BT-032 · Rubiaceae

Chacruna

Psychotria viridis

Evidence: TraditionalHigh riskRestricted in Türkiye

With tens of thousands of plant species in the Amazon, how did Indigenous peoples find the right two to combine? Healers give a short answer: the plants told them.

Other names: Chacrona
Part used: Leaves
Region: Amazon
Use: Ritual and shamanic, Poisonous

Photo: Anthony Baratier · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

In short

What is Chacruna?

Chacruna (Psychotria viridis) is a plant of the Rubiaceae family. Traditions that use it: Amazon. Part used: leaves.

What is Chacruna used for?

Traditional use: The leaf added to the ayahuasca brew. Scientific evidence: traditional. Contains DMT.

Is Chacruna safe?

Safety label: high risk. Carries the same risks as ayahuasca: drug interactions, heart strain and psychiatric risks. Legal status: Restricted in Türkiye.

Traditional use

Amazon

The leaf added to the ayahuasca brew. Healers describe the vine as the brew’s strength and chacruna as the light of the visions.

In nature

Where it grows: The rainforest understorey of the Amazon; grown in ceremonial gardens.
Harvest season: Leaves are picked all year.
Local names: No Turkish folk name. Local names: chacruna, chacrona

Mix-up risk

Other DMT-containing leaves, such as chaliponga (Diplopterys cabrerana), are used for the same purpose and can be confused.

Preparation

Leaves are boiled together with the vine.

What science says

Contains DMT. Swallowed alone, DMT is broken down by gut enzymes, so it is combined with the MAO-inhibiting vine. How this pairing was discovered is one of ethnobotany’s big questions.

Safety

High risk

Carries the same risks as ayahuasca: drug interactions, heart strain and psychiatric risks.

Drug interactions

Medicine or substance	Why it matters
Antidepressants and serotonergic drugs	Drunk with ayahuasca, so the same serotonin syndrome risk applies.
Blood pressure and heart medicines	Swings in heart rate and blood pressure.

This list is not complete. If you take regular medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying Chacruna.