Centerpiece
Ajo Sacha
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€7.77
RITUAL ✷ · SUBCATEGORY
Shamanic Herbs and Master Plants
Four Amazonian master plants: Ajo Sacha, Chuchuhuasi, Bobinsana, Uña de Gato. Plants that teach, drunk as a decoction, at home, day after day.
The word
Receiving a master plant.
Among the Shipibo-Conibo of the Ucayali, some plants are maestras: they teach. The tradition receives them in a dieta; at INFUSE, you meet them in daily life, as a decoction, at any time of day.
Ajo Sacha(Mansoa alliacea) is perceived as a masculine spirit, like a father, who guides with protection and strength; she cleanses us of all that no longer serves us. Bobinsana(Calliandra angustifolia) is a heart warrior, the companion of the weary heart. Chuchuhuasi(Maytenus krukovii) teaches resilience.
The curation
The 4 treasures of the family.
What is a master plant?
Among the Shipibo-Conibo of the Ucayali, in Peru, some plants are plantas maestras: teachers. Each has its own character and gifts, and each is ideally received in a dieta, a retreat of several weeks with the plant. At the end of the dieta, it is said, the plant gives its icaro, a received song that becomes the curandero’s tool.
The vegetalistas of Iquitos also speak of plants that teach (Luna, 1984). And many peoples have their plants of shamans and healers: the ubulawu roots of Xhosa diviners, Calea of the Chontal of Oaxaca, Sagan Dalya of the Buryat of Lake Baikal. All are received with an intention, often over several nights or several days.
The list: each plant, its people, its use
Ajo sacha Mansoa alliacea
Shipibo-Conibo · Peruvian Amazon
Often one of the first plants an apprentice diets. A decoction of the vine, for 7 to 21 consecutive days.
Bobinsana Calliandra angustifolia
Shipibo-Conibo · Peruvian Amazon
The Mermaid of the River, companion of the weary heart. A plant of Courage, drunk for 7 to 21 consecutive days.
Chuchuhuasi Maytenus krukovii
Asháninka · Shipibo-Conibo · Cocama
“The trembling back”. Its bark is drunk as a decoction before, during and after ceremonies.
Cat’s claw Uncaria tomentosa
Asháninka · Yanesha · Peru
Uña de gato, the life-giving vine of Peru, taken over two to three weeks.
Ceremonial cacao Theobroma cacao
Maya · Mesoamerica
The Maya received it as a gift from the gods. 20 to 40 g, drunk in a circle.
Yauhtli Tagetes lucida
Aztecs · Mexico
The herb of Tlaloc, burned as incense. The Aztecs trusted it to restore the tonalli, the strength of the soul.
Calea Calea ternifolia
Chontal · Oaxaca
Thle-pela-kano, the leaf of God, taken to receive messages in dreams. She awakens the Dreamer in you.
Ubulawu roots
Xhosa · Zulu · South Africa
The great dream masters of the sangomas. 3 to 5 days with prayers, and the Dream Gates open up.
Imphepho Helichrysum odoratissimum
Zulu · Xhosa · South Africa
“The telephone to the spirits”: burned at the start of a consultation to call the ancestors.
Sagan Dalya Rhododendron adamsii
Buryat · Lake Baikal · Mongolia
The White Wings, drunk as a tea with prayers and reverence.
Guayusa Ilex guayusa
Kichwa · Shuar · Achuar · Ecuador
Drunk together before dawn, at the hour when the night’s dreams are told.
Dragon’s blood Croton lechleri
Peruvian Amazon
Sangre de drago, a resin of protection: one drop on the third eye.
Palo santo Bursera graveolens
Ecuador · Peru
The holy wood: light the tip, blow out the flame, let it smoke.
The dieta, and the plant in daily life
In the tradition, the dieta is a way to meet the plant fully, away from whatever interferes: certain foods, sexuality, distractions. At INFUSE, you meet the plant in daily life: as a decoction, at home, once or twice a day, at any hour.
The retreat, step by step: our guide to the Amazonian shamanic dieta. The twelve plants of the Shipibo pantheon, one by one: the 12 Amazonian master plants. The plants prayed to every day: our sacred herbs. For the night: dream herbs.
⊹ FREQUENT QUESTIONS ⊹
Shamanic herbs, question by question
What plants do shamans use?
Each people has its own. Shipibo curanderos work with plantas maestras such as ajo sacha and bobinsana; Zulu and Xhosa sangomas burn imphepho to call the ancestors and drink ubulawu roots to dream; the Chontal of Oaxaca take Calea to receive messages in their dreams.
Which shamanic herbs are on this page?
Ajo sacha, bobinsana, chuchuhuasi and cat’s claw from the Amazon, cacao of the Maya, Yauhtli of the Aztecs, Calea of the Chontal, ubulawu roots and imphepho from South Africa, Sagan Dalya from Lake Baikal, guayusa from Ecuador, dragon’s blood and palo santo.
What is a master plant?
A plant that teaches. Among the Shipibo-Conibo, each planta maestra has its own character and gifts; it is received in a dieta, and it gives, so it is said, its song, the icaro.
How do you take a master plant?
At home, day after day, as a decoction. Ajo sacha: a handful of vine for two large cups, simmered covered for about thirty minutes, at any time of day. Chuchuhuasi: one to two tablespoons of bark for a litre of water, 30 to 40 minutes on a low heat. Ajo sacha and bobinsana are drunk for 7 to 21 consecutive days. In the Shipibo tradition, they are received in a dieta. Each product page gives the full preparation.
Are these herbs legal?
The herbs on this page are sold freely in France. The law differs from one country to the next: check yours before you order.
What precautions should I take?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: abstain, for lack of data. If you take any treatment: ask a doctor before any plant.
⊹ WHY THIS FAMILY ⊹
Four decoctions from the Amazon.
Ajo Sacha: a handful of vine for two large cups, about thirty minutes covered; the same material can be reused at least three times.
Chuchuhuasi: one to two tablespoons of bark for a litre of water, 30 to 40 minutes on a low heat, at any time of day.
Bobinsana: for 7 to 21 consecutive days; you are invited to call upon the spirit of the plant while preparing and drinking it.
Uña de Gato: a handful of bark in four cups of cold water, brought to the boil then simmered for 20 to 30 minutes, over two to three weeks.
Continue in RITUAL ✷
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⊹ READ IN THE FOREST ⊹
Around Master Plants
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