Ayahuasca in Peru – What You Should Know

Thinking about an Ayahuasca experience in Peru? Here’s a practical guide to help you understand this process better:

• What is Ayahuasca? It is a traditional Amazonian brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and leaves containing DMT. This brew is used by Indigenous cultures for spiritual healing and connecting with ancestral worlds.
• Preparation and ritual: Ceremonies usually take place at night in malocas or sacred spaces and are led by shamans. During the ceremony, icaros (chants), smoke cleansing, and purging are used to guide participants through intense visions lasting 4 to 8 hours.
• Health and safety: Physical effects can include nausea, vomiting, and headaches. It is essential that ceremonies are conducted by trained facilitators with prior medical screening. Tourists should avoid mixing Ayahuasca with medications, as this can lead to overdoses or fatal interactions.
• Risks and incidents: In recent years, tragic cases have been reported, such as the death of a U.S. tourist from organ failure after combining Ayahuasca with antibiotics, highlighting the need for caution and professional supervision.
• Authenticity and ethics: The commercial boom has led to hundreds of retreat centers, some lacking integrity. It is crucial to research shamans, choose practitioners with traditional lineage, and avoid operations that exploit or cater solely to tourism without respect for tradition.
• Cultural status: In Peru, traditional Ayahuasca use has been protected as Cultural Heritage since 2008, distinguishing it from unregulated commercial ceremonies and reinforcing its cultural and spiritual significance.