AYAHUASCA – ASPECTOS BOTÂNICOS E FARMACOLÓGICOS AYAHUASCA – BOTANICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ASPECTS
LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) January 1, 2009 Guilherme Balarde Martinez, Celi de Paula Silva
Ayahuasca tea has been used for centuries by indigenous tribes in the Amazon Basin and southern Andes for therapeutic, magical, and religious purposes. In the last century, non-indigenous sects began using it, spreading the tea worldwide. Ayahuasca is made from the liana Banisteriopsis caapi and leaves of Psychotria viridis, which contain potent hallucinogens such as harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine, and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Main effects include hallucinations, hypertension, tachycardia, vomiting, and intense diarrhea, described by users as a process of “soul purification.” However, its pharmacological bases remain poorly understood, and combining it with other substances may cause harmful effects, warranting further research into its toxic potential. This work reviews the botanical and pharmacological aspects of ayahuasca's constituent plants.