SCHULTES, RICHARD EVANS; HOFMANN A
Ayahuasca, Caapi, Yaje
Plants of The Gods: Origins of hallucinogenic use. (1979) p 66
COMMON NAME: Ayahuasca, Caapi, Yaje'. BOTANICAL NAME: Banisteriopsis caapi, B. inebrians, B. rusbyana. USAGE HISTORY AND ETHNOGRAPHY: Used in the western half of the Amazon Valley and by isolated tribes on the Pacific Slopes of the Colombian and Ecuadorian Andes. USAGE CONTEXT AND PURPOSE: Usually drunk in religious ceremonies. In the famous Tukanoan Yurupari ceremony in Colombia - an adolescent initiation for boys. The Jivaro believe that Ayahuasca makes possible communication with ancestors and that, under its influence, a man's soul may leave the body and wander free. PREPARATION: The bark, prepared in cold or boiling water, may be taken alone or with additives - especially the leaves of B. rusbyana and of Psychotria viridis - which alter the effects. The bark can also be chewed. Recent evidence from the northwestern Amazon suggests that the plants are also used in the form of snuff. CHEMICAL COMPONENTS AND EFFECTS: The hallucinogenic activity is primarily due to harmine, the major beta-carboline alkaloid in the plants. Effects of taking the bitter and nauseating drink range from pleasant intoxication with no hangover to violent reactions with sickening after-effects. Usually, visual hallucinations in color occur. The intoxication ends with a deep sleep and dreams.
SCHULTES, RICHARD EVANS; HOFMANN A
Banisteriopsis
Plants of The Gods: Origins of hallucinogenic use. (1979) p 35
BANISTERIOPSIS C.B. Robinson et Small., B. caapi (Spruce exGriseb.) Morton., Malphigiaceae. Tropical zones of N-S America, West Indies. These giant forest lianas are the basis of an important hallucinogenic drink ceremonially consumed in the western half of the Amazon Valley and by isolated tribes on the Pacific slopes of the Colombian and Ecuadorian Andes. The bark of Banisteriopsis caapi and B. inebrians, prepared in cold water or after long boiling, may be taken alone, but various plant additives - especially the leaves of B. rusbyana, known as Oco-Yaje, and of Psychotria viridis - are often used to alter the effects of the hallucinogenic drink. Both species are lianas with smooth, brown bark and dark green, chartaceous, ovate-lanceolate leaves up to about 7 inches (18 cm) in length, 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) wide. The inflorescence is many-flowered. The small flowers are pink or rose-colored. The fruit is a samara with wings about 1 3/8 inch (3.5 cm) long. Bansiteriopsis inebrians differs from B. caapi mainly in its thicker ovate, more attenuate leaves and in the shape of the samara wings.