Let\u2019s start this article by acknowledging that \u2018Iowaska\u2019 is not the best spelling for the drug known as \u2018Ayahuasca\u2019. \u00a0When I first learned what is Iowaska, I thought \u2018Iowaska\u2019 was how it was spelled. So it might be fun to leave it that way in this post. That way people like me who are not so great at spelling words in other languages could easily find information.<\/p>\n
This drug is also known as Yage. Hopefully not too confusing. We’ll stick with Iowaska.<\/p>\n
Recently one of our resident\u2019s son travelled to Ecuador to find out more about what is Iowaska. He met with a Shaman and participated in several Iowaska ceremonies. I thought his story was interesting enough to look more into the Iowaska culture. Here is what I found.<\/p>\n
For privacy reasons, I don\u2019t want to delve deep into the son\u2019s individual experience. Instead let\u2019s look at aspects of this drug that would be good for anyone to know. Especially if they are contemplating using the drug.<\/p>\n
Iowaska is officially a Tea made up from several plants native to South America. The two most common ingredients are Banisteriopsis caapi<\/em>\u00a0(also known as Caapi) and\u00a0Psychotria viridis.\u00a0 <\/em>Without getting too scientific, Caapi contains substances called monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Psychotria viridis <\/em>(also known as Chacunra) contains something called Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT. DMT is considered a drug and is illegal to take in many parts of the world.<\/p>\n DMT on it\u2019s own is not very potent if you drink or eat it. In your gut there are MAO enzymes that destroy DMT before it can spread throughout your body. You would have to inject DMT in order to feel the drug effects.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where Caapi comes in. Those ingredients in Caapi \u2018inhibit\u2019 the MAO enzymes and allow the DMT to pass into your body. Your blood carries DMT across the blood brain barrier. The DMT is then able to produce the Hallucigenic effects that Iowaska brings about.<\/p>\n To prepare Iowaska, you soften the Caapi vine and boil it with leaves of Chacunra or other plants. Religious Shaman\u2019s in South America are the most common producers of Iowaska The drink\u2019s potency vary greatly among the different Shaman.<\/p>\n The potency and ingredients of the drink can also vary depending on what religious ceremonies the Shaman is seeking to perform.<\/p>\n Besides just the physical preparation of Iowaska, Shaman\u2019s must follow a religious process to obtain the divine features of the drink they are seeking. For instance, the Shaman\u2019s must pick the lower Chacruna leaf at Sunrise. And say a prayer while doing so.<\/p>\n The Shaman cleans the vine with wooden spoons only. Then he pounds the vine into fiber with wooden mallets. The total preparation of the Iowaska brew takes place over a whole day.<\/p>\n In traditional South American culture, everyone present for the religious ceremony drinks some of the tea. Think about communion for the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n These ceremonies (and religions) started to spread to North America and Europe in the late 20th<\/sup>Century. \u00a0The first churches outside of South America sprang up in the Netherlands, following the Brazilian Santo Daime\u00a0<\/a>religion.<\/p>\n Here is a short video explaining more about the Santo Daime religion:<\/p>\nReligious Overtones of Iowaska<\/h2>\n