Peruvian rain forest vine may yield drug treatment medication

  Ayahuasca vines used for making the brew

Researchers are studying a plant called ayahuasca, and chacruna from the Peruvian rain forest that may one day treat a variety of ailments, including drug addiction according to Voice of America on 4-5-10.

Ayahuasca, scienttific name, Banisteriopsis caapi, has long been used in religious rituals by shamans to induce visions, and as medicine in South America. 

Also known as "vine of the dead," or "soul vine," ayahuasca is combined with chacruna to obtain the active ingredients that produce its psychological, and physiological effects.

Dr. Charles Grob, Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at UCLA School of Medicine stated the plant combination is, "...a very sophisticated form of pharmacology, which somehow the native peoples of the Amazon region have figured out. Ayahuasca is generally a decoction of two plants. Each plant if taken separately has no effects on the human central nervous system, but when taken together there's a very powerful synergy." (From Voice of America)

The ingredients that are produced in the brew are DMT, a chemical similar to serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter produced in the brain, "...known to influence the functioning of the cardiovascular, renal, immune, and gastrointestinal systems," and, "...been found to be partly responsible for certain manifestations of schizophrenia, depression, compulsive disorders and learning problems," according to Healthscout.

Dr. Grob also says that one advantage is that is doesn't apear to be addictive, and that no tolerance builds.

The brew also appear to be anti-parasitic, and been found to reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Unfortunately, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has classified the active ingredient in ayahuasca as a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning that it is both illegal, and has no medical uses in America. Research on this drug is carried out in South America.

Leave it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban this substance, or any substance for that matter, which may have a positive impact on our health. At the very least, this chemical should be allowed over here so further research can be done.

If you or a loved one needs help with any type of drug abuse/addiction problem, contact these sites depending on where you live. SEMCA (Wayne County residents), CARE (Macomb County residents), PACE (Oakland County residents), Drug Free Detroit (City of Detroit residents). For those residing outside the State of Michigan, contact SAMHSA for assistance. For assistance with medical marijuana contact The Michigan Medical Marijuana Association, or Michigan Medical Marijuana Certification Center.

In the flow...

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(Photo by Rafael Guimarães dos Santos)

Peruvian rain forest vine may yield drug treatment medication by Michael Velardo, aka, Crash Test Addict is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.