Ayahuasca Analogs and Pharmahuasca
2005
Originally published in The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants
Citation: Rätsch C. Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants. Park Street Press. 2005. pg. 716-19.
Other Names
Anahuasca, ayahuasca borealis
The effects of the pharmacological principle that was discovered during the investigations of traditional ayahuasca can be imitated with other plants that contain the same constituents (harmaline, harmine, N,N-DMT/5-MeO-DMT). Today, nontraditional combinations of plants with these ingredients are known as ayahuasca analogs or anahuasca. Combinations composed of isolated or synthesized constituents are referred to as pharmahuasca.
The term ayahausca analog appears (to) have been coined by Dennis McKenna. The American ethnobotanist Jeremy Bigwood was probably the first person to test pharmahuasca (100 mg each of harmaline hydrochloride and N,N-DMT) on himself; he reported "DMT-like hallucinations" (Ott 1994, 52). The chemist and chaos theorist Mario Markus used the Heffter technique (self-experimentation) to perform extensive experiments into the optimal proportions for mixing the alakaloids.
For Jonathan Ott, the value of the ayahuasca analogs lies in their entheogenic effects, which can help one attain a more profound spiritual ecology and a mystical perspective. Ayahuasca and its analogs can induce a state of shamanic ecstasy, but only when used at proper dosage.
As with traditional ayahuasca, most ayahuasca analogs have a thoroughly disgusting taste and are therefore generally difficult to force down (because they are forced up again from below). Chewing sliced ginger (Zingiber officianale) can help counteract the often repulsive taste (DeKorne 1994, 98).
The following recipes are formulated to yield a single dose.
3 g Peganum harmala seeds, crushed
Juice of one lemon
Enough water to boil all the ingredients (approximately 200-300 ml)
Place all the ingredients in a steel pot. Slowly bring to a boil, then boil rapidly for two to three minutes. Reduce the heat and simmer for approximately five more minutes. Pour off the decoction. Add some water to the herbs remaining in the pot and boil again. Pour the first decoction back into the pot. After a while, pour out the liquid once more. Add fresh water to the remaining herbs and bring to a boil again. Remove the plant remnants and compost them, if possible. Mix together the three extracts. Carefully heat the mixture to reduce the total volume. The tea should be drunk as fresh as possible (allow to cool first), although it can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days. The effects begin about forty-five minutes after ingestion. The visionary phase lasts for about an hour.
3 g Peganum harmala seeds, finely ground
9 g Mimosa tenuiflora root cortex
Juice of one lime or lemon
The crushed Syrian rue (P.harmala) seeds may be either swallowed in a gelatin capsule or mixed in water and drunk. The decoction of lemon juice and mimosa root cortex should be drunk fifteen minutes later.
3-4 g Peganum harmala seeds, finely ground
30 g Desmanthus illinoensis root cortex (prairie mimosa, Illinois bundleweed,
Illinois bundleflower)
Juice of one lemon or lime
Prepare in the same manner as jerumahuasca (above).
3 g Peganum harmala seeds, finely ground
20 g Acacia phlebophylla leaves, ground (cf. Acacia spp.)
Juice of one lemon or lime
Prepare in the same manner as jerumahuasa (above).
1-3 g Syrian rue (Peganum harmala)
20-25 g San Pedro cactus powder (see Trichocereus pachanoi)
This blend may be pharmacologically dangerous.
3 g Peganum harmala and 3 g mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis)
or
2 g Peganum harmala and 1.5 g Psilocybe semilanceata in sage tea
Because the effects of these blends can be extremely unpleasant, people are generally warned against using them (Kent 1995; Malima 1995).
3 g Peganum harmala
1 Argyreia nervosa seed
3-4 g Desmanthus illinoensis root cortex
Anahuasca, ayahuasca borealis
The effects of the pharmacological principle that was discovered during the investigations of traditional ayahuasca can be imitated with other plants that contain the same constituents (harmaline, harmine, N,N-DMT/5-MeO-DMT). Today, nontraditional combinations of plants with these ingredients are known as ayahuasca analogs or anahuasca. Combinations composed of isolated or synthesized constituents are referred to as pharmahuasca.
The term ayahausca analog appears (to) have been coined by Dennis McKenna. The American ethnobotanist Jeremy Bigwood was probably the first person to test pharmahuasca (100 mg each of harmaline hydrochloride and N,N-DMT) on himself; he reported "DMT-like hallucinations" (Ott 1994, 52). The chemist and chaos theorist Mario Markus used the Heffter technique (self-experimentation) to perform extensive experiments into the optimal proportions for mixing the alakaloids.
For Jonathan Ott, the value of the ayahuasca analogs lies in their entheogenic effects, which can help one attain a more profound spiritual ecology and a mystical perspective. Ayahuasca and its analogs can induce a state of shamanic ecstasy, but only when used at proper dosage.
Recipes
All recipes must contain an MAO inhibitor as well as a source of DMT. To date, experiments have been conducted only with Banisteriopsis caapi, Banisteriopsis spp., Peganum harmala, and synthetic (pharmaceutical) MAO inhibitors. But there are other MAO inhibitors in nature, such as Tribulus terrestris. The ongoing investigations into St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) and other Hypericum species as possible MAO-inhibiting admixtures are very interesting. Hypericin, the primary active constituent in Hypericum spp., "has been proven to be a monoamine oxidase inhibitor" (Becker 1994, 48*). Psychotria viridis and Mimosa tennuiflora have been looked at as sources of DMT, but numerous other possibilities also exist. The dosages are determined by the alkaloid concentrations in the various admixtures (DeKorne 1996; Ott 1994).As with traditional ayahuasca, most ayahuasca analogs have a thoroughly disgusting taste and are therefore generally difficult to force down (because they are forced up again from below). Chewing sliced ginger (Zingiber officianale) can help counteract the often repulsive taste (DeKorne 1994, 98).
The following recipes are formulated to yield a single dose.
Classic Ayahuasca Analog
25 g Psychotria viridis leaves, dried and ground3 g Peganum harmala seeds, crushed
Juice of one lemon
Enough water to boil all the ingredients (approximately 200-300 ml)
Place all the ingredients in a steel pot. Slowly bring to a boil, then boil rapidly for two to three minutes. Reduce the heat and simmer for approximately five more minutes. Pour off the decoction. Add some water to the herbs remaining in the pot and boil again. Pour the first decoction back into the pot. After a while, pour out the liquid once more. Add fresh water to the remaining herbs and bring to a boil again. Remove the plant remnants and compost them, if possible. Mix together the three extracts. Carefully heat the mixture to reduce the total volume. The tea should be drunk as fresh as possible (allow to cool first), although it can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days. The effects begin about forty-five minutes after ingestion. The visionary phase lasts for about an hour.
Jerumahuasca or Mimosahuasca
Connoisseurs consider this ayahausca analog to be both the most easily tolerated and the most psychoactive preparation.3 g Peganum harmala seeds, finely ground
9 g Mimosa tenuiflora root cortex
Juice of one lime or lemon
The crushed Syrian rue (P.harmala) seeds may be either swallowed in a gelatin capsule or mixed in water and drunk. The decoction of lemon juice and mimosa root cortex should be drunk fifteen minutes later.
Prairie Ayahuasca
This blend is especially popular in North America. Predominantly pleasant experiences have been reports (ott 1994, 63; cf. DeKorne 1994, 97).3-4 g Peganum harmala seeds, finely ground
30 g Desmanthus illinoensis root cortex (prairie mimosa, Illinois bundleweed,
Illinois bundleflower)
Juice of one lemon or lime
Prepare in the same manner as jerumahuasca (above).
Acaciahuasca
This blend is especially popular in Australia and has been used with good success.3 g Peganum harmala seeds, finely ground
20 g Acacia phlebophylla leaves, ground (cf. Acacia spp.)
Juice of one lemon or lime
Prepare in the same manner as jerumahuasa (above).
Phalahuasca
In Europe, various combinations of Phalaris arundinacea or Phalaris aquatica (see Phalaris spp.) and Peganum harmala have been investigated. Unfortunately, the experiments have been met with little success to date as far as pleasant visionary experiences are concerned. Because of the toxic alkaloid (gramine) that occurs in the reed grasses, these preparations can be very dangerous (Festi and Samorini 1994).Peyohuasca
This preparation is a combination of Peganum harmala and Lophophora williamsii. It may be pharmacologically very dangerous. San Pedro Ayahuasca
The following amounts and ingredients have been reported to produce pleasant effects (in Entheogene 5 [1995]. 53).1-3 g Syrian rue (Peganum harmala)
20-25 g San Pedro cactus powder (see Trichocereus pachanoi)
This blend may be pharmacologically dangerous.
Psilohuasca
This mixture, which is also known as mushroom ayahuasca or soma ayahuasca consists of:3 g Peganum harmala and 3 g mushrooms (Psilocybe cubensis)
or
2 g Peganum harmala and 1.5 g Psilocybe semilanceata in sage tea
Because the effects of these blends can be extremely unpleasant, people are generally warned against using them (Kent 1995; Malima 1995).
LSA/Desmanthus Ayahuasca
Although the report (in Entheogene 5 [1995]:40 f.) spoke of quite pleasant experiences, this mixture appears to be potentially dangerous.3 g Peganum harmala
1 Argyreia nervosa seed
3-4 g Desmanthus illinoensis root cortex
Mayahuasca
For several years there has been considerable speculation that the pre-Columbian Maya may have used a psychoactive ritual drink that was an ayahuasca analog. It has been conjectured that the Mayans used a Banisteriopsis species that grows in the Mesoamerican lowlands in combination with a source of DMT to make "mayahuasca" (Hyman 1994). It is entirely possible that Banisteriopsis miricata was used for this purpose, as its stems contain harmine and its leaves DMT. In other words, it is possible that an ayahuasca analog was made from just one plant. Pharmahuasca
For pharmahuasca, 100 mg N,N-DMT and 50 mg harmaline is usually the recommended dosage per person. However, combinations of 50 mg harmaline, 50 mg harmine, and 50 mg, N,N-DMT have also been tested with success. As a rule, the fewer the β-carbolines, the less the nausea; the more DMT, the more spectacular the visions. The constituents are put into separate gelatin capsules. The capsules with harmaline/harmine is swallowed first and the capsule containing the DMT is taken some fifteen to twenty minutes later. The purely synthetic MAO inhibitor Marplan is also suitable in place of harmaline and harmine (Ott 1996, 34).Endohuasca
The pharmacologist James Callaway has hypothesized that under certain circumstances a kind of pharmahuasca (which he calls endohuasca) is produced in the brain when both endogenous β-carbolines and endogenous DMT are excreted. This endohuasca produces dreams in a neurochemical manner (Callaway 1995; cf. also Ott 1996).Plants That Contain MAO-Inhibiting β-Carbolines and May Be Useful for Ayahuasca Analogs
(from Ott 1994; also Fleurentin and Pelt 1982; Schultes and Farnsworth 1982; Shulgin 1996; expanded)1AGARICEAE Coriolus maximus (Mont.) Murrill | harmane |
APOCYNACEAE Amsonia tabernaemontana Walt. | harmine and others |
Apocynum cannabinnum L. | harmalol |
Ochrosia nakaiana Koidz | harmane |
ARACEAE Pinellia pedatisecta | norharmane |
BIGNONIACEAE Newbouldoia laevis Benth. Et Hook f. | harmane |
CALYCANTHACEAE Calycanthus occidentalis Hook. Et Arnot | harmine |
CHENOPODIACEAE Hammada leptoclada (Pop) Iljin | tetrahydroharmane and others |
Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. [syn, Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott] | harmine, harmane, triterpene glycosides |
K. scoparia var. childsii Kraus | |
K. scoparia var. trichophylla (Voss) Boom | |
COMBRETACEAE Guiera senegalensis Lam. | harmane and others |
CYPERACEAE Carex brevicollis DC. | harmine and others |
ELAEAGNACEAE Elaeagnus angustifolia L. | harmane and others |
Elaeagnus hortensis M.B. | tetrahydroharmane and others |
Elaeagnus orientates L. | tetrahydroharmane |
Elaeagnus spinosa L. | tetrahydroharmane |
Hippophae rhamnoides L. | harmane and others |
Shepherdia argentea Nutt. | tetrahydroharmol |
Shepherdia Canadensis Nutt. | tetrahydroharmol |
GRAMINEAE Arundo donax L. | tetrahydroharmane and others |
Festuca arundinaceae Schreber | harmane and others |
Lolium perenne L. | harmane and others |
LEGUMINOSAE Acacia baileyanna F. v. Muell | tetrahydroharmane |
Acacia complanata A. Cunn. | tetrahydroharmane |
Burkea africana Hook. | harmane and others |
Calliandra petandra | tetrahydroharmine |
Desmodium pulchellum Benth. Ex Bak. | harmane and others |
Mucuna pruriens DC. | 6-methoxyharmane |
Petalostylis labicheoides R. Brown | tetrahydroharmane |
Petalostylis labicheoides var. cassioides | tetrahydroharmane, N,N-DMT |
Prosopis nigra (Griseb.) Heironymus | harmane and others |
LOGANIACEAE Strychnos usambarensis Gilg. (cf. Strychnos spp.) | harmane |
MALPIGHIACEAE Banisteriopsis spp. | harmine |
Cabi paraensis Ducke [syn. Callaeum antifebrile (Griseb.) Johnson] | harmine |
MYRISTICACEAE Virola cuspidate (Benth.) warb. | 6-methoxyharmane |
PASSIFLORACEAE Passiflora actinea Hook. | harmane |
Passiflora alata Aiton | harmane |
Passiflora alba Link et Otto | harmane |
Passiflora bryonoides H.B.K. | harmane |
Passiflora caerulea L. | harmane |
Passiflora capsularis L. | harmane |
Passiflora decaisneana Nichol | harmane |
Passiflora edulis L. | harmane, harmol, harmaline, harmine |
Passiflora eichleriana Mast. | harmane |
Passiflora foetida L. | harmane |
Passiflora incarnata L. | harmane, harmine, harmaline |
Passiflora involucrate (Mast.) Gentry | harmane |
harmane | β-carbolines |
Passiflora quadrangularis L. | harmane |
Passiflora aff. ruberosa | harmane |
Passiflora subpeltata Ortega | harmane |
Passiflora warmingii Mast. (cf. Passiflora spp.) | harmane |
POLYGONACEAE Calligonum minimum Lipski | harmane and others |
RUBIACEAE Leptactinia densiflora Hook. Fil. | tetrahydroharmine (= leptaflorin) |
Nauclea diderrichii | harmane and others |
Ophiorrhiza japonica Blume | harmane |
Pauridiantha callicarpoides Bremek | harmane |
Pauridiantha dewevrei Bremek | harmane |
Pauridiantha lyalli Bremek | harmane |
Pauridiantha viridiflora Hepper | harmane |
Simira klugii Standl. | harmane |
Simira rubra K. Schum. | harmane |
Uncaria attenuata Korth. | harmane |
Uncaria canescens Korth. | harmane |
SAPOTACEAE Chrysophyllum lacourtianum De Wild. | norharmane and others |
SYMPLOCACEAE Symplocos racemosus Roxb. | harmane |
ZYGOPHYLLACEAE Fagonia cretica L. | harmane |
Fagonia indica Burm. | harmine |
Peganum harmala L. | harmine, tetrahydroharmane, dihydroharmane, harmane, isoharmine, tetrahydroharmol, harmalol, harmol, norharmine, harmalicin, tetrahydroharmine, harmaline |
Tribulus terrestris L. | harmine and others |
Zygophyllum fabago L. | harmine and others |
Plants That Contain DMT and May Be Used for Making Ayahuasca Analogs
(from Montgomery, pers. Comm..; Ott 1993, 1994; supplemented)2Stock Plant | Part(s) Used | Tryptamine |
GRAMINEAE (POACEAE) Arundo donax L. | rhizome | DMT |
Phalaris arundinaceae L. | grass, root | DMT |
Phalaris tuberosa L. (Italian race) | leaf | DMT |
Phalaris tuberosa L. (Italian race) | leaf | DMT |
Phragmites australis (Cav.) Tr. Ex St. | rhizome | DMT, 5-MeO-DMT |
LEGUMINOSAE (FABACEAE) Acacia meidenii F. v. Muel. | bark | DMT (0.36%) |
Acacia phlebophylla F. v. Muel. | leaf | DMT (0.3%) |
Acacia simplicifolia Druce | leaf, bark | DMT (0.81%) |
Anadenanthera peregrina (L.) Speg. | bark | DMT, 5-MeO-DMT |
Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) MacM. (Illinois bundleflower; cf. Kindscher 1992, 239-40) | root cortex | DMT |
Desmanthus leptolobus | root cortex | DMT |
Desmodium pulchellum Benth. Ex Baker [syn. Phyllodium pulchellum] (Iodrum) | root cortex | DMT |
Desmodium adscendens (SW.) DC. Var. adscendens (cf. N'Gouemo et al. 1996) | DMT (?) | |
Lespedeza capitata Michx. (cf. Kindscher 1992, 257 f.) | ? | DMT |
Mimosa scabrella Benth. | bark | DMT |
Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir. | root cortex | DMT (0.57%) |
MALPIGHIACEAE Diplopterys cabrerana (Cuatr.) Gates | leaf | DMT, 5-MeO-DMT |
MYRISTACEAE Virola sebifera Aubl. | bark | DMT |
Virola theidora (Spruce ex Benth.) Warb. | flower | DMT (0.44%) |
Virola spp. | Bark/resin | DMT, 5-MeO-DMT |
RUBIACEAE Psychotria carthaginensis Jacquin | DMT | DMT |
Psychotria poeppigiana Muell. Arg. | leaf | DMT |
Psychotria viridis | leaf | DMT |
RUTACEAE Dictyoloma incanescens DC. | bark | 5-MeO-DMT (0.04%) |
Limonia acidissima L. | DMT (traces) | |
Melicope leptococca (Baillon) Guillaumin | leaf/branch | DMT (0.21%) |
Pilocarpus organensis Rizzini et Occhioni | alkaloids (1.06%), primarily 5-MeO-DMT | |
Vepris ampody H. Perr. | leaf/branch | DMT (0.22%) |
Zanthoxylum arborescens Rose | DMT (traces) | |
References #
- Becker SR. "Das Johanniskraut (Hypericum perforatum) -- Antidepressivum aus der Natur: Moglichkeiten einer Theraie leichter bis mittelschwerer Depressionen". Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Ganzheitsmedizin. 1994;1:46-49; 2:92-94.
- Callaway J. "Pharmahuasca and contemporary ethnopharmacology". Curare. 1995;18(2):395-98.
- DeKorne J. Psychedelic Shamanism. Loompanics Unlimited. 1994.
- DeKorne J. Ayahuasca Analogs and Plant-Based Tryptamines; E.R. Monograph Series, no. 1.. The Entheogen Review. 1996.
- Festi F, Samorini S. "'Ayahuasca-Like' Effects Obtained with ItalianPlants". Lecture at the II Congrés Internacional per a l'Estudio dels Estats Modificats de Consciencis, October 3-7, 1994, Llèida, Catalonia (manuscript).
- Kent J. "Mushroom Ayahuasca". Psychedelic Illuminations. 1995;5:6-12.
- Malima. "Psilocybin und Harmala -- Psilohuasca". Entheogene. 1970;13(3):105-8.
- Ott J. Ayahuasca Analogues: Pangaen Entheogens. Natural Products Co.. 1994.
- Ott J. Enteobobotanica: Embriagantes Chamanicos. Unpublished manuscript.
Notes #
- For more information, see "Ayahuasca: MAOI Source Plants" in Ayahuasca: alkaloids, plants & analogs by Keeper of the Trout.
- For more information, see "Ayahuasca admixtures & analogs" in Ayahuasca: alkaloids, plants & analogs by Keeper of the Trout.