The author was Richard Spruce, a one time British schoolteacher, who was among the early explorers to make the perilous journey into the Amazon. Spruce almost died of dysentery and malaria but survived to become one of botany's greatest collectors. In 1851, while exploring the upper Rio Negro of the Brazilian Amazon, he observed the use of yage. He came upon it twice in Peru in 1853. In his Notes of a Botanist on the Amazon and Andes, he described its sources, its preparation and its effects upon himself. Unfortunately, Spruce's experience was characterized mainly by his getting sick.

Spruce's Notes didn't appear in print until 1908. They were edited by Alfred Russel Wallace, who simultaneously with Darwin conceived the theory of evolution. Spruce suspected that additives were responsible for the psychoactivity of this beverage, although he noted that Banisteriopsis by itself was considered mentally active. The samples he sent to England for chemical analysis weren't located and assayed until more than a century later. They were still psychoactive when examined in 1966.

The first widely read description of yage practices was published in 1858 by Manuel Villavicencio, an Ecuadorian geographer. The experience made him feel he was "flying" to most marvelous places. Describing how natives responded, he reported that natives using this drink were able to foresee and answer accurately in difficult cases, be it to reply opportunely to ambassadors from other tribes in a question of war; to decipher plans of the enemy through the medium of this magic drink and take proper steps for attack and defense; to ascertain, when a relative is sick, what sorcerer has put on the hex; to carry out a friendly visit to other tribes; to welcome foreign travelers or, at least to make sure of the love of their womenfolk.

Several early explorers of northwestern South America--Martius, Crevaux, Orton, Koch-Grunberg and others--also referred to ayahuasca, yage and caapi. They all cited a forest liana but offered little detail. In the early twentieth century, it was learned that the use of Banisteriopsis vines for healing, initiatory and shamanic rites extended from Peru to Bolivia.

Incidentally, not only antidepressants such as tricyclics, heterocyclics, SSRIs, and many atypical antidepressants may cause serious drug interactions. Many other drugs including nosedrops, decongestants, amphetamines, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, diet pills, allergy medication, and opiates may also cause serious drug-drug interactions with MAOIs. Syrian Rue and B. caapi are safer than most other MAOIs; however serious drug-drug interactions can still occur. This is especially the case with SSRIs.

Simplifying the chemical action like this does accurately represent the actual experience. Smoking N,N-dimethyltryptamine is very different than using ayahuasca. Using a synthesized N,N-dimethyltryptamine and a pharmaceutical MAOI is also not the same. With ayahuasca, the addition of each different plant to the brew creates a whole new experience. In historical times, the two most frequently used plants are Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis. The B. caapi vine is the source of harmine and harmaline; which acts as the MAOI; some believe these compounds are also very psychoactive on their own. Psychotria viridis is the source of N,N-dimethyltryptamine. Most often, B.caapi is the main ingredient in the brew with various other plants often containing N,N-dimethyltryptamine added. In modern times Peganum harmala is also used as a MAOI. It contains Harmine and Harmaline also. But these mixtures produce side effects. This is usually attributed to other elements in the plants used. The major side effect is nausea. Ayahuasca is used traditionally as a purgative which the Indians welcome as a means of cleansing the gastro-intestinal tract from the parasites and bacteria common to the amazon region. Diarrhea is another common side effect of ingesting the brew. Pharmaceutical MAOI's have been used but rarely do they capture the true essence of the experience. Marplan and Moclobemide are two common pharmaceutical MAOI's

The Amazon shamans would gather their ingredients with much prayer and fasting. The care and reverence taken during this time is very important to the use of ayahausca. Even now, where many guides of ayahuasca ceremonies grow the plants, an equal love and caring goes into the growth and harvest of these special plants. The main ingredient B. caapi would be used fresh. It is pulverized and put into a pot over a campfire, then the P. viridis is added. The mixture is boiled all day in the acidic water from the Amazon. About a one foot long and broomstick thick section of B. caapi is used per person in preparing the brew. Also a good amount of P. viridis is used. The amount of P. viridis varies depending on the number of people who are to partake in the ceremony. Sometimes P. viridis is not used at all and other N,N-dimethyltryptamine rich plants are substituted. Once the brew is done, it is stored until the ceremony. If it is protected from fermenting or spoiling, it will last for quite a while. In ceremonies by experienced guides and shamans, people will many times drink more and more during the experience, especially after vomiting. The potency of the brew depends on the knowledge and the experience of the shaman preparing it.

In modern preparation the stove has replaced the campfire but much has remained the same. Although B. caapi is usually substituted with P. harmala, occasionally it is still used. Whatever ingredients one has, a good way to do it is prepare them separately and mix later if desired. A pure water source such as distilled of filtered water is important because excess minerals may inhibit the effectiveness of the brew. The pH of the water should be between four and five. This helps the alkaloids become more soluble. Ascorbic acid in the form of ground up Vitamin C pills or lemon juice will do nicely. It is very important to grind or pulverize the material as fine as you can and to boil the plant materials for a couple hours. Strain and save the water, then put the material back into pH adjusted water and repeat what you just did. Continue this process until the water doesn’t change color. Then mix all of your boilings and boil down to a more manageable quantity.

With different plants you will need different amounts for a potent brew. To even attempt to list how much of what you would need is futile. So much depends on how potent the plant is. This in turn depends on the individual plant's growing conditions, which plant you use, and so on. Experience will teach one more than reading.

To ancient cultures everything was sacred because all of experience was connected to God, or whatever you call the force that guides and interconnects us with all things. Preparation of drugs like ayahuasca were very sacred to the peoples of these cultures. The entire process of using entheogens was done with thorough contemplation. Fasts, purification ceremonies, and many other preparations were made in order to partake of these ceremonial drugs. In everything they did reverence was displayed.

Our modern culture has forgotten the sacredness of these plant teachers. Without the ceremony and ritual and reverence the possibility of abuse of these plants is high. Furthermore, many people are not prepared psychologically or spiritually for the experience. Some treat it as something fun to do or a way to be amused when bored. Naturally, when a life altering experience happens through the use of these plants, many do not know how to deal with it. They did not prepare for it and may not have had a guide present who can help them learn from the experience. A guide is also very important This may sound superstitious to some; however, it is important to consider how readily we accept guidance from someone when learning to drive a car or brew coffee, but how much we may resist learning from a someone who specializes in using nature to expand her spiritual boundaries.

Ayahuasca is held sacred by the many generations of people who have used it. Their experience has demonstrated that it is not wise to use it as a casual, social drug. Used as a sacred sacrament, it has resulted and results in greater health -- spiritual as well as physical. It is up to those of us who live in the modern world to understand and attempt to view it as such and not just something to "do" or experiment with. If you have reverence for the process and the experience you will be much better prepared for the experience as a whole and it's meaning.

By preparing yourself and your surroundings you will improve your chances of having a very meaningful experience. If you neglect this you could be in for an extremely frightening experience. Ayahuasca is not a social drug. Use it with only close friends. Prepare yourself, it is unlike any experience you have ever had.

Usually you will purge a number of times and then feel better. Though with repeatedly taking more you will most likely purge after each time. Imagine all of the distractions, discomfort and pain you have within you being released with each purge. Let it flow as it is supposed to. Accept it as part of the experience. There is very little you can do to avoid it, so not fighting it or dwelling on the nausea will allow you to focus your thoughts and energy on what is important.