What is Ayahuasca? Origins, Benefits, and How It Works

‍

History Behind the Use of Ayahuasca

The story behind Ayahuasca is as powerful as the journey she produces. Intimately linked to the spiritual, cultural, and medicinal practices of Indigenous communities in the Amazon, especially in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and Bolivia, the history of Ayahuasca is as deep as it is rich. Two plant parts are used to make the Ayahuasca Brew: Psychotria viridis, a leaf that contains the potent psychedelic compound DMT (dimethyltryptamine), and Banisteriopsis caapi, a vine (often referred to as the Vine of the Soul or the vine between our reality and higher dimensions). For centuries, shamanic ceremonies, healing, and spiritual enlightenment have used this sacred beverage.

From an anthropological standpoint, pre-Hispanic cultures in Peru maintained networks of cultural and commercial exchange that included sacred plants, despite being frequently associated with the Amazon. Entheogens were able to move from the Amazon to the Andes and back thanks to these networks.

Notable examples include:

• Chavín Culture (Northern Highlands of Peru, 1200–200 BCE): Iconographic depictions of San Pedro and possibly Vilca imply interregional interactions with the Amazon in the Chavín Culture.
• Nazca Culture: Showed a profound understanding of psychoactive substances by depicting plants in their ceramics and maintaining contact with Amazonian peoples.
• Cueva del Chileno, Bolivia (~1000 CE): A ritual pouch containing remnants of psychoactive plants, such as Psychotria viridis and Banisteriopsis caapi, was found in Cueva del Chileno, Bolivia (~1000 CE). Ayahuasca's preparation was validated by chemical analysis, providing the earliest known archaeological proof of its use in the Andean-Amazonian region.
• The Inca Empire: Said to have used entheogens and combined ritual and medical knowledge from many cultures.
  
  

Ayahuasca is regarded as a "master teacher" by many Indigenous people today, providing insight and knowledge regarding the secrets of the cosmos, life, and death but interestingly enough - also as a way to master the self.

These ceremonies are led and guarded by shamans, also known as Ayahuasqueros. They make the brew and conduct rituals that last well into the evening. During these ceremonies, approved participants are influenced by Mother Ayahuasca and receive visions that provide deep understanding of their own lives. These visions could provide solace, insight, perspective shifts, or a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves. After years of training and initiation, each healer creates their own special technique to lead and guide the Ayahuasca retreats.

Ayahuasca has historically only been used in Indigenous contexts, but as interest in psychedelics and alternative spirituality increased in the late 20th century, it started to spread throughout the world. In order to experience the potent potential of this, seekers, researchers, and healers either traveled to the Amazon or hosted skilled facilitators overseas.

‍

Physical Effects of Ayahuasca

The effects of this psychoactive drug may vary greatly from person to person. The effects are influenced and impacted by individual constitution, dosage, environment, and the specific brew used. Factors such as their adherence to the Ayahuasca Diet may also impact physical effects. Here are some of the more commonly reported physical experiences:

1. Nausea and Vomiting
   Often considered part of the “purge,” vomiting is viewed not only as detoxification but also a release of negative energy or emotions. This is a really good thing and encouraged as a release. Often times guests will experience the act of vomiting and yet there is nothing physical that is released in their buckets.
   
   
2. Diarrhea
   Another common aspect of the purge. This physical cleansing is often viewed as energetic as much as biological although it is not as instant as commonly believed, almost all guests are able to safely make their way to the restroom without issues. This sort of purge is not as common as nausea or vomiting - but once again, both are completely normal and encouraged.
   
   
3. Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
   Temporary elevations are common due to the Ayahuasca brew’s psychoactive components. These are usually manageable with prior medical screening but please ensure you have passed a medical screening prior to engaging into psychedelic substances of any sort.
   
   
4. Dizziness and Disorientation
   Especially common early in the experience, as the DMT molecule alters perception and shifts your awareness. One may experience difficulty moving around the room as easily and may wish to remain comfortably on their mat until the feeling passes - which it always does. Experienced facilitators help ground participants during these moments.
   
   
5. Temperature Fluctuations
   Feelings of intense heat or cold are common and often relate to shifts in emotion or perception of the environment.
   
   
6. Tremors and Muscle Spasms
   Purging negative energy does not necessarily need to come in the form of vomiting or diarrhea, involuntary movements can occur as emotional or energetic blocks are shaken out and released.
   
   
7. Drowsiness or Fatigue
   Physical and emotional intensity may lead to feelings of exhaustion during or after the ceremony. This is completely normal, after all it’s called a “journey” so it’s normal to feel a little tired afterwards.
   
   
8. Loss of Appetite
   It's common to not have an appetite during or shortly after a ceremony. Simple, nourishing foods are usually reintroduced gradually and as your body feels right. Once the ceremony concludes, the shaman may offer fruit platters for those who wish to lightly snack before retiring to bed.
   
   
9. Heightened Physical Sensitivity
   Some guests report experiencing an amplified sensitivity of touch, sound, taste, or vision—part of the nervous system’s recalibration. This is a really beautiful time and the most important time to be working with a coach and doing the integration work with reflecting, journaling, and being still. Allowing that time for yourself to be sensitive, to feel everything, and to appreciate the work that was just accomplished.
   
   
10. Headaches
    Headaches may be triggered by dehydration, emotional processing, or intense energetic work. Staying hydrated is crucial.
    
    
11. Long-Term Effects
    With regular and intentional use, some report lasting changes like enhanced mental clarity, improved emotional awareness, and sensory acuity. Ongoing integration with therapeutic support is recommended.
    
    

Benefits of Ayahuasca Use

Conducted with care and guided by experienced healers, Ayahuasca ceremonies can offer many, many positive benefits:

1. Spiritual and Personal Growth
   Many Behold guests report life-altering realizations and a deeper sense of realized purpose. The brew can offer clarity, self-understanding, and a renewed connection to the sacred self. It can feel as if - finally, one is breathing from their own body.
   
   
2. Emotional Trauma Release
   Ayahuasca often brings repressed memories to the surface, offering a chance to confront, process, and heal deep emotional wounds. Therapeutic integration is essential for long-term healing.
   
   
3. Mental Health Support
   Ayahuasca shows promise in treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD by promoting neuroplasticity and offering a reset of harmful mental patterns. A rewiring of the brain on your terms.
   
   
4. Addiction Recovery
   The psychedelic medicine often helps individuals confront the emotional roots of addiction, opening pathways for freedom from substance dependence.
   
   
5. Increased Empathy and Connection
   Many emerge from ceremonies with a renewed sense of unity—with others, with nature, and with themselves.
   
   
6. Neuroplasticity Benefits
   The combination of DMT and MAOIs may stimulate new neural connections, supporting cognitive flexibility and emotional resilience.
   
   
7. Expanded Perception
   Participants frequently report visual and emotional insights that shift their worldview, values, and inner compass.
   
   
8. Physical Detoxification
   The purgative process is believed to cleanse both the body and the spirit—releasing toxins, stagnant emotions, and energetic blocks.
   
   
9. Stress and Anxiety Relief
   Ayahuasca can provide distance from everyday worries, offering peace, calm, and inner balance. This alone offers space for massive healing and self-connection.
   
   
10. Connection to Nature
    A profound sense of interconnectedness with the Earth is a common experience, often sparking lasting ecological awareness.

‍

‍

Retreat Safety Guidelines

While Ayahuasca can be a powerful and positive experience, it's essential to approach it with caution and respect. Here are key safety considerations:

1. Know Your Facilitator
   Your guide’s integrity and experience shape the entire journey. Learn about their lineage, training, approach to safety, and capacity to support deep emotional processes. Additionally, don’t be afraid to tap into your gut feeling, if at any point in the pre-screening process the team behind your experience doesn’t feel right for you - pause and assess whether you want to move forward. You want to feel 100% that you are in good hands. This is non-negotiable.
   
   
2. Medical Consultation
   Always consult a healthcare provider—especially if you have cardiovascular health condition, psychiatric disorders, or are on medication like SSRIs, blood pressure meds, or benzodiazepines. This is non-negotiable.
   
   
3. Choose a Safe Setting
   Ceremonies should be held in secure, serene environments with experienced facilitators who can support you throughout the night. This is non-negotiable.
4. Ensure Brew Quality
   Only take Ayahuasca from trusted, knowledgeable sources using traditional, safe preparations.
   
   
5. Follow the Dieta
   In the days leading up to a ceremony, avoid heavy foods, alcohol, recreational drugs, and tyramine-rich foods (like aged cheeses and cured meats). Reduce caffeine and stimulants. Please find information on the full Ayahuasca Dieta here.
   
   
6. Mental Preparation
   Come to the experience with clarity and intention—not in states of emotional crisis or instability. Avoid use if you have a history of serious mental illness without clinical supervision.
   
   
7. Physical Precautions
   Be in a space where you can lie down safely. Let facilitators know if you need support moving or feel overwhelmed.
   
   
8. Monitor Physical Effects
   A skilled guide should observe participants for any adverse reactions—like allergic symptoms or fainting—and be ready to respond.
   
   
9. Allow Time to Integrate
   Repeated use without space for reflection can be emotionally draining. Let your body, mind, and soul process what you’ve experienced before returning.
   
   
10. Avoid During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding
    The effects on fetuses or infants are unknown and potentially harmful.
    
    
11. Integration Support
    After the ceremony, the true work begins. Processing insights with therapists or spiritual guides helps ground the transformation into daily life. Integration practices, like journaling, meditation, and community support, are key.
    
    

If you're considering working with this sacred psychedelic drug, know that this path is sacred, powerful, and not to be taken lightly. When approached with care, humility, and guidance—it can offer profound healing and spiritual renewal.

We offer a complimentary discovery call as an introductory conversation to the medicine and for both parties to understand whether you are ready and being called towards the medicine. If you feel you are ready for this conversation, we encourage you to fill out our short application and once the questions have been answered, you will have the opportunity to schedule a call with our Medicine Guide who will be open for any and all other questions.

We look forward to serving you.

‍