Yage 435natural product, but see below for information about interactions with chem-
icals in yage.
Cancer.Not enough scientific information to report.
Pregnancy.Not enough scientific information to report.
Additional information.Harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine are
chemicals found in yage. Harmaline users have noted vision distortions when
looking at real objects, accompanied by loss of sensitivity in other physical
senses. Unwanted effects may include dizziness, pressure in chest, nausea,
vomiting, and weariness. Feelings of anxiety may arise. One investigator gave
harmaline to urban residents and was intrigued that they hallucinated jungle
animal imagery; according to some reports, dosage must be almost poisonous
for such effects; otherwise, actions are more sedative than psychedelic. Some
authorities declare that harmaline aids psychotherapy; others dispute that as-
sertion. Harmine has been tested as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, with
mixed results. Harmine can slow heartbeat, lower blood pressure, produce
tingling and dizziness, and make hands and feet cold. Hallucinations and a
feeling of floating have been reported.
The harmine, harmaline, and tetrahydroharmine in yage are all monoamine
oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Yage might cause overdose effects if a person is
taking other MAOI drugs (found in some antidepressants and other medicine),
and yage could cause problems if a person is also using drugs that interact
badly with an MAOI.
Additional scientific information may be found in:
Freedland, C.S., and R.S. Mansbach. “Behavioral Profile of Constituents in Ayahuasca,
an Amazonian Psychoactive Plant Mixture.”Drug and Alcohol Dependence 54
(1999): 183–94.
Grob, C.S., et al. “Human Psychopharmacology of Hoasca: A Plant Hallucinogen Used
in Ritual Context in Brazil.”Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorders184 (1996):
86–94.
Harner, M.J., ed.Hallucinogens and Shamanism. New York: Oxford University Press,
1973.
Naranjo, C. “Ayahuasca, Caapi, Yage. Psychotropic Properties of the Harmala Alka-
loids.”Psychopharmacology Bulletin4, no. 3 (1967): 16–17.
Riba, J., and M.J. Barbanoj. “A Pharmacological Study of Ayahuasca in Healthy Vol-
unteers.”Bulletin of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies8 (Au-
tumn 1998): 12–15.
Shulgin, A.T. “Profiles of Psychedelic Drugs: 4. Harmaline.”Journal of Psychedelic Drugs
9 (1977): 79–80.