If you’re trying to understand what ayahuasca actually is, how it should be defined, and why some retreats and sellers are misrepresenting it, this guide breaks it down.
Whether you’re preparing for your first ayahuasca retreat, researching plant medicines, or comparing ceremonies, it’s critical to know what you’re getting—and what you’re not.
What Is Ayahuasca?
Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian brew made from two core ingredients:
- Banisteriopsis caapi vine (the source of MAO-inhibiting beta-carbolines like harmine and harmaline)
- Chacruna (Psychotria viridis) or chaliponga (Diplopterys cabrerana), which contain DMT
This formulation originates from Indigenous cultures in the Amazon Basin and is used ceremonially for healing, spiritual insight, and connection to ancestral knowledge.
Is Syrian Rue + Mimosa the Same as Ayahuasca?
No. Syrian rue and mimosa brews are not ayahuasca. Here’s why:
- Syrian rue (Peganum harmala) is a Middle Eastern plant, not native to South America
- Mimosa hostilis (jurema), while DMT-rich, is not traditionally paired with caapi in the Amazon
- These plants are pharmacologically similar but culturally, geographically, and spiritually unrelated to ayahuasca
Calling these analog brews “ayahuasca” is misleading at best and exploitative at worst—especially when used in ceremonial settings and marketed under sacred plant medicine branding.
Real-World Questions This Answers
- What is the difference between real ayahuasca and analog brews?
- Are Syrian rue + mimosa brews traditional?
- How can I tell if a retreat is using authentic ayahuasca?
- Is it ethical to use or sell brews labeled as ayahuasca when they don’t contain caapi?
Cultural Misrepresentation: Why It Matters
Ayahuasca is not just a chemical formula. It’s part of a spiritual and ecological system. Using the term for non-traditional mixtures:
- Erases Indigenous knowledge and cultural context
- Misleads consumers about what they’re experiencing
- Commodifies sacred practices for profit
“Spiritual theft happens when sacred terms are stripped of their roots and sold for convenience.”
Some companies, like Ommij, openly advertise Syrian rue + mimosa brews and still call them “ayahuasca”—a term that should be protected, not diluted.
Common Myths Debunked
Myth: “There are many versions of ayahuasca, so any DMT + MAOI combo counts.”
Fact: While admixture plants vary across tribes, Banisteriopsis caapi is always the core ingredient. When other Banisteriopsis species are used (e.g. muricata), locals refer to them distinctly—such as ayahuasca brava or ayahuasca negra.
Myth: “It’s all just chemistry. If it works, it’s fine.”
Fact: Traditional medicines are more than just molecules—they’re rooted in place, people, and purpose.
What Does Authenticity Look Like?
To identify whether a retreat or seller is offering authentic ayahuasca, look for:
- Use of Banisteriopsis caapi in the brew
- Transparent ingredient sourcing
- Cultural grounding in Indigenous Amazonian traditions
- Clear distinctions between ayahuasca and other “ayahuasca-inspired” brews
Tip: If the brew contains Syrian rue or comes from outside of South America, it is not ayahuasca.
What Should Be Done?
Some steps that platforms, educators, and consumers can take:
- Create public lists of retreats mislabeling their brew
- Educate buyers on the botanical and cultural distinctions
- Encourage ethical terminology—just like Champagne and Cava, naming matters
- Advocate for protections of Indigenous terms in the global marketplace
Bottom Line: Call It What It Is
If a brew doesn’t contain Banisteriopsis caapi, it isn’t ayahuasca.
And if you’re selling it under that name? You’re misleading customers, profiting from confusion, and participating in cultural erasure.
Respect the root. Protect the name. Tell the truth.
Related Terms
- What is in real ayahuasca?
- Difference between ayahuasca and analogs
- Syrian rue mimosa vs. Banisteriopsis caapi chacruna
- Authentic ayahuasca retreat
- Plant medicine cultural appropriation
- Ethical use of ayahuasca
- Ayahuasca vs. pharmahuasca
- Traditional ayahuasca ingredients
- Banisteriopsis caapi benefits
- Fake ayahuasca brews
Written by Best Retreats — the most comprehensive directory for vetted ayahuasca retreats, built on truth, transparency, and respect for the medicine.
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