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Ayahuasca
Effects
by Erowid
DURATION #
Caution :   Reactions and experiences may vary dramatically from person to person. [see below]
Ayahuasca Duration
Oral
Total Duration
4 - 8 hrs
Onset
20 - 60 mins
Coming Up
30 - 45 mins
Plateau
1 - 2 hrs
Coming Down
1 - 2 hrs
 
 
After Effects
1 - 8 hrs
Hangover / Day After
- - -
 
EFFECTS LIST #
POSITIVE
  • Mild to extreme mood lift, euphoria
  • Ego softening / ego loss
  • Oceanic feeling of connectedness to the universe
  • Feelings of love and empathy
  • A sense of inner peace and acceptance of self, others, and the world
  • Profound life-changing spiritual experiences
  • Emotional healing / mentally therapeutic
  • Claimed physical healing (such as anti-cancer effects)
  • Purging, including vomiting and even diarrhea, is considered a positive effect and a fundamental part of the spritual process with Ayahuasca by many ayahuasca groups, shamans, and users.
NEUTRAL
  • Sedation
  • Strong visions; some typically reported include snakes, big cats, insectoid aliens, female goddesses
  • Meaningless visual "noise"
  • Auditory hallucinations / sound distortions
  • Altered sense of space and time
  • Increased likelihood of embracing magical thinking, paranormal ideation
NEGATIVE
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, sweats/chills (alternating), and other flu- or food poisoning-like symptoms, much less common after multiple experiences
  • Fear and/or paranoia
  • Disequilibrium, difficulty walking
  • Feeling as though one is losing one's mind
  • Feeling as though one is dying
  • Unwanted and overwhelming feelings
  • Unwanted or unexpected life-changing spiritual experiences or personal revelations
DESCRIPTION #
The main common denominator of ayahuasca brews is the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, which contains monoamine oxidase inhibiting harmala alkaloids. These alkaloids have a sedative effect and may be somewhat visionary at higher doses. However, the primary visions caused by ayahuasca come when Psychotria viridis or other DMT-containing plants are added to the brew. There are health concerns about some foods and drugs consumed in combination with the monoamine oxidase inhibiting harmala alkaloids; for more information, see our MAOI Vault.

Effects vary substantially from one ayahuasca brew to another because a wide variety of admixture plants are found in some ayahuasca brews, including Brugmansia, Coca, and Tobacco.