Editing Ayahuasca (section)

== Traditional use ==
[[File:aya-cooking.jpg|thumb|right|Ayahuasca cooking in the [[Loreto Province|Loreto]] region of [[Peru]]]]
[[File:Ayahuasca preparation.JPG|thumb|right|Ayahuasca being prepared in [[Ecuador]]]]

The uses of ayahuasca in traditional societies in [[South America]] vary greatly.<ref name="Hay20">{{cite web |last=Hay |first=Mark |date=4 November 2020 |title=The Colonization of the Ayahuasca Experience |url=https://daily.jstor.org/the-colonization-of-the-ayahuasca-experience/ |access-date=21 May 2021 |website=JSTOR Daily |publisher=JSTOR}}</ref> Some cultures do use it for shamanic purposes, but in other cases, it is consumed socially among friends, in order to learn more about the natural environment, and even in order to visit friends and family who are far away.<ref name="Hay20"/>

Nonetheless, people who work with ayahuasca in non-traditional contexts often align themselves with the philosophies and cosmologies associated with ayahuasca [[shamanism]], as practiced among [[Indigenous people]]s like the [[Urarina]] of the [[Peruvian Amazon]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dean |first1= Bartholomew |year=2009 |title=Urarina Society, Cosmology, and History in Peruvian Amazonia |location=Gainesville |publisher=University Press of Florida |isbn=978-0-8130-3378-5 |url=http://www.upf.com/book.asp?id=DEANXS07 }}</ref><ref name="Hay20"/> Dietary taboos are often associated with the use of ayahuasca,<ref name="Jonathan Ott, 1994">{{cite book |last1=Ott |first1= J. |title=Ayahuasca Analogues: Pangaean Entheogens |location=Kennewick, WA |publisher=Natural Books |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-9614234-4-5}}</ref> although these seem to be specific to the culture around [[Iquitos]], [[Peru]], a major center of ayahuasca tourism.<ref name="Hay20"/> Ayahuasca retreats or ''healing centers'' can also be found in the [[Sacred Valley]] of Peru, in areas such as [[Cusco]] and [[Urubamba, Peru|Urubamba]], where similar dietary preparations can be observed. These retreats often employ members of the [[Shipibo-Conibo|Shipibo-Konibo]] tribe, an indigenous community native to the Peruvian Amazon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spirit |first=Ikaro's |title=Ikaro's Spirit |url=https://ikarospirit.com/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=Ikaro's Spirit |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the rainforest, these taboos tend towards the purification of one's self—abstaining from spicy and heavily seasoned foods, excess fat, salt, caffeine, acidic foods (such as citrus) and sex before, after, or during a ceremony. A diet low in [[Tyramine#Occurrence|foods containing tyramine]] has been recommended, as the speculative interaction of [[tyramine]] and [[Monoamine oxidase inhibitor|MAOIs]] could lead to a [[hypertensive crisis]]; however, evidence indicates that [[harmala alkaloids]] act only on [[Monoamine oxidase A|MAO-A]], in a reversible way similar to [[moclobemide]] (an antidepressant that does not require dietary restrictions). Dietary restrictions are not used by the highly urban Brazilian ayahuasca church [[União do Vegetal]], suggesting the risk is much lower than perceived and probably non-existent.<ref name="Jonathan Ott, 1994"/>

The ritual use of ayahuasca by the [[Achuar]] people is featured in the [[Bruce Parry]] 2008 documentary series ''[[Amazon (2008 TV series)|Amazon]]'', in which Parry forces himself to participate in the rite.

=== Ceremony and the role of shamans ===
[[shamanism|Shamans]], [[curandero]]s and experienced users of ayahuasca advise against consuming ayahuasca when not in the presence of one or several well-trained shamans.<ref name="Campos 2011">{{cite book |last=Campos |first=Don Jose |title=The Shaman & Ayahuasca: Journeys to Sacred Realms |year=2011}}</ref>

In some areas, there are purported ''brujos'' (Spanish for "[[witch]]es") who masquerade as real shamans and who entice tourists to drink ayahuasca in their presence. Shamans believe one of the purposes for this is to steal one's energy and/or power, of which they believe every person has a limited stockpile.<ref name="Campos 2011"/>

The shamans lead the ceremonial consumption of the ayahuasca beverage,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/fashion/ayahuasca-a-strong-cup-of-tea.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/fashion/ayahuasca-a-strong-cup-of-tea.html |archive-date=2022-01-01 |url-access=limited|title=Ayahuasca: A Strong Cup of Tea |date=13 June 2014|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Bob Morris}}{{cbignore}}</ref> in a rite that typically takes place over the entire night. During the ceremony, the effect of the drink lasts for hours. Prior to the ceremony, participants are instructed to abstain from spicy foods, red meat and sex.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ayahuascahealings.com/ayahuasca-retreats-usa-ayahuasca-church/ayahuasca-ceremony-trip-preparation/ |title=Ayahuasca Ceremony Preparation |publisher=ayahuascahealings.com |access-date=5 January 2019 }}</ref> The ceremony is usually accompanied with [[Vomiting|purging]] which include vomiting and diarrhea, which is believed to release built-up emotions and [[Energy (esotericism)|negative energy]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/news/a8965/ayahuasca-new-power-trip/ |title=The New Power Trip: Inside the World of Ayahuasca |year=2014|magazine= [[Marie Claire]] |access-date=5 January 2019 }}</ref>

=== Shipibo-Konibo and their relation to Ayahuasca ===
It is believed that the Shipibo-Konibo are among the earliest practitioners of Ayahuasca ceremonies, with their connection to the brew and ceremonies surrounding it dating back centuries, perhaps a millennium.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=May 5, 2021 |title=The Shipibo Ceremonial Use of Ayahuasca to Promote Well-Being: An Observational Study |pmc=8131827 |last1=Gonzalez |first1=D. |last2=Cantillo |first2=J. |last3=Perez |first3=I. |last4=Carvalho |first4=M. |last5=Aronovich |first5=A. |last6=Farre |first6=M. |last7=Feilding |first7=A. |last8=Obiols |first8=J. E. |last9=Bouso |first9=J. C. |journal=Frontiers in Pharmacology |volume=12 |doi=10.3389/fphar.2021.623923 |pmid=34025402 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Some members of the Shipibo community have taken to the media to express their views on Ayahuasca entering the mainstream, with some calling it "the [[commercialization]] of ayahuasca." Some of them have even expressed their worry regarding the increased popularity, saying "the contemporary 'ayahuasca ceremony' may be understood as a substitute for former [[Cosmogony|cosmogonical]] [[ritual]]s that are nowadays not performed anymore."<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 2014 |title=From the Native's Point of View: How Shipibo-Konibo Experience and Interpret Ayahuasca Drinking with "Gringos" |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/3308/chapter-abstract/144338325?redirectedFrom=fulltext |website=academic.oup.com|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199341191.003.0010 |isbn=978-0-19-934119-1 }}</ref>

=== Icaros ===
The Shipibo have their own language, called [[Shipibo language|Shipibo]], a [[Panoan languages|Panoan language]] spoken by approximately 26,000 people in Peru and Brazil. This language is commonly sung by the shaman in the form of a chant, called an [[Icaro]], during the Ayahuasca ritual as a way to establish a "balance of energy" during the ritual to help protect and guide the user during their experience.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shamanism at Arkana healing Ayahuasca and San Pedro Spiritual Retreats |url=https://www.arkanainternational.com/shamanism |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Arkana Spiritual Center |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Traditional brew ===
[[File:Ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi) en floración.jpg|thumb | right | ''B. caapi'' [[inflorescence]]]]

Traditional ayahuasca brews are usually made with ''[[Banisteriopsis caapi]]'' as an [[MAOI]], while [[dimethyltryptamine]] sources and other admixtures vary from region to region. There are several [[Banisteriopsis caapi#Types of vine|varieties of caapi]], often known as different "colors", with varying effects, potencies, and uses.

DMT admixtures:
* ''[[Psychotria viridis]]'' (Chacruna)<ref name="RatschIngredients">[[Christian Rätsch#Bibliography|Rätsch, Christian]] (2005), pp. 704-708. The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications. Rochester, Vermont: Park Street Press, 1998. {{ISBN|978-0-89281-978-2}}</ref> – leaves
* ''[[Psychotria carthagenensis]]'' (Amyruca)<ref name="RatschIngredients" /> – leaves
* ''[[Diplopterys cabrerana]]'' (Chaliponga, Chagropanga, ''Banisteriopsis rusbyana'')<ref name="RatschIngredients" /> – leaves
* ''[[Mimosa tenuiflora]]'' (''M. hostilis'') - root bark

Other common admixtures:
* ''[[Justicia pectoralis]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Thoricatha |first=Wesley |date=2017-04-04 |title=Breaking Down the Brew: Examining the Plants Commonly Used in Ayahuasca |url=https://psychedelictimes.com/breaking-down-the-brew-examining-the-plants-commonly-used-in-ayahuasca/ |access-date=2020-05-17 |website=Psychedelic Times |language=en-US}}</ref>''
* ''[[Brugmansia]] sp.'' (Toé)<ref name="RatschIngredients" />
* [[Opuntia]] ''sp''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Rivier |first1=Laurent |last2=Lindgren |first2=Jan-Erik |date=April 1972 |title="Ayahuasca," the South American hallucinogenic drink: An ethnobotanical and chemical investigation |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/BF02860772 |journal=Economic Botany |language=en |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=101–129 |doi=10.1007/BF02860772 |bibcode=1972EcBot..26..101R |s2cid=34669901 |issn=0013-0001}}</ref>
* [[Epiphyllum]] ''sp.'' <ref name=":1" />
* [[Cyperus]] ''sp.<ref name=":1" />'' 
* ''[[Nicotiana rustica]]''<ref name="RatschIngredients" /> (Mapacho, variety of tobacco)
* ''[[Ilex guayusa]]'',<ref name="RatschIngredients" /> a relative of [[yerba mate]]
* ''[[Lygodium venustum]]'', (Tchai del monte)<ref name=":1" />
* ''Phrygilanthus eugenioides'' and [[Clusia]] ''sp'' (both called Miya)<ref name=":1" />
* ''[[Lomariopsis japurensis]]'' (Shoka)<ref name=":1" />

Common admixtures with their associated ceremonial values and spirits:

*'''[[Ayahuma]]<ref name="RatschIngredients" /> bark''': Cannon Ball tree. Provides protection and is used in healing susto (soul loss from spiritual fright or trauma).
*'''[[Capirona]]<ref name="RatschIngredients" /> bark''': Provides cleansing, balance and protection. It is noted for its smooth bark, white flowers, and hard wood.
*'''Chullachaki caspi<ref name="RatschIngredients" /> bark''' (''Byrsonima christianeae''): Provides cleansing to the physical body. Used to transcend physical body ailments.
*'''Lopuna blanca bark''': Provides protection. 
*'''Punga amarilla bark''': Yellow Punga. Provides protection. Used to pull or draw out negative spirits or energies. 
*'''[[Remo caspi]]<ref name="RatschIngredients" /> bark''': Oar Tree. Used to move dense or dark energies.
*'''Wyra (huaira) caspi<ref name="RatschIngredients" /> bark''' (''[[Cedrelinga catanaeformis]]''): Air Tree. Used to create purging, transcend gastro/intestinal ailments, calm the mind, and bring tranquility. 
*'''Shiwawaku bark''': Brings purple medicine to the ceremony. 
*'''Uchu sanango''': Head of the sanango plants. 
*'''Huacapurana''': Giant tree of the Amazon with very hard bark.
*'''Bobinsana ([[Calliandra angustifolia]])''': Mermaid Spirit. Provides major heart chakra opening, healing of emotions and relationships.