Between ecstasy and reason: a symbolic interpretation of UDV trance

The discussion examines how myth and ritual in the União do Vegetal (UDV), an ayahuasca religion from Brazilian Amazonia, serve as symbolic channels for institutional meanings activated by the psychoactive sacrament. The decoction, called vegetal or hoasca, combines the leaf of Psychotria viridis (containing DMT) and the vine Banisteriopsis caapi (containing beta-carbolines harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine). The vine's alkaloids inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO), enabling the oral psychoactive effects of DMT. Both substances are active constituents in the human body.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Introduction The following discussion takes up symbolic elaborations of myth and ritual as expressive channels for institutional meanings activated by the psychoactive sacrament used in the União do Vegetal (UDV), an ayahuasca religion born in Brazilian Amazonia. Called vegetal or hoasca, the decoction is prepared with the leaf of Psychotria viridis and the vine Banisteriopsis caapi, which contain, respectively, the alkaloid dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and the beta-carbolines harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine. The vine's alkaloids inhibit the action of monoamine oxidase (MAO) produced in the human organism, which prevents the psychoactive effects of the leaf's DMT when it is taken orally. Thus, both substances are active constituents in the human body.