Ayahuasca (Quechua, pronounced [ajaˈwaska]) is any of various psychoactive infusions or decoctions prepared from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, native to the Amazon Rainforest (which is also called ayahuasca). The resulting brews are pharmacologically complex and used for shamanic, folk-medicinal, and religious purposes. Ethno-botanical research has established that a variety of 200-300 plants may be used in Ayahuasca admixtures.
The Ayahuasca vine is a potent source of MAO inhibiting Harmala alkaloids. These alkaloids are short acting, meaning that their MAO inhibiting effects are reversible, usually acting for approximately 4 to 6 hours. MAO inhibitors inhibit the breakdown of certain substances by stomach enzymes. Thus, the chemicals extracted from the Banisteriopsis Caapi vine can be used to prevent the breakdown of N, N-Dimethyltriptamines present in the Ayahuasca brew, potentiating its visionary effects.
Common ayahuasca admixture plants are psychotria viridis (Rainha, Chacruna) and chagroponga. Other admixtures may be Tobacco, Toe (A member of the solanacea family) and Coca.
Furthermore a vast array of Ayahuasca analogs exist, that effectively mimic the effects of the combination of an MAO inhibitor with plants containing DMT. Two common admixtures used in an Ayahuasca analog called Mimohuasca are Mimosa Hostilis and Peganum Harmala.
The Quechua name Ayahuasca means something like 'vine of the soul'.
