Chacruna (Psychotria Viridis) – Ethically and Sustainable Harvested, Shade Dried Whole Leaves from Ucayali, Peru

All about about Psychotria viridis

Chacruna is a perennial shrub native to the tropical Amazon rainforest, primarily regions of Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, that is also known as the Visionary Vine. It is part of the Rubiaceae family along with other known plants such as coffee, and it is used in the making of a poly-herbal concoction called Ayahuasca, that is deeply revered across countless indigenous cultures of sacred and natural healing.

Shamans and indigenous folk credit this plant’s properties with performing miracles of healing and even with the prevention of witchraft, in addition to helping with migraines and cleansing of the intestines.

Harvesting Chacruna from Ucayali, Peru

The Shipibo-Konibo people reside along the bankside of the Ucayali River, a tributary of the Amazon River. They are one among many communities that are a part of the Pano linguistic group, and their shamanism revolves around the consumption of Ayahuasca, a poly-herbal brew that allows for practitioners of sacred, natural medicine to receive healing and cleansing offered by spirits and ancestors during ceremonies lead by Pajés (shamanic healers) and knowledgeable folk. The Ayahuasca brew carries, among other herbs, the leaves from Chacruna.

Maya works alongside members and representatives of the Shipibo-Conibo community to offer sustainably planted and carefully harvested Chacruna. The leaves of this sacred and powerful plant are left to dry naturally under cool shade, which is a process that helps preserve plant components suh as flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity.