Anadenanthera colubrina, aka Yopo, is a plant native to the southern Andes region and neighboring areas: southeastern Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru.
A Yopo tree can reach up to 18 meters and has a dark bark, almost black in color. The leaves grow up to 30cm in length and are finely pinnate. The dark brown seed pods are leathery and can grow as long as 35cm. These pods contain very flat, rounded, dark brown seeds, the part of the plant that has been used for thousands of years.
The oldest evidence of Yopo use goes back 4500 years, when it was smoked in pipes in the Puna region (northwestern Argentina) with a strong influence in the Tiahuanaco culture (which translates to “dwelling of the god”).
In the 16th century, the usage of Yopo was described as an additive to chicha, a traditional drink in the Andes region. The chicha was intended for ceremonial consumption, where the shamans consumed this fermented beverage to “take a look into the future”.
The use of Yopo snuffs for shamanic uses have been described for a lot of tribes around the Andes region, although some tribes turned to smoked the roasted seeds instead of making snuffs.
Active ingredient and effects
The active ingredient in Yopo seeds is bufotenin (5-HO-DMT), a tryptamine related to the neurotransmitter serotonin and with a similar chemical structure to psilocin, DMT and 5-Meo-DMT. Bufotenin also acts as a reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and dopamine and noradrenaline leading to bigger quantities of these neurotransmitters in the brain.
The most commonly described effects when taking Yopo include:
• Euphoria
• Tactile enhancement
• Time distortion
• Empathy
• Visual and auditory hallucinations
• Conceptual thinking and inner thoughts
• Drifting (morphing, breathing, flowing) – described as similar to DMT
• Colour enhancement
• Motor loss control
• Pupil Dilatation
• Mindfulness
• Nausea
• Couch bound
Some users relate a Yopo trip as very similar to DMT. Others claim that DMT is more psychedelic and more euphoric, while the Yopo makes them feel more relaxed and introspective.
Due to its role as a reuptake inhibitor, Bufotenin might become toxic when combine with MAO-Inhibitors, stimulants, RIMAs and SSRIs (these last two usually prescribed for the treatment of depression).
Preparation and Dosages
Yopo can be prepared and used in three different ways, which will have impact in the strength and duration of the trip. The chosen way of taking Yopo also requires different dosages to produce the desired effects.
The experiences of some users have shown that before smoking or sniffing Yopo, its useful to chew coca leaves to avoid side effects, bad trips and to help the visions become clearer.
Snuffing and smoking are the preferred ways to consume Yopo.
Oral ingestion is scarcely used.
Snuff
The seeds must be lightly roasted and then grounded as fine as possible.The described effects of snuffing Yopo are trips of circa 20 minutes with hallucinations in black and white (rarely in colour) with flowing patterns.
Dosage for snuffing:
Light – 150 to 250 mg
Medium – 250 mg to 500 mg
Strong – 1 gram
Smoking
The seeds are roasted, coarsely crushed and then mixed with tobacco. The smoking of the seeds will have hallucinogenic effects that will remain strong for circa 30 minutes and will wear off in the next two hours. The effect will start with a feeling of bodily heaviness and after 10 minutes, the hallucinations begin.
Dosage for smoking:
5 to 8 seeds be mixed with tobacco and rolled in a cigarette
Medium – half a cigarette
Strong – 1 cigarette
Oral ingestion
The juice of the seeds is pressed and mixed with a beverage to drink (traditionally the beverage is chicha). Alternatively, the seeds can be boiled to be eaten with honey.
The effects of oral ingestion can vary from person to person, and is very related to the contents of the stomach when consumed.
Dosage for oral use:
5 to 8 seeds pressed to make a “juice” that can be mixed with chicha or another beverage.
Making tea or eating the seeds: 2 to 3 seeds boiled in water.