Ayahuasca article in National Geographic

[professorpan]

A fascinating article, particularly in regards to the author's "exorcism" of demonic entities.<br><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0603/features/peru4.html">www.nationalgeographic.co...peru4.html</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br>Highly recommended for those curious about ayahuasca healing. <p></p><i></i>

[professorpan]

Just wanted to add a note that the article has some very interesting commentary on trauma, fragmentation, and integration. <p></p><i></i>

[Rigorous Intuition]

One of the recurring features of ayahuasca accounts are the songs of the ayahuasqueros that accompany the ceremony, which the plants are said to teach them. Last week I picked up <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Ayahuasca Songs from the Peruvian Amazon</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> by Luis Panduro Vasquez. Beautiful and soothing songs of protection. Intuitively, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>I just know</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> they're holy. When I have time to update RI radio I'll add one or two.<br><br>Bizarrely, the <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000050I9U/qid=1141750323/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/102-6462361-5752107?n=5174">Amazon link</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> contains a warning of "explicit lyrics." I have no idea what that's about, other than the association with drug use, which to Amazon must mean only the profane rather than the sacred. <p></p><i></i>

[LoganSquare]

<br>Interesting article. Unfortunately, adventure/drug tours such as Blue Morph's often have a very negative effect on research and availability of hallucinogens. For example, the Life Magazine article on Gordon Wasson about psilocyben mushroom ceremonies and the Mazatec curandera shaman, Maria Sabina, resulted in a clampdown on its use in Mexico and the near (?) arrest of Maria Sabina.<br><br>Timothy Leary is similarly blamed for the illegalization of LSD due to his publicizing and sensationalism.<br><br>Johathan Ott, one of the preeminent researchers promotes the idea that shamans and tours are not necessary to obtain the benefits of Ayahuasca and should be avoided to preserve the original cultural context and prevent the appropriation and coopting of yet another aborginal treasure.<br><br>It's obviously already too late (pic from Blue Morph Tours site of tour group):<br><br><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.bluemorphotours.com/image/picture/group_inside_lodge_1_small.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--> <p></p><i></i>

[professorpan]

Good points, Logan. <br><br>I look at it a little differently, though. A medicine with such healing potential is a treasure. Maybe it's time to increase awareness, to spread this former secret to those who can make use of it.<br><br>Maybe that's what *it* wants.<br><br>And such a powerful, intense, and difficult experience is unlikely to enter the mainstream enough to cause problems. It's not a party, it's a serious, difficult, and sometimes terrifying inward journey. I can't see that becoming attractive to most people.<br><br>I'm listening to a recording of a session while I'm typing this. There are regular sounds of people gagging and puking. A fun night on "drugs" is not what this stuff is about -- it's hard, serious work. And most people I know prefer to sit on a beach and drink a fruity cocktail when they vacation.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[CyberChrist]

Is Ayahuasca considered to be a controlled substance or illegal or what? <p>--<br>CyberChrist<br>http://www.hackerjournal.org<br>My brain is hung like a horse.</p><i></i>

[chillin]

I believe that the ingredients (B.Caapi + P.Viridris) themselves aren't illegal, but brewing and consuming Aya probably is prohibited. I've found several online suppliers for the herbs and there are recipies on the net. The unfortunate thing is that you basically have to guess what quantities will give you the effect that you're after.<br><br>Also, it's very important to note that one of the components in Ayahuasca is a fast-acting MAOI inhibiter that can cause death if combined with SSRI drugs like Prozac etc... I should also mention that some of the recipies I've seen include Datura which is always extremely dangerous, if not deadly.<br><br>Thanks for the link Pan, I wonder if we're on the edge of a psychedelic renaissance... I seem to be these days lol =) <p></p><i></i>

[LoganSquare]

<br>I totally agree with you, Pan. It's just that, in the case of the article you mentioned, you have the "Laura Croft" of travel writing explaining the drug and the Indiana Jones of Ayahuasca tours providing access to it--and both of them profiting handsomely.<br><br>Back "in the day," you had to learn at least a little Portugese and some of the shaman's language plus convince him or her if you were worthy and prepared to have what was essentially a religious experience. You know what happens when these kinds of relationships begin to be based on money and trade--they become debased, diluted and essentially changed. <br><br>Nothing against travel writers and tour guides making a buck---actually I take that back--I do have something against that. Anyway, there is a huge amount of serious literature on this subject if one wants to learn about it.<br><br>I totally agree it's time to increase awareness and that Ayahuasca is an exquisite way of doing that. <p></p><i></i>

[chillin]

As awareness of Aya seems to be gaining outside of the traditional shamanic setting, I think that the health considerations can't be emphasized enough. I mentioned earlier that one of the Aya components is a MAOI and extremely dangerous when combined SSRI drugs, but forgot to mention ecstasy. If you mix Aya and ecstacy (MDMA) you will be lucky if you are still alive to talk about it later.<br><br>That being said, the only death associated with Ayahuasca healing that I'm aware of is a case of a 71 year old diabetic Native Canadian woman who died from nicotine poisoning after going off 'all medication' including insulin prior to the week long ceremony.<br><br>I think that properly dealing with the psychic effects of Aya is probably the biggest issue that most will face.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>