THE AYAHUASCA BREW
Understanding
Ayahuasca
Explore the plants behind the brew, what you may experience in ceremony, and how our tradition and scientific research approach Ayahuasca’s potential.
THE AYAHUASCA BREW
Understanding
Ayahuasca
Explore the plants behind the brew, what you may experience in ceremony, and how our tradition and scientific research approach Ayahuasca’s potential.
The Plants Behind the Brew
The Ayahuasca we serve brings together three plants: the Ayahuasca vine, Chacruna and Chacopanga. Together, they form the dark brown brew we drink in ceremony.
Ayahuasca
Banisteriopsis caapi
(Malpighiaceae)
A woody climbing vine that gives the brew its name. Its stems form the foundation of the preparation. In our tradition, we approach Ayahuasca as a teacher and healer, whom we call la madre, the mother.
Chacruna
Psychotria viridis
(Rubiaceae)
Chacruna is a tropical shrub whose leaves are used in the brew. They contain DMT, a naturally occurring compound that contributes to the visionary experience when combined with the Ayahuasca vine.
Chacropanga
Diplopterys cabrerana
(Malpighiaceae)
Chacopanga is a climbing plant belonging to the same botanical family as the Ayahuasca vine. Its leaves contain DMT. We add them to the brew alongside Chacruna to enhance the visions.
SHAMANIC PERSPECTIVE
Ayahuasca in Our Tradition
DON GINO · CURANDERO
Mother Ayahuasca
In our tradition, Ayahuasca is a medicine with a spirit. We call her la madre, the mother, or sometimes la abuela, the grandmother. We approach her with reverence, respect, humility and gratitude, as a teacher and healer whose guidance may be experienced through visions, emotions, bodily sensations or a quiet inner understanding.
The name Ayahuasca comes from Quechua and is often translated as vine of the dead or vine of the soul. In our teaching, death also has a spiritual meaning: sometimes something within us must come to an end for us to be reborn.
The medicine has different names across Amazonian traditions, including Oni among the Shipibo, Yagé in Colombia and Nixi Pae among the Huni Kuin of Brazil and Peru.
The Ceremonial Space
Our work draws on teachings passed down through Andean and Amazonian lineages in Peru. We approach this medicine within a sacred ceremonial setting, with guidance and support throughout the experience.
As a curandero, my role is to hold that space and accompany you through your journey. Through the icaros, the medicine songs, I guide the ceremony and work with the spirits of Ayahuasca, the master plants and the power animals. Within our tradition, they are healers and protectors.
You are welcome to ask for support whenever you need it.
La Purga
Ayahuasca is also known as la purga, the purge. In our tradition, cleansing is an essential part of healing, involving the body, emotions, mind and spirit.
Throughout life, what we see, hear and experience leaves an impression on us. What we eat and drink, the substances we consume, our relationships and our own decisions can affect how we feel and live. Some experiences leave pain that we continue to carry long afterwards.
Purging can include vomiting, but it can also be an emotional release through crying. Each tear is worth a diamond. There are many ways to experience release, and the cleansing process may unfold differently for each person.
“The medicine does not give you what you want.
It gives you what you need.”
Don Gino
Body, Emotions, Mind and Spirit
We understand Ayahuasca’s work as healing and cleansing in the body, emotions, mind and spirit.
The Body
During a ceremony, your attention may be drawn to a particular part of your body through sensations, discomfort or imagery. We understand this as the medicine scanning the body, as though placing her finger on the areas that need attention. It is an invitation to listen to your body and consider how you care for it. These experiences do not replace a medical assessment.
The Emotions
We all carry the experiences of what we have lived through. In ceremony, emotional pain may become more present: pain connected to what others have done to us, our own decisions or ways we have hurt other people.
Meeting these feelings is part of the cleansing process. It may create an opportunity for forgiveness towards ourselves or others, and for finding a sense of closure. You may also experience a deeper sense of connection and empathy towards the people in your life.
The Mind
Every day, we make choices about what we consume and how we live. Some habits serve us, while others become patterns we wish to change.
Ayahuasca may bring these patterns into focus. You may gain a clearer sense of the person you want to become, the habits you want to leave behind and those you want to develop. Turning that clarity into lasting change takes continued attention after the ceremony.
The Spirit
In our tradition, the madre invites us into her spiritual realm. We understand this as an opportunity for spiritual cleansing and energetic alignment.
This experience may also bring a feeling of connection with nature and the life around us.
The Plants Behind the Brew
The Ayahuasca we serve brings together three plants: the Ayahuasca vine, Chacruna and Chacopanga. Together, they form the dark brown brew we drink in ceremony.
Ayahuasca
Banisteriopsis caapi
(Malpighiaceae)
A woody climbing vine that gives the brew its name. Its stems form the foundation of the preparation. In our tradition, we approach Ayahuasca as a teacher and healer, whom we call la madre, the mother.
Chacruna
Psychotria viridis
(Rubiaceae)
Chacruna is a tropical shrub whose leaves are used in the brew. They contain DMT, a naturally occurring compound that contributes to the visionary experience when combined with the Ayahuasca vine.
Chacropanga
Diplopterys cabrerana
(Malpighiaceae)
Chacopanga is a climbing plant belonging to the same botanical family as the Ayahuasca vine. Its leaves contain DMT. We add them to the brew alongside Chacruna to enhance the visions.
Preparing the Brew Together
During the dieta, we prepare the brew together in a beautiful ritual.
Learn more about the dietas →
La Purga
Ayahuasca is also known as la purga, the purge. In our tradition, cleansing is an essential part of healing, involving the body, emotions, mind and spirit.
Throughout life, what we see, hear and experience leaves an impression on us. What we eat and drink, the substances we consume, our relationships and our own decisions can affect how we feel and live. Some experiences leave pain that we continue to carry long afterwards.
Purging can include vomiting, but it can also be an emotional release through crying. Each tear is worth a diamond. There are many ways to experience release, and the cleansing process may unfold differently for each person.
“The medicine does not give you what you want.
It gives you what you need.”
(Don Gino)
Body, Emotions, Mind and Spirit
We understand Ayahuasca’s work as healing and cleansing in the body, emotions, mind and spirit.
The Body
During a ceremony, your attention may be drawn to a particular part of your body through sensations, discomfort or imagery. We understand this as the madre scanning the body, as though placing her finger on the areas that need attention. It is an invitation to listen to your body and consider how you care for it. These experiences do not replace a medical assessment.
The Emotions
We all carry the experiences of what we have lived through. In ceremony, emotional pain may become more present: pain connected to what others have done to us, our own decisions or ways we have hurt other people.
Meeting these feelings is part of the cleansing process. It may create an opportunity for forgiveness towards ourselves or others, and for finding a sense of closure. You may also experience a deeper sense of connection and empathy towards the people in your life.
The Mind
Every day, we make choices about what we consume and how we live. Some habits serve us, while others become patterns we wish to change.
Ayahuasca may bring these patterns into focus. You may gain a clearer sense of the person you want to become, the habits you want to leave behind and those you want to develop. Turning that clarity into lasting change takes continued attention after the ceremony.
The Spirit
In our tradition, the madre invites us into her spiritual realm. We understand this as an opportunity for spiritual cleansing and energetic alignment.
This experience may also bring a feeling of connection with nature and the life around us.
Visions and Other Ways of Experiencing
An Ayahuasca experience does not always unfold through vivid visions. Some people see colours, geometric patterns or detailed scenes. Others experience strong emotions, bodily sensations or thoughts that feel like messages or sudden insights.
Feeling little or nothing does not mean that you have failed. Experiences vary between people and from one ceremony to another. Whatever arises can be reflected on afterwards, without needing to treat every image or message as a literal truth.
When people come to Ayahuasca, they often arrive with expectations, intentions, a busy mind and a need to stay in control. These can feel like inner walls, making it difficult to open to the medicine and enter the journey, especially when we hold tightly to how the experience should unfold.
Becoming aware of these walls is part of preparing for the ceremony. Patience, returning attention to your breath and letting go of expectations can help you approach the experience with openness. Surrender is central: allowing what comes without trying to direct it. A simple word, “whatever,” can remind you to welcome whatever unfolds. we also offer Rapé as an optional traditional practice during the ceremony, with the intention of calming the mind.
There is no need to compare your experience with anyone else’s. Each person is on its own jouerney.
The Walls of the Medicine
Busy Mind, Expectation,
Control, Intention
After the
Ceremony
Mother Ayahuasca may open a door and show us a way, but it is our responsibility to bring what we learn into daily life. Reflection, support and the choices we make afterwards are part of that continuing work.
Integration, the period following the ceremony and dieta, gives you time to reflect on your experience and put your insights into practice.
SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE
Ayahuasca and Scientific Research
The Ayahuasca brew brings together plants whose compounds complement one another. Chacruna and Chacopanga leaves contain DMT, a naturally occurring compound that contributes to the brew’s visionary effects.
When swallowed on its own, DMT is normally broken down rapidly by an enzyme called monoamine oxidase, or MAO. The Ayahuasca vine contains harmala alkaloids, including harmine and harmaline, which temporarily inhibit MAO A. This allows DMT to reach the bloodstream and brain, where it acts on serotonin receptors involved in perception, mood and cognition.
This interaction helps explain how the plants work together to produce Ayahuasca’s effects.
How the Plants Work Together
Ayahuasca and the Brain
Ayahuasca temporarily changes the way different regions of the brain work together. Brain imaging research has found reduced activity and connectivity within parts of the default mode network, a network involved in thinking about ourselves, recalling the past and imagining the future. These findings offer one way of understanding the changes in self-awareness that people may experience during a ceremony.
Neuroplasticity: The Brain’s Capacity for Change
The brain continues to adapt throughout life. This ability, called neuroplasticity, allows us to learn, form memories and develop new ways of responding to our experiences.
Laboratory research with DMT has shown increased growth and connections between nerve cells. In humans, a placebo-controlled study with Ayahuasca found higher blood levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, 48 hours after intake. BDNF is a protein that supports the survival and adaptability of nerve cells.
These findings suggest that Ayahuasca may influence processes involved in neuroplasticity. However, changes in blood BDNF do not directly demonstrate new connections forming in the human brain.
Depression and Emotional Wellbeing
Research suggests that Ayahuasca may help relieve symptoms of depression. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 29 people with depression that had not responded to conventional treatments found greater symptom reductions after Ayahuasca than after placebo. Improvements were observed within days, with follow-up lasting one week. Longer studies are needed to understand how lasting these effects may be.
In our work, we also see people experience relief from depression and changes in their emotional wellbeing. Each person’s experience is different. Integration and appropriate therapeutic support help people work with what has emerged and bring changes into daily life.
Addiction and Changing Patterns
Ayahuasca is being explored as a tool in addiction recovery. Research in programmes that combine traditional Amazonian medicine with psychotherapy has reported reductions in problematic alcohol and drug use, alongside improvements in emotional wellbeing. These findings reflect the combined approach, with Ayahuasca as one part of the process.
In our own work, we also see people begin to change addictive patterns. The experience can become a starting point for reconsidering their relationship with substances and the choices they make in daily life. Sustaining those changes takes continued commitment and appropriate support beyond the ceremony.
Trauma and Emotional Processing
Ayahuasca can bring painful memories and emotions into awareness, sometimes allowing people to approach past experiences from a different perspective. Research is exploring how this process may support recovery from trauma, with early findings suggesting potential improvements in symptoms of posttraumatic stress.
Studies have also documented people revisiting experiences of abuse and sexual trauma during ceremonies. Some describe a change in how they understand and relate to these experiences, which they describe as part of their healing process.
Revisiting painful experiences can be intense and distressing. Sensitive guidance, respect for personal boundaries and access to appropriate therapeutic support are essential.
Grief and Loss
Research is exploring Ayahuasca’s potential to support people grieving the death of someone close to them. An observational study in a traditional Amazonian retreat setting reported reductions in grief symptoms, with improvements still reported at the one-year follow-up.
These changes were associated with greater acceptance of difficult feelings and an increased ability to observe thoughts and emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them. The study had no comparison group, so it cannot separate the contribution of Ayahuasca from the retreat, support received and the passage of time.
Personal Growth, Connection and Meaning
People also approach Ayahuasca seeking greater understanding of themselves and their lives. A study of participants in Shipibo-led retreats reported improvements in quality of life and the ability to observe thoughts and emotions without becoming caught up in them, with follow-up extending to one year. These findings concern the retreat experience as a whole and cannot establish the contribution of Ayahuasca alone.
Personal growth can take many forms. What matters is how insights become part of everyday life, through the choices we make, our relationships and the care we give ourselves and others.
Inflammation and the Body
Researchers are also exploring Ayahuasca’s effects on inflammatory processes. Human research has found reductions in C reactive protein, a marker of inflammation in the blood, following Ayahuasca intake. Among participants with depression, larger reductions were associated with greater improvements in symptoms.
These findings suggest that changes in inflammatory activity may be relevant to Ayahuasca’s effects on wellbeing. Research is still examining how lasting these changes are and what they mean for physical health.
Context, Care and Safety
An Ayahuasca experience is shaped by more than the brew. Preparation, the ceremonial setting, personal expectations and the support available all matter. Integration is the ongoing work of making sense of the experience and bringing what you learn into everyday life.
We do not promise healing or a particular outcome. Ayahuasca is not suitable for everyone, carries physical and psychological risks, and can interact dangerously with certain medications. Careful health screening is essential. Any changes to prescribed medication must be discussed with the prescribing clinician. Our work does not replace medical or psychological care.
What we offer is our commitment to accompany you with care, experience and respect. In our tradition, this means helping you enter the mother’s realm, supporting you through what arises and helping you return and ground yourself after the ceremony.
Further Reading
For a broader overview of Ayahuasca’s pharmacology, traditional use and scientific research, read the ICEERS Ayahuasca Technical Report (2021).
Visions and Other Ways of Experiencing
An Ayahuasca experience does not always unfold through vivid visions. Some people see colours, geometric patterns or detailed scenes. Others experience strong emotions, bodily sensations or thoughts that feel like messages or sudden insights.
Feeling little or nothing does not mean that you have failed. Experiences vary between people and from one ceremony to another. Whatever arises can be reflected on afterwards, without needing to treat every image or message as a literal truth.
The Walls of
the Medicine
Busy Mind, Expectation,
Control, Intention
In ceremony, you may encounter walls: a busy mind, expectations and the need for control. When you arrive with a fixed idea of what should happen, it can be difficult to notice what is actually unfolding.
We invite you to bring your intention with openness. You do not need to see what you have seen in a documentary or experience what someone else describes. Breathing and meditation can help settle the mind. Return to your breath, let your attention settle in the present and give the experience time.
Surrender means allowing the madre to show you what you need to see, tell you what you need to hear and teach you what you need to learn. You can remain open while respecting your boundaries and asking for support whenever you need it.
After the Ceremony
Mother Ayahuasca may open a door and show us a way, but it is our responsibility to bring what we learn into daily life. Reflection, support and the choices we make afterwards are part of that continuing work.
Integration, the period following the ceremony and dieta, gives you time to reflect on your experience and put your insights into practice.
Explore Integration →
SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE
Ayahuasca and Scientific Research
How the Plants Work Together
The Ayahuasca brew brings together plants whose compounds complement one another. Chacruna and Chacopanga leaves contain DMT, or dimethyltryptamine, a naturally occurring compound that contributes to the brew’s visionary effects.
When swallowed on its own, DMT is normally broken down rapidly by an enzyme called monoamine oxidase, or MAO, in the digestive system and liver.
The Ayahuasca vine contains harmala alkaloids, including harmine and harmaline. These temporarily inhibit a form of this enzyme called MAO A, allowing more DMT to enter the bloodstream and reach the brain.
There, DMT acts on serotonin receptors involved in perception, mood and cognition. This interaction contributes to the changes in awareness, emotion and sensory experience that can unfold during a ceremony.
Ayahuasca and the Brain
Ayahuasca temporarily changes the way different regions of the brain work together. Brain imaging research has found reduced activity and communication within parts of the default mode network, a system involved in thinking about ourselves, recalling the past and imagining the future.
Other studies have found increased activity in regions involved in emotional processing, awareness of bodily sensations and visual imagery. These findings may help explain the vivid inner images and heightened awareness of feelings that can arise during a ceremony.
Research with DMT also shows increased communication between networks that usually operate more separately. Together, these findings suggest a temporary shift in familiar patterns of brain activity.
This may help explain why thoughts, emotions and memories can be experienced from a different perspective. Familiar ways of seeing ourselves and our lives may feel less fixed, creating an opportunity to reconsider patterns that have become difficult to change.
Neuroplasticity: The Brain’s Capacity for Change
The brain continues to adapt throughout life. This ability, called neuroplasticity, allows us to learn, form memories and develop new ways of responding to our experiences.
Research suggests that compounds found in Ayahuasca may influence this capacity. Laboratory studies with DMT have shown increased growth and connections between nerve cells. Human research with Ayahuasca has also found increased blood levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports the survival, growth and adaptability of neurons.
These findings offer a possible biological explanation for some of Ayahuasca’s therapeutic potential. Researchers are still investigating how these changes relate to lasting benefits in people.
Depression and Emotional Wellbeing
Research points to Ayahuasca’s potential to relieve symptoms of depression, including in people who have not responded adequately to conventional treatments. Improvements can emerge within days, although their duration varies and lasting recovery may require continued care.
In our work, we also see people experience relief from depression and changes in their emotional wellbeing. These observations are part of why we value this medicine, while recognising that each person’s experience is different.
A meaningful ceremony can be the beginning of a process. Integration and appropriate therapeutic support help people work with what has emerged and bring changes into daily life.
Addiction and Changing Patterns
Ayahuasca is being explored as a tool in addiction recovery. Research in programmes that combine traditional Amazonian medicine with psychotherapy has reported reductions in problematic alcohol and drug use, alongside improvements in emotional wellbeing. These findings reflect the combined approach, with Ayahuasca as one part of the process.
In our own work, we also see people begin to change addictive patterns. The experience can become a starting point for reconsidering their relationship with substances and the choices they make in daily life. Sustaining those changes takes continued commitment and appropriate support beyond the ceremony.
Trauma and Emotional Processing
Ayahuasca can bring painful memories and emotions into awareness, sometimes allowing people to approach past experiences from a different perspective. Research is exploring how this process may support recovery from trauma, with early findings suggesting potential improvements in symptoms of posttraumatic stress.
Studies have also documented people revisiting experiences of abuse and sexual trauma during ceremonies. Some describe a change in how they understand and relate to these experiences, which they describe as part of their healing process.
Revisiting painful experiences can be intense and distressing. Sensitive guidance, respect for personal boundaries and access to appropriate therapeutic support are essential.
Grief and Loss
Research is also exploring Ayahuasca’s potential to support people grieving the death of someone close to them. Observational research in a ceremonial setting has reported reductions in the intensity of grief, with improvements still reported a year later.
These changes were associated with greater acceptance of difficult feelings and an increased ability to observe thoughts and emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them. The findings suggest a possible role for Ayahuasca within the grieving process, while the contribution of the ceremony, support and time also needs to be considered.
Personal Growth, Connection and Meaning
Beyond the relief of specific symptoms, people often approach Ayahuasca seeking greater understanding of themselves and their lives. Research has documented improvements in life satisfaction, empathy and the ability to observe thoughts and emotions without becoming absorbed in them.
Studies have also associated Ayahuasca use with a stronger sense of purpose and spiritual wellbeing. Participants describe insights into their relationships, personal needs and priorities. Some report making changes afterwards, including caring more for their health, changing habits or reconsidering the direction of their work and personal life.
These changes are deeply personal. Their value unfolds through how we relate to ourselves, care for others and put what we have learned into practice.
Inflammation and the Body
Researchers are also exploring Ayahuasca’s effects on inflammatory processes. Human research has found reductions in C reactive protein, a marker of inflammation in the blood, following Ayahuasca intake. Among participants with depression, larger reductions were associated with greater improvements in symptoms.
These findings suggest that changes in inflammatory activity may be relevant to Ayahuasca’s effects on wellbeing. Research is still examining how lasting these changes are and what they mean for physical health.
The Importance of Context and Care
Ayahuasca’s effects are shaped by more than the compounds in the brew. Research also points to the importance of expectations, the surrounding environment and the support people receive. A ceremony takes place within a human relationship of trust, guidance and care.
Research is helping us understand Ayahuasca’s therapeutic potential, while questions remain about who benefits most and how lasting changes develop. Responses vary, and difficult experiences or adverse effects can occur.
Careful health screening, preparation and support are essential. Ayahuasca can interact dangerously with certain medications and is not suitable for everyone. Any changes to prescribed medication must be discussed with the prescribing clinician.
Explore Safety →
Explore Preparation →
A Note on Healing
and Safety
We do not promise healing or a particular outcome. Each person’s experience unfolds differently, and we cannot guarantee that it will meet your hopes or expectations. Ayahuasca is not suitable for everyone and carries physical and psychological risks. Our work does not replace medical or psychological care.
What we offer is our commitment to accompany you with care, experience and respect. In our tradition, this means helping you enter the mother’s realm, supporting you through what arises and helping you return and ground yourself after the ceremony. Your safety and wellbeing guide our work throughout this process.
Further Reading
Explore a collection of studies on Ayahuasca, its effects and its therapeutic potential.
Explore Ayahuasca research →
Integration
Explore Integration →