Ayahuasca is a plant-based psychedelic that has been used for centuries by indigenous populations from contemporary Peru, Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador for religious ritual and therapeutic purposes. It is a decoction made by prolonged heating or boiling of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with the leaves of the Psychotria viridis shrub, although there can be a variety of other plants included in the decoction for different traditional purposes. The active chemical in ayahuasca is DMT (dimethyltryptamine), and it also contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) . Ayahuasca is usually consumed as a liquid, and it has a strong taste and smell. Some of the effects of ayahuasca include altered thinking, strong visual and auditory hallucinations, euphoria, fear, and paranoia. Ayahuasca is associated with several potential risks, including vomiting, diarrhea, and adverse psychological effects. However, some researchers suggest that ayahuasca may have potential therapeutic benefits, such as treating mood disorders like depression, grief, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) . The plants used to make ayahuasca are not illegal in the U.S., but DMT is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substance Act and is illegal.