# The psychedelic drug "Ayahuasca" sounds terrifying yet intriguing. Anyone tried it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 19, 2014, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892 "2014-09-19T01:05:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/1 "2014-09-19T01:05:15Z")
Not a drug user other than low to moderate caffeine use and occasional alcohol, however, this drug sounds like something interesting. I could use a good psychic purging. Article of users experience here. [Ayahuasca Will Make You Cry, Vomit, and Feel Amazing](http://www.vice.com/read/ayahuasca-will-make-you-cry-vomit-and-feel-amazing-918) [Wiki on drug here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayahuasca) Anyone tried this? what did you think? ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/2 "2014-09-19T01:20:12Z")
Sounds more terrifying than intriguing, so I don’t think I’ll be trying it. And I’m an old psychedelic fiend from way back. The whole reliving bad experiences thing is exactly what I don’t need. You kids go have fun with your drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/3 "2014-09-19T01:27:30Z")
Vomiting? Crying? Sitting on the john? That’s what beer is for. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/4 "2014-09-19T01:46:33Z")
Sounds like it drops you into a Katy Perry video, with much the same reaction. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/5 "2014-09-19T01:57:01Z")
That sounds very much like what my brother tried about 15 years ago while on an extended trip through South America. He liked it, as I recall. He and a friend went into the jungle to someplace where they had a “guide” for the experience. Me, no. Back in the day I ingested enough LSD, opium, angel dust, mushrooms and various other drugs to kill a horse and had fun - but vomiting, crying and being constipated for three days would trump the amazing part, maybe even then. (OK, perhaps not, back then. But now, most definitely. I haven’t even smoked pot since about 1989.) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/6 "2014-09-19T02:17:36Z")
A datura/brugmansia high sounds both terrifying and terrifying. A google search at the time turned up an article involving the words “penis” and “sever.” Even the guy who was whipping up a batch of LSA while simultaneously reading that said he’d pass. Maybe it’s amplifying a personal condition/propaganda, but either way the official side effects sound bad. I ate my share of datura in New Vegas though. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/7 "2014-09-19T02:33:23Z")
Very interesting. I’m always interested when I hear about the healing abilities of illegal drugs. Psychadelics for people with cluster headaches, Ibogaine for addictions, MDMA for PTSD, CBD marijuana for anxiety, etc. I wish we lived in a more rational world where we could study these things. I would be willing to try the drug in question for mental health reasons, but it’d have to be in a safe place. I have a lot of traumas I’d like to work through. Legal status in the US is ‘ambiguous’ whatever that means. Salvia is legal but DMT isn’t, that is pretty sad. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/8 "2014-09-19T02:52:29Z")
Only those who fear their mind fear the drug that exposes it. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/9 "2014-09-19T11:44:08Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Legal status in the US is ‘ambiguous’ whatever that means. Anecdotally, a friend of mine here (Utah) had some seized and removed from a package shipped to him from South America, but never heard anything further from the DEA or local law enforcement. The package did say unambiguously on the outside that it contained ayahuasca. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/10 "2014-09-19T11:46:41Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > Only those who fear their mind fear the drug that exposes it. That _sounds_ good, like Yoda’s force cave on Dagobah or something, but in my experience - both as traveler and trip-sitter - _anyone_ can have a bad trip, terrifyingly, mind-bendingly bad even, regardless of how balanced or generally happy they may be. Being in a bad place (internally or externally) may make it more likely, but the whole thing about psychedelics is that their effects are very unpredictable. IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/11 "2014-09-19T11:52:55Z")
Of course I fear my mind! It’s all I can do to get it dressed to take outside every day. 😃 I did my share of acid back in the day but it was mind _expanding_—showing me the big, glorious, picture—not contracting into inner dissection like picking the meat out of a walnut. The effects sound too painful (mentally and physically) and the stuff of nightmares. I prefer mellow and wouldn’t want to try this drug. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/12 "2014-09-19T11:59:37Z")
Psychedelic trips can be fun but I rather not do one of the puking variety. I’ve done shrooms and puked, but with shrooms you only puke once then you’re free to enjoy your trip. That stuff in the linked article sounds like a four hour puke fest. No thanks. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/13 "2014-09-19T12:14:42Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > Only those who fear their mind fear the drug that exposes it. When you can take the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to leave. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/14 "2014-09-19T12:32:37Z")
Sorry, it’s just too hard to find a reputable shaman in Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/15 "2014-09-19T16:21:42Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > Only those who fear their mind fear the drug that exposes it. But if you mind the fear… ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/16 "2014-09-19T17:43:20Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > Only those who fear their mind fear the drug that exposes it. Sounds like someone who has never swum in their own abyss. There are monsters down there. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/17 "2014-09-19T19:00:40Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > Only those who fear their mind fear the drug that exposes it. I don’t fear my mind in the least, but the bad experiences I’ve had were so bad that when they surface, they incapacitate and traumatize me. I can see no possible theraputic good coming from reliving the worst moments of my life. I don’t need to be overwhelmed with grief and horror. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/18 "2014-09-19T19:11:05Z")
Sounds great, been a while since I’ve had a good puking. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/19 "2014-09-19T19:33:14Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > Only those who fear their mind fear the drug that exposes it. Only those who feel that brain == computer is a not unreasonable analogy fear dragging a super powerful magnet over their metaphorical hard drive. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892/20 "2014-09-19T21:48:59Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Only those who feel that brain == computer is a not unreasonable analogy fear dragging a super powerful magnet over their metaphorical hard drive. As a very powerful tool for over-coming drug addiction perhaps an instance of McAffee is a more not unreasonable analogy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychedelic-drug-ayahuasca-sounds-terrifying-yet-intriguing-anyone-tried-it/698892.md?page=2)