Mainstream media sometimes uses the terms ayahuasca and DMT interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. While DMT is a crucial ingredient in ayahuasca, its effects are quite different, particularly in experience intensity and duration. Research suggests that both show promise or are being investigated for a variety of conditions.

Typically, ayahuasca is a brew of two plants, one of which contains DMT, while the ayahuasca vine contains harmala alkaloids or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Therefore, ayahuasca may be chemically reduced to DMT + MAOIs taken by mouth, while DMT is typically used via inhalation without MAOIs.

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DMT is found in Ayahuasca, yes, but the two drugs are experienced very differently. It’s like saying Kratom is interchangeable with Opioids because they share certain compounds, when in reality they’re not even derived from the same plant.