Came here for this, was planning a trip to see a Jaguar shaman but I guess that’s off now
Comment on Animals that use Drugs
scrion@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Jaguars actually eat the leaves of b. capii, which acts as a MAOI in the Ayahuasca brew.
While there is some discussion that the harmala alkaloids in b. capii might also be slightly psychoactive in high doses, the actual main compound in Ayahuasca is DMT, which is certainly very psychoactive, but not bioavailable when consumed orally without a MAOI. Unless the jaguars have figured out how to combine the two and/or brew ayahuasca, I strongly doubt that’s their intention and that they’d get comparable effects.
I think the idea stems from BBC show Weird Nature showing a jaguar eating yage leaves in episode 6, “Peculiar Potions”.
I’m not really sold on how well that content was researched.
akwd169@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
lolcatnip@reddthat.com 2 months ago
B. caapi is called ayahuasca, as well as being an ingredient in the brew with the same name, so the image is not technically wrong.
scrion@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Sure. In my opinion, however, the overall context of the image would lead people to believe the jaguar enjoys similar effects to those clearly requiring the presence of DMT, as that is what is most people commonly associate with ayahuasca.
It’s a bit of a “look at all those animals getting high, this jaguar is even talking to machine elves in the 19th dimension” kinda thing, where - if I remember correctly - they actually consume the leaves for digestive purposes.
UndulyUnruly@lemmy.world 2 months ago
The mental images of the consequences of running into, and then having to fight, a jaguar who’s high on ayahuasca is both hilarious and terrifying.
„Bro, chill out! The strawberry fractals are a mere figment of your imagination and can’t hurt you.“
„CHRAOW! CHRAOWOW!! Satayskewers!“