Ayahuasca analogues

When Jonathan Ott was writing the chapter on ayahuasca in his book Pharmacotheon, he realized that what was related to this entheogenic drink could expand beyond what was prudent to include in this reference work . The reason that gave rise to this idea is the large number of plants used as additives to ayahuasca, which although it is a syrup prepared from theBanisteropisis caapi vine , it is usually accompanied by one or more other plants (such as plants containing DMT, other psychoactive plants or countless plants with supposed medicinal properties, or plants that can modify the initial effect of the potion) .

To this broad spectrum of botanical material to be considered, a new discovery must be added: if the most common basis for ayahuasca are two plants containing respectively monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tryptamines, an infinity of plants can be found around the world that also present significant concentrations of these active principles. Hence one of Ott's ideas that underlies this book: the possibility of preparing ayahuasca-likedrinks with plants that can be found in different geographical regions of the planet: hence the subtitle of the book: Pangean Entheogens. And as a collateral effect, yet another of Ott's suggestions: if these entheogenic syrups can be prepared with a large number of plants, this can curb the entheogenic 'tourism' that comes to the Amazon in search of the ayahuasca experience, and this syrup can be prepared in the places of origin of these potential visitors (and thus safeguard the unstable peace and tranquility of these indigenous communities, which is much needed).

Thus, the chapters of the book cover the following topics: introduction to entheogens, chronology of the discovery of ayahuasca, plants traditionally used in the preparation of the Amazonian drink, pharmacology of yagé, psychonautical trials with isolated compounds, new plants containing IMAOs and tryptamines (that is, plants with which a preparation analogous to ayahuasca can be prepared), psychonautical trials with ayahuasca analogs.... and finally, a passionate hymn to the need to recover our unity with the planet earth, with Gaia, by means of entheogens that are growing everywhere and that can once again reveal to us the spiritual riches of our planet, as well as offer us a new contact with the 'authentic' sacraments and the visionary experience that is so often at the base of our culture .

Note: although Ott offers an extensive list of plants with which ayahuasca analoguescan be made , as well as some psychonautical trials with some of them, it should be kept in mind that experimentation without caution with unstudied plants can have a high risk, as they may contain toxic principles (along with MAOIs or tryptamines) . Thus, it is usual to take precautions to avoid stomach problems or more serious problems (as happened in Italy, when studying a new variety of Phallaris aquática that was found - the AQ1 - which, although it contains a high concentration of DMT, also contains other toxic substances, which caused a serious problem to the first psychonaut who used this plant for entheogenic purposes without taking adequate precautions - such as filtering the prepared material, or previously studying the possible risks).