Ancient Medicine in a Modern World

Ayahuasca is one of the most powerful and well-known natural entheogens known to man. The name Ayahuasca comes from Quechua, a widely spoken South American language found throughout the Amazon: aya means “soul” or “spirits” and huasca means “vine”, therefore translating to “vine of the soul” or “vine of the spirits” – a powerful plant based medicine that can open a doorway to communication with the inner worlds and spirit realms.

In the Shipibo language the name for ayahuasca is Oni (pronounced Ooni) which means ‘wisdom’ or Oni Kobin which means ‘cooked/prepared wisdom ’. The Shipibo name for a healer working with ayahuasca is an Onanya which means ‘one who has wisdom’.

“Look deep into Nature then you will understand everything better” – Albert Einstein

Ayahuasca is a shamanic brew; a holistic, existential, experiential medicine that facilitates deep cleansing, states of inner-awakening, direct connection with the spirit world and is a tool to reach amplified states of consciousness. It is known to and respected by a vast number of indigenous people of the Amazon as a healing plant or master “teacher plant” and represents the basis of their traditional medicines.

Ayahuasca works on every level; on the physical and non-physical being, on our consciousness, on our emotions and on our spirit. Also known colloquially as “La Purga” (the purge), ayahuasca is a potent cleansing and purifying medicine that offers a powerful intervention to chronic emotional / psycho-spiritual issues and catalyzes a re-awakening process for most people who work with the right intentions. Ayahuasca rids the body of physical impurities, cleanses negative energies from your energetic system (which lie at the root of most physical, emotional and psychological issues), helps bring integration to deep rooted emotional problems, and guides you towards releasing limiting and fear filled beliefs.

It is a plant medicine that needs to be approached with absolute respect and caution. Provided a number of clear guidelines and specific precautionary measures are followed then ayahuasca, in combination with a myriad of other plant spirit doctors of the Amazon, has the potential to affect profound and lasting healing, as well as initiate and guide you on a longer term journey back towards wholeness, coherence, harmony and presence.

Is Ayahuasca a Drug?

Based on a series of scientific research studies, it has been proven that the physiological effect of ayahuasca in the human body does not cause any toxicity. Consuming ayahuasca within a controlled context shows no side-effect, is not addictive and it does not produce any lasting withdrawal syndromes.

Although it contains a psychoactive component, ayahuasca cannot be considered and condemned as a classic drug of addictive and negative effects. On the contrary, it is essential that working with ayahuasca is never within a recreational or playful context. The medicine must be offered within a ceremonial, ritual environment with sacred, spiritual and therapeutic characteristics by trained healers who can guide, protect and contain the healing / learning journey of the drinker. This is essential in order to safely move into an often intense process of deep introspection whilst experiencing both agreeable and difficult experiences throughout the ceremony. The essence of working with ayahuasca is being able to have a direct experience of your inner world through which you clearly see the nature of your difficulties or problems and discover the ways to overcome and transform them.

Ayahuasca is not a drug despite moralistic propaganda and stigmatization of indigenous healing practices which can be attributed to religious wars on shamanism and repressive drug policies that label ayahuasca healing as ‘irresponsible drug use’ despite having been an integral part of the well-being and survival of many indigenous communities of the Amazon basin for centuries, possibly even millennia.

Evidence of Benefit, Struggles for Legitimacy

For thousands of years, indigenous and pre-industrial societies have applied their masterful knowledge of special plant species to emotional, psychological, and spiritual development and to issues critical to social harmony and cultural survival.

Ethnobotanicals such as ayahuasca have been singled out by modern researchers as having considerable potential for treating a wide range of conditions, from depression to stress disorders to substance abuse. Clinical research is also shedding light on the complex neuropsychological effects of these plants and the implications for improved cognitive function and integrative thinking that can help people deal with daily life issues in more effective and creative ways.

All manner of people from different walks of like, whether they be indigenous forest people, shaman, psychologists, therapists, conventional doctors, spiritual seekers or people who have exhausted all avenues in conventional healthcare seeking resolution of chronic emotional and psychological conditions do not consider this plant to be a drug, but a unique tool for healing, introspection, meditation, therapy, inner cleansing, auto-exploration and self-awakening.

It is a sacred gift from the plant kingdom that offers transformational properties; physical, emotional, mental and spiritual healing that can considerably better your relationship with yourself, as well as your relationship with the world and people around you.