Tag: Ayahuasca

In recent decades, scientists have confirmed that N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is found naturally in a vast range of plants and even some animals. Despite this widespread presence, ingesting ordinary food containing these plants will not produce psychedelic effects due to the body's rapid breakdown of DMT.

Over 20% of participants report experiencing profound spiritual insights during their ayahuasca ceremony, which highlights the importance of proper preparation. The traditional 'dieta' leading up to this sacred event involves strict dietary restrictions, raising many questions, including whether common foods like bread are permissible.

While the coffee plant itself is part of the Rubiaceae family, which contains the Coffea genus, it does not naturally produce harmine in its green state. The answer to whether harmine is in coffee, however, is a bit more nuanced, as a related, but distinct, β-carboline alkaloid, harman, is formed during the roasting process.

With a rich history spanning over 2,000 years in the Ecuadorian Amazon, the stimulant drink guayusa is sometimes wrongly associated with hallucinogenic properties. We investigate the science behind the Amazonian tea to definitively answer the question: **Is guayusa a hallucinogen?**