Ayahuasca*, the liana of the Soul
Ayahuasca, also known as Yagé or Caapi, is a hallucinogenic drink native to the Amazon basin, made from the decoction of two plants with complementary active ingredients: the Banisteriopsis Caapi liana, and the leaves of Psychotria Véridis, a shrub in the coffee family. The use of this drink is associated with the shamanic practices of the Indians, who have been using it for magical-medical purposes since before the Spanish and Portuguese conquests.
Its exact composition and psychoactive principles have remained an enigma for researchers for decades. First dubbed telepathine, then banisterine, the alkaloid responsible for the visions produced by Ayahuasca is today identified by the barbaric name Dimethyl tryptamine (DMT),
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*Ayahuasca means in Quechua: Liane of the dead, or Liane of the soul.
Text & images © Hervé Merliac/Kaleidos-images – All rights reserved
Préparation de l’Ayahuasca
Tarapoto, Pérou. Preparation de l’Ayahuasca au centre d’étude des médecines traditionelles de Takiwasi.
Tronçon de liane pour l’Ayahuasca
Tarapoto, Pérou. Centre Takiwasi. Tronçon de liane Banisteriopsis Caapi (Ayahuasca).
Tronçons de lianes
Tarapoto, Pérou. Centre de Takiwasi. Fagot de tronçons de liane Banisteriopsis Caapi destiné à la préparation du breuvage cérémoniel.
Preparing Ayahuasca
Tarapoto, Peru. Preparation of Ayahuasca. The “Vegetalista” crushes the liana pieces to facilitate the extraction of its active ingredients during cooking.
Chacruna
Tarapoto, Peru. “Chacruna” leaves and fruits, the leaves of this shrub enter into the composition of Ayahuasca because of their wealth in DMT. (scientific name: Psychotria Veridis).
A backlit leaf
Pucallpa, Pérou. The painter of the series “Visions of Ayahuasca”, Pablo César Amaringo.
Takiwasi center
Tarapoto, Peru. Takiwasi center: The healer collects the juice of the plant before the ceremonial of blood oja.
Oja de sangre
Tarapoto, Pérou. Centre Takiwasi. Oja de sangre ou Ayar Panga. Liane à la sève, couleur sang, dont le jus puissament émetique, est utilisée lors des purges qui précèdent la prise d’Ayahuasca.
A musical vigil
Tarapoto, Peru. A musical vigil, brings together adults and children, in a family of this city of average altitude in the Amazon.