, keep a receptacle nearby for purging. Some people dispose of the purge ceremonially the next day by giving it back to the Earth, and smudging themselves.


Dreaming

Many people create a ceremony before dreaming with Ayahuasca, with prayers for protection and statement of an intention. A ceremony helps to keep the mind grounded and focused. A closing ceremony, the next day gives the dreamer closure as well as a time and place to talk about and express his journey. Closing ceremonies also bring new insights to the experience, in the light of day.

There is a question about how much medicine to drink. There is no real answer because various factors come into play including the strength of the plants, brewing techniques, body weight and emotional state.

Because of this, we suggest the following:

For beginners combine 50g of Caapi and 50g Chacruna/Chaliponga into one drink. Do not drink this all at once. Start with 1/2 of the drink, wait for 45 minutes and add as necessary. Any leftover brew can be stored for you next journey

Following a routine from obtaining the plants, preparing the brew, preparing yourself and creating a ceremony during your experience will maximize the chances for a positive, healing and enlightening experience.

Salud.

Recommended threads to read in preparation for embarking on a relationship with Ayahuasca:

An Introduction to Ayahuasca (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12997)
"Para Curar, Solamente Para Curar" (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=13191)
Ayahuasca life transformation (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=74615)

[auron]

What foods need to be avoided?

Basically foods that are aged, preserved, pickled, cured (meats), fermented, old, outdated, overripe, or even slightly spoiled.

The following foods are recommended to be avoided with MAOIs:

- Meat that is not fresh, especially unfresh liver (fresh meat and fresh liver are safe)
- Smoked, fermented, pickled (herring) and otherwise aged or dried fish, lox; any fish that is not fresh
- Sausage, bologna, pepperoni, salami, corned beef
- Aged cheeses (cottage cheese and cream cheese are safe)
- Protein extracts
- Liquid and powdered protein dietary supplements
- Brewer's yeast, yeast vitamin supplements, or yeast extracts
- Fermented tofu, fermented bean curd, fermented soybean paste, soy sauce
- Canned soups, or soups made with protein extracts or bouillon
- Miso soup (contains fermented bean curd)
- Shrimp paste
- Sauerkraut
- Fruits that are bruised or even slightly overripe, especially bananas and apples; raisins and other dried fruits, fig newtons, etc (banana peels also should be avoided -- as though you'd eat them anyway)
- Avocados, if ripe or overripe (slightly underripe avocados are fine in moderation). Guacamole should be avoided.
- Red wine, especially Chianti; sherry, vermouth, champagne, brandy; beers and ales, including nonalcoholic; whiskey and liqueurs such as Drambuie and Chartreuse
- Dairy products that are close to the expiration date or that have been unrefrigerated (fresh yogurt is safe)
- Aspartame (Nutrasweet)
- Fava beans, especially if overripe
- Peanuts - in large quantities
- Raspberries - in large quantities
- Spinach, New Zealand prickly or hot weather - in large quantities
- Chocolate - in large quantities
- Caffeine in large quantities (note: in a few rare individuals, there may be a severe interaction with even small amounts of caffeine)


How long do they need to be avoided?

24 hours before and after drinking Ayahuasca should be sufficient.


Is it really important to avoid those foods?

The warnings about tyramine interaction sound very serious, because they are adapted from warnings about interactions with pharmaceutical MAOIs.
However, food interaction with Ayahuasca is frankly not as serious a matter as it is with pharmaceutical MAOIs.

http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12275 (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12275)

However, while there are no reports of fatalities from food interactions with Ayahuasca, food interactions could conceivably be life-threatening for a person with severe high blood pressure or serious heart disease. People with these conditions, therefore, should follow the MAOI safety diet very strictly when taking Ayahuasca.

Please note: Peganum harmala (Syrian rue) is a stronger MAOI than Banisteriopsis (Ayahuasca vine) and has potentially more serious interactions.


Is it really dangerous to combine some pharmaceutical drugs with Ayahuasca?

YES. Unlike food interactions, whose consequences are unlikely to be serious, interaction with pharmaceutical drugs and meds (including some over-the-counter drugs and certain herbs) can be potentially life-threatening..


Which drugs are dangerous with Ayahuasca?

A list of meds to be careful of with MAOIs:

- other MAOIs
- SSRI's (any selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)
- amphetamines (meth-, dex-, amphetamine)
- antihypertensives (high blood pressure medicine)
- appetite suppressants (diet pills)
- medicine for asthma, bronchitis, or other breathing problems
- antihistamines, medicines for colds, sinus problems, hay fever, or allergies (Actifed DM, Benadryl, Benylin, Chlor-Trimeton, Compoz, etc.)
- CNS (central nervous system) depressants
- antipsychotics
- alcohol

Some specific drugs that should not be combined with MAOIs:

- Actifed
- Amantadine hydrochloride (Symmetrel)
- Amoxapine (Asendin)
- Benadryl
- Benylin
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
- Buspirone (BuSpar)
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Epitol)
- Chlor-Trimeton
- Clomipramine (Anafranil)
- Cocaine
- Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
- Cyclizine (Marezine)
- Desipramine (Pertofrane)
- Dextromethorphan (DXM)
- Disopyramide (Norpace)
- Doxepin (Sinequan)
- Ephedrine
- Flavoxate Hydrochloride (Urispas)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Imipramine (Tofranil)
- Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
- Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa)
- Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
- Meperidine (Demerol)
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
- Nortriptyline (Aventyl)
- Oxybutynin chloride (Ditropan)
- Orphenadrine (Norflex)
- Parnate
- Paroxetine (Paxil)
- Phenergen
- Phenelzine (Nardil)
- Procainamide (Pronestyl)
- Protriptyline (Vivactil)
- Quinidine (Quinidex)
- Salbutemol
- Salmeterol
- Selegiline (Eldepryl)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
- Tegretol
- Temaril
- Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
- Tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Elavil)
- Trimipramine (Surmontil)
- Yohimbine

Also avoid the following herbs:

St. Johns Wort
Kava
Ephedra
Ginseng
Yohimbe
Sinicuichi

Using Tricyclic antidepressants within two weeks of taking MAOIs may cause serious side effects including sudden fever, extremely high blood pressure, convulsions, and death.

Using Fluoxetine (Prozac) within five weeks of taking MAOIs may cause high fever, rigidity, high blood pressure, mental changes, confusion and hypomania.

Using Meperidine (Demerol) with pharmaceutical MAOIs has resulted in deaths from a single dose.

Using cocaine with MAOIs may cause a severe increase in blood pressure, increasing the chances for stroke and cerebral hemorrhage and making it possible to overdose on a relatively small amount of cocaine. (A fatality has been recorded involving combining Peganum harmala and cocaine.)

Using Bupropion (Wellbutrin) within two weeks of taking MAOIs may cause serious side effects such as seizures.

Using Buspirone (Buspar) with MAOIs may cause high blood pressure.

Using Carbamazepine (Tegretol) with MAOIs may increase seizures.

Using CNS depressants with MAOIs may increase the depressant effects.

Using Dextromethorphan with MAOIs may cause excitement, high blood pressure, and fever, or brief episodes of psychosis.

Using Tryptophan with MAOIs may cause disorientation, confusion, amnesia, delirium agitation, hypomanic signs, shivering.

Using alcohol with MAOIs may cause side effects like angina (chest pain) or headaches. The headache may mask or be mistaken for hypertensive crisis caused by MAOI interaction.

Using Kava with MAOIs may result in hypotensive crisis (severe blood pressure drop).

Using Temaril with MAOIs may increase chance of side effects.

Special note to diabetics: MAOIs may change the amount of insulin or oral antidiabetic medication that you need. Notes on Diabetes and Ayahuasca. (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=14672)

Threads discussing specific meds:

antibiotics (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=14661)
antihistamines (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=3030)
asthma inhalers (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=14592)
SSRIs (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=34468)
Acetominophen (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=11411)
Codeine (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=11411)
Diazepam (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=11201)
Elavil (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7669)
Kava (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=4046)
Kava (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=9952)
Klonopin (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=6449)
Klonopin (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7669)
Losartan (Cozaar) (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12774)
Methadone (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=6864)
MDMA (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=797)
Oxycodone (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=11411)
Paxil (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=3959)
Percocet (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=11411)
Prozac (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=34468)
Risperdal (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=12032)
Stratera (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=8062)
St Johns Wort (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=9336)
Vicodin (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=9771)
Wellbutrin (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=11048)
Zoloft (http://forums.ayahuasca.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=6864)

How long do you have to stay off them before and after an Ayahuasca ceremony?

Depends on the drug. May be 24 hours, may be six months. Two to six weeks is typical, but do not guess. Find out for sure from your doctor.