What is ayahuasca, the psychedelic drug that attracts tech company CEOs

A “totally incredible” experience. It is with these words that Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI —the parent company of ChatGPT —, joined the leaders of the technological elites who experimented with psychedelic drugs such as ayahuasca , a trend that seems to be increasing in recent times.

Altman said, in a conversation with the podcast Life in seven songsthat He used to be a “very anxious and unhappy” person, until he tried psychedelics which changed his outlook on life and turned him into a “calm” person.

“If you had told me that a weekend retreat in Mexico could significantly change that, I would have said absolutely not,” however, after experiencing it firsthand, the mogul said “it is really the case.”

Especially, Ayahuasca is an Amazonian psychedelic drug that many people believe helps “heal” past trauma and see life differently. through an introspective journey. These “rituals” are usually led by shamans who guide the experience.

And apparently This drug appeals to several technology leaders around the world because it can improve creativity and “help” with anxiety and other disorders, but it is also said to have a dark or negative side.

The claim has become widespread that Silicon Valley —headquarters of global companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Google and Facebook, among others— lost “very good founders to ayahuasca”.

But what exactly is ayahuasca and what effects does it have? What happened to the tech CEOs who tried it?

Ayahuasca It is a psychedelic drug derived from a mixture between the plant Psychotria viridis and the vine Banisteriopsis caapi.

The leaves of the first contain DMT, a powerful hallucinogen, and those of the second have monoamine oxidase inhibitors, which prevent the breakdown of DMT in the digestive system.

In this sense, When the two act together in the human body, they produce psychedelic effects. that, according to the US National Institutes of Health constitute an “intense and often transformative experience” because it enhances the serotonergic activity of the brain.

This psychedelic drug It has been used for hundreds of years in indigenous cultures of the Amazon. Once used in religious and healing rituals, they have now become an attractive experience for many people seeking a radical “change” in their lives.

As explained in Forbes , The active compounds in ayahuasca may produce the following symptoms:

• Profound alterations of consciousness.
• Visual and auditory hallucinations.
• Alteration of sense of self and reality.
• Greater introspection and better emotional processing.
• Euphoria.
• Anxiety.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting (often considered part of the “cleansing process”).

The taste is generally unpleasant and The effects begin 30 to 60 minutes after consumption. The duration is four to six hours.

According to the available and most recent literature, Using ayahuasca and other psychedelics may help with certain disorders, such as depression. However, this would only occur in controlled uses and environments, under the supervision of a physician. This is not the case in “spiritual retreats” with so-called shamans who may be inexperienced people.

In general, People looking to change their lives with ayahuasca often believe that because it is a “natural” medicine, it only has benefits for their health and mind. However, this is not the case.

According to the Global Ayahuasca Survey , 56% of people surveyed who used the psychedelic drug reported experiencing adverse effects on their mental health after days or weeks of use.

Among the side effects they reported hallucinations, feelings of disconnection, anxiety, depression, disturbing thoughts and sensations.

Some even said they had to see a mental health professional because of the issues with ayahuasca.

In addition, There are other risks associated with using this medication, especially when not done in a controlled environment. and with experts: according to the Cleveland Clinic, in the United States, Using DMT – the hallucinogen – can lead to serious medical emergencies such as coma, seizures and suffocation.

The risk is greater when ayahuasca is combined with other substances such as alcohol or opioids. Or, failing that, when it is consumed in too high doses.

Additionally, according to Dimitri Daldegan-Bueno of Campinas State University in Brazil, The psychological effects of ayahuasca can be so intense that it is contraindicated for people who already suffer from a “psychotic spectrum” mental disorder.

This, “because it can cause an episode or make it worse.”

This, without taking into account the dangerous negative effects They can also occur due to “interactions with certain antidepressant medications, It is therefore advisable for people who take it to consult their psychiatrist before taking ayahuasca,” explained the expert. The country .

As explained in Forbes, Tech entrepreneurs are seeking “alternative approaches to higher thinking, personal growth, emotional healing, and spiritual exploration” through the use of ayahuasca.

And, as its followers explain, the “positive” effects of This psychedelic drug can unlock thought patterns that, in a “normal or conventional” state, might not appear.

So, in a market as competitive as technology, Leaders are looking for new ways to explore their creativity and create products with new ideas that ayahuasca is believed to generate in their minds.

However, we must not forget the risks that this can have on mental health: according to Austen Allred, co-founder and CEO of BloomTech Tech moguls should be extremely careful when using ayahuasca.

“Of the Silicon Valley founders I know who have embarked on psychedelic journeys of self-discovery, almost 100% left their CEO role in less than a year. These may be random anecdotes, but be careful with these things,” he wrote on his X profile.