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El Mundo Magico

 Sachamama Ethnobotanical Garden

Chonta quiro tree and allpa ayahuasca vine

Photo courtesy Paola Garavaglia - Copyright © Paola Garavaglia

 Dieting plantas maestras in Sachamama

Plant Teachers in Sachamama

The Plants you diet with

In Sachamama each of the following plants and trees may be 'dieted' for a period spanning from one to four weeks, according to individual responses and times. Plants are 'dieted' by drinking their pounded leaf, macerated in water, whilst trees (palos) are 'dieted' by drinking a macerate of their scraped fresh bark in water. Another way to prepare the plants, is by infusion in bañomaria. The shaman will decide - according to the type of diet one is on - how to best prepare the different plants for you.

At the base and foundation of the shamanic plant 'diet' - as practiced in Sachamama Garden - there are usually four plants:

• Ajos sacha (Mansoa alliacea), a plant which strengthens the body, reinforce and cleanse the system.

• Azucar huayo (Hymenaea sp.), another 'doctor-tree', which gives strength and helps in receiving the icaros.

• Chullachaki caspi (Brysonima christianeae), a 'doctor-tree' with outer-projecting, peculiar roots. An important palo maestro.  There are up to four types of Chullachaki that are recognized locally, although they may all belong to the same botanical family. Among these we mention the Chullachaki macho (a "male" variety, with protruding roots), the Chullachaki barbon (a "male" variety, with protruding roots and a plant which lives in symbiosis with the tree, always attached to its trunk, like a "beard", hence the name "barbon"), and the  Chullachaki hembra (a "female" variety of the same tree, which - however - lacks the outwardly projecting roots of its male counterpart; it is believed to be inhabited by a feminine spirit that gives one strength).

• Sacharuna (unidentified), a bush with the property - when 'dieted' - to rise the energy level and the power to heal.

At a more intermediate level, we have the following:

• Altaruna (unidentified).

• Bobinzana - (formerly identified by anthropologist Luis Eduardo Luna with Swartzia arborecens [1992:236], and later associated [1999: 62] with Calliandra angustifolia) is a plant that makes one in contact with the spirits of other plants; Luna (1992:236) reports that: "The spirit of this tree is a prince, who presents himself dressed in beautiful garments and with a sword. The tree is in his palace, and this is why it always has flowers".

• Chonta quiro (Diplotropis sp., according to A. Brack, or Anthodiscus sp. following A. Gentry classification), a 'doctor-tree' which deliver more strength to the one who 'diets' with it.

• Chuchuhuasi (Maytenus krukovit), a 'doctor-tree' used to heal and strengthen the body.

• Lupuna blanca (Ceiba pentadra), a wonderful, huge tree - the 'Sequoia of the Amazon' - which makes one in  contact con todos los espiritus mas vejos (as don Francisco himself put it).

• Mucura (Alliacea capita - or, according to Luna 1986:69, quoting Plowman 1982 - Petiveria alliacea), a bush that - when 'dieted' - opens the mind to visions. This plant is often used in ayahuasca admixtures by the Shipibo-Conibo people.

• Tahuarì  (Tabebuia heteropoda), another 'doctor-tree' which gives protection and teaches icaros.

At a more advanced level are:

• Chiric sanango (Brunfelsia grandiflora)

• Toe' (Brugmansia suavolensis)

And several other plants and trees...

Please note that the choice of which plant to use in the 'diet' is ultimately on don Francisco - according to each individual case and need. It is, however, possible - normally for the more experienced - to discuss your requirements beforehand and follow a 'diet' with a plant of your choice. 'Dieting' straight away ayahuasca is also a practicable avenue, but we recommend that only the very experienced do it. Ayahuasca is a very powerful medicine, and is dieted usually by vegetalistas, or by one who is on the path of becoming a maestro. The ayahuasca 'diet' implies drinking the brew every day, on your own, for the entire length of the 'diet' (which varies from case to case). Drinking ayahuasca whilst 'dieting' other plantas enseñantes (teacher plants) enhances the benefits of the 'diet', and deepen the assimilation of other plants.

Between 'diets' - e.g. between rows of weekly or fortnightly or even longer (up to four-six weeks) diets with plantas maestras - there is usually a day or two of break when normal eating and drinking habits are resumed, to prepare for a fresh, new start. The traditional 'diet' - as practiced and adopted in Sachamama - implies a certain degree of isolation, although dieteros may participate to the life of the centre, and - if they want to - may gather at meal times. All dieteros partake to the ayahuasca ceremonies and - depending on their degree of expertise and other factors - may be required to help during the rituals, either in the curación and/or the conduct of ceremonies, as part of their apprenticeship.

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