Healing Powers of the Vine of the Soul
We know that indigenous people of the Amazon basin have been consuming Ayahuasca for centuries. And we know that modern science is beginning to show evidence that Ayahuasca may be helpful in treating many mental illnesses including PTSD, depression, and addiction.
So, what then is the extent of Ayahuasca’s healing properties? The answer is we don’t know yet.
Modern-day Ayahuasca is a drink made from the cooking together of at least two plants, Banisteriopsis caapi and usually Psychotria viridis. Psychotria viridis contains dimethyltryptamine (DMT) a noted psychedelic drug, and Banisteriopsis caapi contains a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). If the DMT-containing plant is consumed alone, then enzymes in the stomach would break it down and no psychedelic effects would be felt. The addition of the MAOI-containing plant inhibits these enzymes in the stomach and allows the mind-bending effects of DMT to be felt.Read More