TRADITIONAL USE: CHACRUNA AS A VISIONARY TEACHER

In the Cocama and mestizo traditions of the Peruvian Amazon, Chacruna is the visionary complement to the grounding force of Caapi. Its spirit is often described as feminine, bright, and communicative—a plant that speaks in color, light, and archetypal form.
 

At Madre Selva in Peru, Chacruna is worked with in the context of Cocama and mestizo lineages.. Here, it plays an essential role in our master plant dietas, where it helps:
 

• Bring clarity and spiritual connection during Ayahuasca ceremonies

• Support the visionary space with emotional insight and ancestral memory

• Deepen dreamwork and symbolic processing

• Guide participants in their inner transformation
   

The plant is never used casually, but as part of a carefully held ceremonial structure that respects the traditions of the Upper Peruvian Amazon.

 

VISIONARY AND EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF CHACRUNA

While Chacruna contains the psychedelic compound DMT, its ceremonial effects are shaped entirely by its combination with Caapi. The result is not a quick or chaotic experience, but a guided journey into expanded states of consciousness.
 

Spiritual and energetic effects:

• Vivid inner visions and symbolic dreamscapes

• Encounters with guides, spirits, or ancestors

• Access to soul memories and hidden truths

• Illumination of subconscious patterns
   

Emotional and psychological insights:

• Releasing emotional blockages and trauma

• Reconnecting with inner clarity and purpose

• Renewed emotional resilience and forgiveness

• Heightened intuition and heart-opening awareness
   

Scientific note: DMT in Chacruna is not orally active unless paired with an MAO inhibitor like Caapi. This makes Ayahuasca a unique synergistic medicine, greater than the sum of its parts.

​

 

PREPARATION AND CEREMONIAL USE

In dieta and ceremonial settings, Chacruna leaves are boiled for hours together with the Caapi vine to create the Ayahuasca brew. The brewing process is an act of devotion and relationship, often accompanied by prayer, song, and intention.
 

Preparation guidelines:

• Fresh or dried leaves, carefully measured

• Slow decoction over many hours

• Boiled with Caapi in balanced ratios

• Strained and reduced to create a potent brew
   

Ceremonial use always occurs in a sacred container—typically at night, under the guidance of an experienced facilitator or maestro. Participants are carefully screened, and physical, emotional, and energetic preparation is emphasized.

 

LINEAGE AND REGIONAL VARIATION

While Chacruna is known in various regions of the Amazon, our work at Madre Selva is rooted specifically in the Peruvian traditions. The plant is honored in the context of Cocama teachings and mestizo ceremonial practice from the Peruvian Amazon. This grounding in local lineage ensures that each ceremony is held with depth, safety, and cultural integrity.

 

SEQUENCING AND PLANT SYNERGY

Chacruna is almost always used in combination with Caapi, forming the complete Ayahuasca experience. In dieta settings, it may also be complemented by other plants to support specific aspects of the journey:
 

• Bobinsana – Adds heart-centered emotional depth

• Mapacho – Clears energetic interference before and after ceremony

• Toe – Reserved for advanced use; not used casually
   

Each combination must be approached with experience and intention. At Madre Selva, we guide participants in safe, lineage-rooted exploration of these sacred synergies.