WHAT GETS YOU HIGH IN AYAHUASCA?

The primary psychoactive compound in ayahuasca is N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), found in the leaves of the Psychotria viridis plant. DMT alone is not orally active because enzymes in your gut break it down before it reaches the brain. The second key ingredient, the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, contains harmala alkaloids (harmine, harmaline) that act as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). These MAOIs block the enzymes that would normally destroy DMT, allowing it to pass through the digestive system and reach the brain. Once there, DMT primarily activates serotonin receptors, particularly the 5-HT2A receptor, producing intense visual, emotional, and perceptual effects lasting roughly 4 to 6 hours.