ayahuasca
noun
aya·hua·sca ˌī-yə-ˈ(h)wä-skə 
: a psychoactive beverage containing dimethyltryptamine that is prepared especially from the bark of a woody vine (Banisteriopsis caapi of the family Malpighiaceae) and the leaves of a shrubby plant (Psychotria viridis of the family Rubiaceae) of South America
Note: Ayahuasca produces hallucinations and euphoria and is used chiefly for religious, ritualistic, and medicinal purposes. Alkaloids present in ayahuasca inhibit the breakdown of dimethyltryptamine in the liver and gastrointestinal tract by monoamine oxidase.
Ayahuasca has been traditionally used by indigenous groups and mestizo populations for getting in contact with the sacred or supernatural world, for political and artistic purposes, and also for healing.
Rafael Guimarães dos Santos et al.
Rafael Guimarães dos Santos et al.In Europe and North America, those who want to use ayahuasca for religious purposes have pitted the issue of religious freedom against the fear that the potion might be diverted to recreational drug users. Joanne Laucius
Joanne Lauciuscalled also hoasca, yage
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Some psychedelic practices, like the usage of ayahuasca within certain religious contexts, are already protected in the US under the principle of religious freedom, according to the resolution. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 10 Sep. 2022 Someone offers me a vape pen loaded with DMT — the main active molecule in ayahuasca. Cassady Rosenblum, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2022 According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, ayahuasca is drunk as a liquid and can affect a person's thinking, sense of time, and emotions. Jason Duaine Hahn, Peoplemag, 3 Aug. 2022 The league and the player’s union collectively bargained a drug policy that prohibits a long list of substances, but since ayahuasca isn’t on it, there’s no reason why Rodgers would be in violation of either policy. Tom Silverstein, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2022 On the Aubrey Marcus Podcast, Rodgers admitted to consuming ayahuasca during a trip to Peru in the offseason. Tom Silverstein, Journal Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2022 From 2021 to 2022, bookings doubled at Soltara, a high-end ayahuasca healing center in Costa Rica frequented by celebrities, prompting the center to open an additional location in Costa Rica and one in Peru. Kelley Manley, ELLE, 14 June 2022 During a two-year acting break, Smith vacationed to Peru and went on 14 ayahuasca journeys. Zack Sharf, Variety, 24 May 2022 That compound comes from the other main ingredient in ayahuasca, a shrub called chacruna (which, incidentally, is a relative of the plant that gives us coffee). Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 16 May 2022 See More
Zoe Sottile, CNN, 10 Sep. 2022 Someone offers me a vape pen loaded with DMT — the main active molecule in ayahuasca. Cassady Rosenblum, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2022 According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, ayahuasca is drunk as a liquid and can affect a person's thinking, sense of time, and emotions. Jason Duaine Hahn, Peoplemag, 3 Aug. 2022 The league and the player’s union collectively bargained a drug policy that prohibits a long list of substances, but since ayahuasca isn’t on it, there’s no reason why Rodgers would be in violation of either policy. Tom Silverstein, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2022 On the Aubrey Marcus Podcast, Rodgers admitted to consuming ayahuasca during a trip to Peru in the offseason. Tom Silverstein, Journal Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2022 From 2021 to 2022, bookings doubled at Soltara, a high-end ayahuasca healing center in Costa Rica frequented by celebrities, prompting the center to open an additional location in Costa Rica and one in Peru. Kelley Manley, ELLE, 14 June 2022 During a two-year acting break, Smith vacationed to Peru and went on 14 ayahuasca journeys. Zack Sharf, Variety, 24 May 2022 That compound comes from the other main ingredient in ayahuasca, a shrub called chacruna (which, incidentally, is a relative of the plant that gives us coffee). Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 16 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
American Spanish
First Known Use
1870, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
ayahuasca
noun
aya·hua·sca ˌī-ə-ˈ(h)wä-skə
variants also ayahuasco
ˌī-ə-ˈ(h)wä-(ˌ)skō, -skə
: a psychoactive beverage containing dimethyltryptamine that is prepared especially from the bark of a woody vine (Banisteriopsis caapi of the family Malpighiaceae) and the leaves of a shrubby plant (Psychotria viridis of the family Rubiaceae) of South America
Note: Ayahuasca produces hallucinations and euphoria and is used chiefly for religious, ritualistic, and medicinal purposes. Alkaloids present in ayahuasca inhibit the breakdown of dimethyltryptamine in the liver and gastrointestinal tract by monoamine oxidase.
Ayahuasca has been traditionally used by indigenous groups and mestizo populations for getting in contact with the sacred or supernatural world, for political and artistic purposes, and also for healing. Rafael Guimaraes dos Santos et al., Archives of Clinical Psychiatry
Rafael Guimaraes dos Santos et al., Archives of Clinical PsychiatryTheir fascination with ayahuasca stems from a little-known mind-altering compound called dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, a substance the sacred tea contains by the bucketload. Lisa Melton, New Scientist
Lisa Melton, New Scientist also : the woody vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) from which ayahuasca is prepared
called also caapi, yage