THE PHARMACOLOGY OF AYAHUASCA
Chacrona (Psychotria Viridis):
The substance N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is present in the leaves of Chacrona (Psychotria Viridis). The infusion of the leaves, or the isolated leaves, are not psychoactive when ingested separately, due to the rapid destruction of these alkaloids by Monoamine Oxidase (MAO), an enzyme naturally present in the organism. The structure of DMT, like that of other psychedelic compounds, is quite similar to that of Serotonin (5-Hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT), an important modulatory neurotransmitter. Serotonin acts naturally by disinhibiting controls and regulatory processes of the brain. It is supposed that the increase in both serotonin levels (effects of Mariri) and DMT levels affects serotonergic neurons, provoking a hyperstimulation and modulation that triggers a broad spectrum of effects, such as the release of repressed emotions, the recall of forgotten memories and the generation of images.