AYAHUASCA, SAN PEDRO AND NUNU
WHAT IS AYAHUASCA?
Ayahuasca is a powerful sacred master plant from the Amazon. It consists of the plant mixture of Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the Chacruna Leaf sought after for its profound healing properties and its ability to induce altered states of consciousness. Ayahuasca has proven to be extremely effective and successful in treating a wide range of health concerns including depression, anxiety, PTSD, addictions, (including of alcohol and drugs), eating disorders, parasitic infections, certain types of cancer, problems with pregnancy and fertility, emotion regulation,and may other benefits.
Ayahuasca is administered through ceremony by Shamans or Curanderos. At our retreat, we have close relations with curanderos of the Shipibo tribe and work alongside them. The Shipibo are one of the oldest and largest tribes of the Western Amazon basin with a population of ~35,000 and an ancestral territory that runs north and south of Pucallpa, along the Ucayali River. Shipibo and their predecessors have used Ayahuasca, many say it has been over 2000 years and are widely regarded as the most intact and profound of the indigenous traditions that use Ayahuasca.
The experience can be life changing with major life transformations on spiritual, emotional and physical levels. The known benefits of Ayahuasca can be best described by Dr. Charles Grob, M.D., a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at UCLA’s School of Medicine. He states, “You come back with images, messages, even communications. You’re learning about yourself, reconceptualizing prior experiences. Having had a profound psycho-spiritual epiphany, you’re not the same person you were before.”
WHAT IS SAN PEDRO?
San Pedro (also referred to as Huachuma) is a sacred cactus medicine and a master plant teacher, used to heal on emotional, physical and spiritual levels. It helps us to grow, learn and awaken and assists us in reaching higher states of consciousness. The use of the San Pedro cactus in Peru can be traced back over 4000 years to the Chavin culture.
People who have participated in Huachuma ceremonies have reported feeling inspired, having a spiritual or out of body experience, more creativity, experiencing a heart opening, healing of trauma, freedom from depression, PTSD, mood disorders, anxiety, chronic pain, and addictions. There are even claims of “miracle healings” with the use of Huachuma - sudden healing from chronic issues, cancer, infertility, and more.
San Pedro has shown that it can lower high blood pressure, reduce the risk of cardiac disease, has anti-inflammatory properties, and can treat hypertension, anxiety, and nervous conditions.
San Pedro cactus contains a variety of alkaloids, including the well-known chemical mescaline. Not surprisingly, therefore, psychedelic journeys are similar to those reported from peyote. San Pedro’s effects are generally more gentle than Ayahuasca.
WHAT IS RAPÉ?
Rapé (which can be pronounced, “ha-peh” in English), is an indigenous sacred medicine made from medicinal trees, barks, and leaves from the Amazon Forest. Nunu is also referred to as Rape, which I can be pronounced, “ha-peh” in English. Rapé is primarily made from tobacco but also includes cacao and macambo nut, all of which are ground down into a fine powder. Rapé is consumed through bamboo or bone pipes, either from a shaman, or self-administered. The powder is blown into each nostril in a quick motion. This initial intake of the medicine creates a break in thoughts, and feels quite intense. After the medicine has been shot into the nostrils it will clear the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual bodies. The powder will move through the body by expelling mucus back out through the nose, or down the back of the throat.
Some people experience nausea or purging with Rapé, but this is mostly not always the case. The medicine releases acetylcholine, dopamine, and epinephrine in the brain. It clears bacteria, viruses, and illnesses from the body. It is also said to heal the pituitary gland, and decalcify the pineal gland.