Ayahuasca – Different people consume different kinds of food items. For some people, a food item can be fascinating, while others might have been eating it for their whole life. 

For example, spicy food items. A North American person or a European person might feel it’s special to eat spicy food, Occasionally. At the same time, Asian people are eating spicy food from their birth.

Similarly, people from Amazonian tribes have been drinking Ayahuasca for centuries, but it has started gaining popularity in the western world also. Now, you might meet people who traveled to Amazonian tribes just to enjoy Ayahuasca.

Recently, we saw people creating special groups of Ayahuasca lovers in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Today, we will talk about everything related to Ayahuasca, Starting from its legal status to its benefits and side effects.

What is Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca Is a herbal drink that is also known as tea, the vine, and la Purga. It is brewed from the leaves of Psychotria Viridis shrubs along with the stalls of Banisteriopsis Caapi. Apart from that, you can also include other plants as an ingredient.

It is also known as a sacred beverage by several religious communities in Brazil and northern America. Ancient Amazonian tribes have been drinking it for several centuries.

It is not a simple process to take Ayahuasca. Amazonian tribes use a complicated process that might take several hours to produce highly concentrated liquid.

Is Ayahuasca Legal?

Now let’s take a look at the legal status of Ayahuasca. If you want to brew Ayahuasca at home, will you fall into legal trouble or not? 

At a broader level, Ayahuasca Is still illegal in the United States. Only two Brazilian religions have secured the right to use Ayahuasca as a religious drink.

You may find Ayahuasca ceremonies in large and medium cities around the United States. There are few churches in the United States of America named Ayahuasca healing and soul quest, which have recently submitted petitions for religious exemptions. 

The popularity of Ayahuasca has been growing at a rapid speed in the United States for the last 30 years. A lot of celebrities are also getting curious as we have seen Hollywood stars talking about it on network television, in Hollywood films, and several magazines.

How long does Ayahuasca Last?

Now, the big question is, how long does Ayahuasca last? Usually, people start feeling Ayahuasca within 20 to 60 minutes, but people who are not experienced can start feeling Ayahuasca Even after 5 to 10 minutes.

Based on your previous experiences with alcoholic beverages and Ayahuasca, the whole effect might last around two to six hours. The feeling of Ayahuasca may only last two hours for inexperienced people, while those who are new to alcoholic beverages and Ayahuasca might experience it for at least six hours.

To ensure your safety, most people will recommend all the participants in Ayahuasca ceremonies abstain from cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine, drugs, and sex to purify their bodies.

It will also lower the chances of getting any kind of side effects. Apart from that, some experts might also suggest you follow a vegetarian diet for at least two to four weeks before your experience. even though it is not necessary, it is claimed to free the body from toxins

How To Make Ayahuasca

If you are trying to make Ayahuasca on your own, then you should make sure that an experienced shaman is supervising you. 

Previously, it was used for religious and spiritual purposes, but now people are using it to open their minds and heal from past trauma.

Even though there are countries like Peru, Costa Rica, and Brazil where you can see multi-day Ayahuasca retreats, they all are led by experienced shamans who have years of experience in brewing and monitoring the retreats.

There are several side effects associated with consuming Ayahuasca. You should be very careful and always have a trained professional as your supervisor. The whole process of making Ayahuasca might take around 5 to 10 hours.

Ingredients

First of all, you will require a few handfuls of ingredients. The below-given list of ingredients is going to make one liter of Ayahuasca. You can buy all of these ingredients at nearby grocery stores.

• 200 ml vinegar (white vinegar or vinegar apple preferable)
• 160 grams of Mimosa Hostilis (shredded or powdered)
• 150 grams of Banisteriopsis Caapi (powder)
• 3 liters of water (filtered)

Cooking process

Now, let’s take a look at the cooking process of Ayahuasca. Kindly take a look at all the steps very carefully as it can be a dangerous drink.

Before you start the cooking process, we will suggest you have a professional around you as a supervisor. In case you experience side effects after drinking it, you should call 911 and ask for immediate medical assistance.

• First of all, heat One liter of water in a large pot. You should keep hitting the water until it reaches the boiling point.
• Now, reduce the flame to medium, and add 1/3 of vinegar, Mimosa Hostilis. After that, you should stir it thoroughly.
• After that, let it cook for three hours at low to medium heat, but do not let it boil.
• After three hours of cooking, filter the liquid using a hand towel or any other cotton cloth. You should squeeze as much liquid as possible from the mimosa.
• Now, repeat the process two more times in different pots. In the end, you will have three pots of mimosa-infused liquid. 
• Now, add the liquid to one pot and let it cook Until the liquid is reduced to 1.5 liters.
• After that, put it in the fridge and let it cool overnight.
• In the morning, you should filter the liquid to remove any excess particulate matter.
• Once it is filtered, heat the liquid once again but do not boil it up. At this point, you should add Banisteriopsis Caapi powder and stir it for at least 15 to 30 minutes on low to medium heat. 
• Now, your tea is ready, and you can serve it in small amounts.

Can you die from drinking ayahuasca?

There are many side effects of drinking Ayahuasca. You should be very careful if you are taking part in any kind of Ayahuasca ceremony either in the United States or out of the country.

Yes, there is a possibility that all the side effects of consuming Ayahuasca might lead you to death. 

If you are taking part in the Ayahuasca ceremony, then you should remember that you might experience vomiting, diarrhea, panic, and paranoia after consuming it.

All of these side effects are common, but they are temporary. Usually, people start feeling good after 24 to 48 hours of consuming Ayahuasca and experiencing the common side effects.

If you are already suffering from any condition where you are getting drugs such as antidepressants, psychiatric medicines, drugs to control Parkinson’s disease, or weight loss medicine, then you should be very careful as Ayahuasca can interact dangerously with these medications.

On the other hand, if you have a history of psychiatric disorders, then you should be very careful while consuming it as it can trigger those symptoms also. 

People suffering from heart rate issues such as high blood pressure and low blood pressure should also be very careful as consuming Ayahuasca may result in dangerous side effects.

Even though in the clinical trial, no that have been reported after consuming Ayahuasca, there have been several reported deaths after consuming Ayahuasca. It could be due to other issues or overdosing.

Takeaways

Ancient Amazonian tribes have been consuming Ayahuasca for several centuries, and it is considered a religious and cultural drink. In recent years, a new trend of consuming Ayahuasca Has hit the United States.

Because it is not completely legal in the United States, that is why a lot of Ayahuasca Lovers travel to countries like Peru, Brazil, and Costa Rica, where they organize Multi-day Ayahuasca ceremonies.

As per the experts, you should be very careful while attending any ceremony, which includes the consumption of Ayahuasca. There could be several common and Severe side effects of consuming Ayahuasca. 

Ayahuasca is also known to interact with several kinds of medications, including medication for Parkinson’s disease and antidepressants. If you are planning to attend any Ayahuasca ceremony, then you should consult with your doctor.

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