Herb. No. 042 · Malpighiaceae
Banisteriopsis caapi is Amazonian. The map is the vine’s forest, not a recipe.
Native · South America
Ayahuasca vines
Banisteriopsis caapi
An Amazonian liana, the MAOI half of a ceremonial brew — listed here so the legal and medical stakes are visible.
The vine alone is a gray area; the traditional brew combined with DMT-containing leaves (Psychotria viridis, Diplopterys cabrerana) produces a Schedule I mixture under US law. A few churches have narrow RFRA exemptions. Importing or brewing ayahuasca is otherwise illegal.
Caapi contains harmala alkaloids that inhibit monoamine oxidase. Combined with a DMT plant they make DMT orally active. That combination is a controlled preparation in the US. Medical danger is real even in ceremony: MAOI food and drug interactions can spike blood pressure, and unregulated retreats have a documented body count. This is not a kitchen project.
Flavor
The vine decoction is famously bitter, woody, and hard to keep down.
Parts used
Stem — ceremonial contexts with legal exemption only
In favor
- Living Indigenous medical-religious system in its home range
Against
- US brewing/possession generally illegal
- MAOI crises with food and drugs
- Unregulated retreat harms
- Cultural extraction of a sacred practice