Ayahuasca, also commonly called yagé, is a psychedelic brew of various plant infusions. Little is known about the history of ayahuasca, but it is generally accepted that the drink has been used for about 5,000 years by indigenous tribes in the Amazon rainforest. The term ayahuasca (sometimes referred to as the medicine of the soul) comes from the Quechua words aya, which means soul or spirit, and huasca, which means rope or vine..

As the basis of ayahuasca, Banisteriopsis caapi, or caapi vine, is commonly used for its MAO-inhibiting properties, and is boiled together with DMT-containing plants like Psychotria viridis (chacruna), Mimosa hostilis (jurema) and Diplopterys cabrerana (chaliponga).