In parts of Ecuador, "Chacruna" is used to refer to Chaliponga, Diplopterys cabrerana, rather than P. viridis.

Psychotria viridis is a shrub from the coffee family, Rubiaceae. It contains the hallucinogenic—or entheogenic—indole alkaloid DMT (Dimethyltryptamine). It is known primarily as a principle admixture to the ayahuasca brew used in South and Central America. It has many local names, including Chacruna and Chacrona.

Amiruca is the name sometimes given to Psychotria viridis in Ecuador. There is dispute as to whether Amiruca is actually P. viridis with slightly different physical characteristics, or whether it is a completely different species of the Psychotria family.

Vegetalistas, healers in the Amazon regions of Peru, Ecuador and Columbia, recognize different sub-varieties of Psychotria viridis, based on the location of glands on the back of the leaves. The Brazilian ayhuasca church, Santo Daime, holds that Banisteriopsis caapi, the primary component of ayahuasca, provides "force" to the tea, whereas Psychotria viridis, or chacruna, provides "light".

External links

• Psychotria viridis Chacruna, the traditional Ayahuasca DMT source.
• Growing Psychotria viridis (Plot55.com)

Entheogens | Herbal and fungal hallucinogens | Psychedelic tryptamine carriers | Rubiaceae

Psychotria viridis | Psychotria viridis