At Seven Retreats, a top-rated ayahuasca retreat in Peru, we describe Ayahuasca and Huachuma (San Pedro) as more than ceremonial plants—they are master plant medicines and sacred teachers. Together, they offer a rare opportunity for deep healing that touches not only the spirit but the emotional and neurological pathways of the brain. While indigenous traditions have understood their healing power for generations, today, modern science is beginning to validate these effects. This blog explores the science behind Ayahuasca and Huachuma, and how these sacred plants work synergistically to support emotional resilience, trauma release, and long-term transformation.
The Science Behind Ayahuasca: Healing the Brain and Subconscious
Ayahuasca is a powerful brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the Psychotria Viridis leaf. Known for inducing vivid visions and profound emotional insights, it is increasingly studied for its role in psychedelic trauma therapy. But what does Ayahuasca feel like?
Experiences vary, but guests often describe emotional waves, deep reflection, and a strong connection to internal or spiritual truths. The ayahuasca experience can be intense, but it is often described as life-changing—especially for those processing trauma, grief, or emotional blockages. Here’s how Ayahuasca impacts the brain:
Neuroplasticity and Emotional Rewiring in Ayahuasca Ceremony
Ayahuasca stimulates Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a protein that promotes the growth of new neurons. This supports long-term emotional change by helping the brain “rewire” itself out of old trauma patterns, anxiety loops, and depression.
How Ayahuasca Affects the Default Mode Network and Self-Awareness
The Default Mode Network, responsible for self-referential thought and rumination, quiets under the influence of Ayahuasca. This softening of the ego allows suppressed memories and emotions to surface with greater clarity and compassion.
Ayahuasca for Trauma Healing: Processing the Root, Not the Symptom
Rather than masking symptoms, Ayahuasca invites a direct encounter with the emotional root of trauma. The medicine often brings painful memories forward—not to retraumatize—but to process, witness, and release. “Ayahuasca reaches the emotional root where trauma began,” says Maria Fernanda Morales, founder of Seven Retreats. “It doesn’t mask symptoms; it reveals the truth with great love, allowing real healing to take place.” For many, an ayahuasca retreat is the beginning of lasting healing from unresolved emotional wounds.
Huachuma: Expanding the Heart and Consciousness
If Ayahuasca brings us into the depths, Huachuma—also known as San Pedro—helps us rise with clarity and presence.
What is Huachuma?
Huachuma is a cactus native to the Andes, rich in mescaline, a heart-centered psychedelic compound. Unlike Ayahuasca’s intense inward journey, Huachuma effects are gentle, expansive, and rooted in emotional clarity. Here’s what science and experience reveal about Huachuma plant medicine:
Enhancing Emotional Resilience
Huachuma increases activity in serotonin and dopamine receptors, supporting mood regulation and calmness. It’s known to reduce stress responses while helping guests access emotional strength and equanimity.
Heightening Empathy and Connection
Studies on mescaline-containing plants suggest increased connectivity in brain areas related to gratitude, empathy, and awe. In ceremonies, guests often feel a powerful sense of unity with nature, others, and themselves. These huachuma benefits contribute to its role in emotional healing and heart-based integration.
Grounding Presence
Unlike visionary journeys, a Huachuma ceremony often unfolds outdoors, during the day. The Huachuma experience is marked by heightened perception, emotional stillness, and a sense of sacred communion with the natural world. “Huachuma teaches through the heart,” Maria explains. “It shows us the beauty in life, even amidst challenges, and reminds us that love is our most powerful guide.”
How Ayahuasca and Huachuma Complement Each Other
At Seven Retreats, we guide guests through three Ayahuasca ceremonies followed by a final Huachuma ceremony in Peru. This structure reflects ancient practice and modern psychology.
- Ayahuasca for trauma healing: Clears emotional blockages, surfaces deep pain, and initiates spiritual transformation.
- Huachuma for emotional healing: Grounds, softens, and integrates the breakthroughs into daily life with clarity and compassion.
Together, Huachuma and Ayahuasca offer not only deep psychological insight but also an energetic rebalancing that leaves guests feeling whole, connected, and renewed.
Healing the Mind, Opening the Heart
The science behind Ayahuasca and Huachuma is compelling—but even more compelling is the lived experience. At Seven Retreats, a sacred plant medicine retreat in the heart of the Sacred Valley, we integrate neuroscience with ancestral wisdom to create a safe, ethical, and trauma-informed space for transformation. These master plants are not a quick fix. They are a return to the soul’s intelligence, offering healing that moves beyond the mind and into the heart.
If you are ready for a guided, supported journey of emotional healing and spiritual clarity, consider joining us for an ayahuasca retreat in Peru. Come home to yourself—with us.
