Helle Kaasik - Chemical composition of “Ayahuasca”

Ayahuasca samples display high variability in their chemical composition, which is heavily influenced by preparation traditions and the inclusion of additives. Laboratory assessments of 102 samples from various traditions confirm that concentrations of DMT, tetrahydroharmine, harmine, and harmaline vary widely across different brews. Disciplined community traditions, such as Santo Daime, maintain more consistent chemical profiles, while neoshamanic samples often lack standardized chemistry and show higher, sometimes unsafe, variability. Some neoshamanic brews contain dangerous contaminants or unintended additives like MAO inhibitors, highlighting the need for increased user awareness and evidence-based safety regulations within the psychedelic community to ensure that sacred practices remain protected.