Ayahuasca & DMT

In the Amazon rainforest, indigenous tribes have long used Ayahuasca, a brew containing DMT, to connect with the spiritual world and promote healing. Guided by shamans, participants embark on visionary journeys, often encountering vivid visions and gaining deep insights into the natural world.

In the early 20th century, the Santo Daime Church emerged, combining indigenous shamanism, Christian mysticism, and Afro-Brazilian traditions. They used Ayahuasca as a sacrament for healing and spiritual exploration, helping introduce it to the Western world. DMT was first synthesized in 1931, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that Hungarian psychiatrist Stephen Szára started researching the psychedelic effects on humans, laying the groundwork for further research into its therapeutic potential. Interest in DMT grew, especially with the publication of books like “DMT: The Spirit Molecule.” Today, Ayahuasca and DMT have gained popularity worldwide, including in the Netherlands, for their spiritual and therapeutic benefits.

DMT quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier, binding to serotonin receptors and inducing intense hallucinations and altered states of consciousness. Users often report encountering otherworldly entities, geometric patterns, and experiences beyond everyday perception. Ayahuasca combines DMT-containing plants with a vine found in the Amazon, which prevents DMT breakdown in the digestive system, making it active when ingested. This combination leads to a prolonged experience that alters thoughts, emotions, and perceptions.

DMT can be consumed in different ways. Smoking or vaporizing it in crystalline form leads to an intense, fast-acting experience, often described as a rapid journey into a kaleidoscopic world. These effects typically last 15 to 20 minutes. Ingesting DMT through Ayahuasca offers a slower, more extended journey. The brew, combined with MAO inhibitors, allows for a more immersive experience, often lasting several hours. Guided by shamans, these journeys can provide profound insights into one’s psyche and the universe.

Smoking DMT offers an intense and immediate experience, often stripping away the ego and revealing a raw state of consciousness. Ayahuasca, in contrast, unfolds more slowly, guiding users through an introspective journey that can help explore past traumas, fears, and desires, often leading to personal healing and transformation. Both methods offer unique opportunities for exploring consciousness and understanding the interconnectedness of life. Physically, DMT can alter heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Ayahuasca often induces vomiting, known as “purging,” which some believe helps release negative emotions and thoughts.

Globally and in the Netherlands, DMT is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance due to its potent effects. While the Netherlands allows certain religious or spiritual use of Ayahuasca, recreational use and distribution are prohibited.

The Netherlands has been a center for DMT research, with psychiatrist Jan Bastiaans conducting pioneering studies in the 1960s and 1970s. He believed that DMT could facilitate deep healing, especially for those suffering from trauma. Although the prohibition of psychedelics slowed research, Bastiaans’ work laid the foundation for modern studies into the therapeutic benefits of DMT, particularly in treating trauma, depression, and existential distress.