General: Ayahuasca is prepared by many different cultures in South America. It goes by many different names. Ayahuasca is only one name given to the medicine in the cultures of the eastern region of Peru in the Amazon Jungle. Other names given to this brew from other countries in South America are; Dima, Natem and Yage. Traditionally in Peru two consistent plants are applied in the brewing process, although other ad-mixture plants may be applied by some curanderos. The two plants that are employed traditionally are Banisteriopsis caapi or the Ayahuasca vine and Psychotria viridis or Chacruna. The vine contains the M.A.O.I.’s Harmine and Harmaline. The Chacruna contains the N, N- Dimethyltryptamine or D.M.T. The recipe given will be for the combination of THESE TWO PLANTS ONLY! There are far too many analog plants to formulate a simplified consistent recipe inclusive of all the plants, considering the array of alkaloid concentrations found in all the possible ad-mixtures. It is hard enough to formulate an accurate recipe for only two plants, considering ALL plants vary in alkaloid concentration due to a number of variables in both the cultivation and storage. Therefore I have made my best effort to formulate a recipe that should yield one (1) strong dose.* Unfortunately, I can not guarantee the results or the actual potency of any one concoction. YOU WILL have to be your on guinea pig!
Preparation: This dosage is based on an application of dried plant specimens as opposed to fresh. Fresh plant specimens are harder to obtain. Dried specimens on the other hand can be stale, weaker or even inert. Make sure you question your source about the freshness of the plants ordered. If you find a good source – stick with it! Maintaining consistency in the plant material will help you to refine and perfect your brewing process faster.
Materials needed:
- 5 oz. Banisteriopsis caapi vine / Ayahuasca (smashed or ground.)**
- Two oz. Psychotria viridis leaf / Chacruna.
- 1/2 teaspoon of Citric Acid or juice of two lemons.
- 3 Qts. purified water.
- One large cooking cauldron w/o lid.
- One 2-3 Qt. cooking pot.
- One wooden spoon or stirring instrument.
- Stove or fire
- Strainer
- Coffee filter or cheese cloth.
- Hammer ( used to smash vine pieces if necessary)
Recipe:
- Crush or grind the Ayahausca vine.
- Add ½ of the crushed vine to the cauldron.
- Next add the Chacruna leaf.
- Then add the other ½ of the Ayahuasca vine.
- Pour 3Qts. fresh water slowly into cauldron trying to keep ingredients in order. (A clean rock can be placed in the cauldron to “weigh down” the material.)
- Add the Citric Acid or lemon.
- Put on stove or fire and bring to a tumbling boil.
- Lower to a high simmer and reduce the potion to 1/3(1Qt.). This should take many hours (4-6). The longer it is cooked the better.
- Strain out the plant material and return the potion to the smaller cooking pot.
- Bring the brew back to a boil.
- Reduce heat to simmer.
- Simmer brew and reduce to ½ or 1 cup.
- Stir brew as needed.
- Be very careful towards the end NOT TO BURN YOUR EFFORTS!
- Run the potion through a coffee filter or cheese cloth to remove any finer particulate matter.
- Allow this to cool.
- Drink as soon as possible or store in refrigeration.
- Experiment by first drinking ½ of this. See how you are feeling after one hour, before consuming more.
- Follow guidelines for MAOI restricted foods. ***
- USE THIS MEDICINE ONLY FOR SERIOUS HEALING WORK.
- THIS MEDICINE IS NOT A RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCE!
- BE WELL PREPARED IN BODY/MIND/SPIRIT AND RITUAL SPACE BEFORE CONSUMING THIS MEDICINE.
- SET YOUR INTENTIONS!
*The dosage calculation is based off of a recipe I used and worked with while living in the Peruvian Amazon. I modified it slightly to compensate for the potency differences between fresh and dried plant specimens .Remember that all plants vary in alkaloid concentrations whether fresh or dried.
**Always buy whole vine pieces and then crush or grind it yourself. DO NOT BUY PRE-GROUND MATERIAL!
***See page on MAOI restricted foods.
These preparations are illegal to perform in the U.S.A. Please go south of the border to perform these procedures, where the countries and cultures are not so uptight about people wanting to expand their consciousness through the applications of sacred visionary plant medicines.
Formulated by K.J. Berman for an Entheo-educational Experience 2009