How Natural Plant Medicines Are Helping Us Heal in a Modern World

Written by Aaron Eschenburg, Ayahuascero, Astrotheologer

Aaron Eschenburg is an Ayahuascero and Astrotheologer. He is the Founder and creator of Ancestral Herbs, a natural plant medicine company, and MiTranscendance Entheo Religious Society.

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There’s a lot of buzz around Ayahuasca ceremonies and natural plant medicines these days, as there should be, and there’s a good reason why. The oldest known Peruvian medicines were found in the Chavin de Huántar, from about 2,800 years ago, with traces of bone tubes with tobacco and vilca, a psychedelic substance. The Chavin art was also highly influenced by the San Pedro cactus, a known visionary and heart-opening psychedelic. The Norte Chico civilization, around 2,600 years ago, had recordings of herbal medicines for healing as well as psychoactive substances used in ceremonial rituals. “The Chinese Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine”, written around 2,500 BC, includes extensive information about herbal medicine, just as “The Ebers Papyrus”, an Egyptian medical text from approximately 1550 BC, is a medical text that provides more than 800 “prescriptions/treatments” with herbal medicines.

Archaeological evidence suggests that Neanderthals used plants and herbs for over 60,000 years to heal and recover from various injuries and ailments. Our species has survived by ingesting not only water and food, but also plants and herbs that have healed us throughout our entire history.

Conversations around the multiple benefits of Ayahuasca ceremonies have been the talk of inner circles, Podcasts, and celebrity interviews for some time. The Ayahuasca vine is only half of the ceremonial brew, which by itself is not psychedelic.

Microdosing pure Ayahuasca is similar to the neuroconnectivity of microdosing psilocybin mushrooms, but better, as it’s legal in all 50 states and there’s no chance of taking too much to induce a psychedelic trip. Pure B. Caapi vine is a natural anti-anxiety, antidepressant that helps regulate serotonin and melatonin levels, as well as a natural mood stabilizer. It reacts in similar ways to Adderall or an SSRI.

	Pure B. Caapi Vine microdose	Adderall	SSRIs
Mechanism	RIMA - slows breakdown of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine	Stimulant - releases dopamine + norepinephrine	Blocks serotonin reuptake - raises serotonin levels over weeks
Onset	30-60 min	30-60 min	Several weeks
Duration	4-6 hrs (microdose: subtle, not trippy)	4-8 hrs	Continuous (daily baseline shift)
Cognitive effects	Calm clarity, deeper focus, dreamlike creativity (less “speedy”)	Intense focus, productivity, alertness	May indirectly improve focus if mood/anxiety improves
Mood effects	Gentle uplift, mood stabilization, emotional release, reduced anxiety/depression	Mood lift but can increase anxiety, irritability	Mood stabilization, less anxiety/depression
Body effects	Relaxation, mild warmth, sometimes digestive cleansing	Increased heart rate, jitteriness, and appetite suppression	Can cause lethargy, sexual side effects
Addiction potential	Very low	High (psychological + physical dependence possible)	Low (but withdrawal symptoms common if stopped abruptly)
Long-term effects	Possible neuroprotective, antidepressant, promotes dream activity	Possible cardiovascular strain, sleep disruption	Possible blunting, weight gain, emotional flattening

Micro-dosing Pure vine won’t give the same burst of energy or sharp stimulant-like focus as Adderall. Some people with ADHD like symptoms who are looking for a natural alternative may prefer the calm, centered focus instead of an amped up drive.

Pure Vine is much more similar to an SSRI. Microdosing can act as a natural antidepressant and anxiolytic, often without the emotional flattening of SSRIs. Some users report a sense of emotional processing and release, not just suppression.

SSRIs

Inhibit reuptake of serotonin into presynaptic neurons, increasing serotonin availability in the synaptic cleft. Require 2-6 weeks to reach clinical efficacy. Do not directly increase dopamine or norepinephrine.

B. caapi (pure vine)

Harmala alkaloids act as reversible MAO-A inhibitors, slowing the breakdown of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Immediate onset (30-60 minutes). Provides multimodal neurotransmitter support (serotonin + dopamine + norepinephrine). Enhances REM sleep and dream recall, engaging subconscious processing.

	Pure B. Caapi Vine microdose	SSRIs
Mood	Immediate mild uplift, emotional release, enhanced resilience	Stabilizes mood over weeks, may cause emotional blunting
Anxiety	Calms without flattening, increases insight into root causes	Reduces baseline anxiety but may flatten affect
Cognition	Promotes calm clarity, intuitive creativity	Indirect improvement via mood
Sleep	Improves dream activity, supports restorative sleep	May cause insomnia or drowsiness
Emotional processing	Facilitates catharsis, grief release, trauma integration	Suppresses negative affect, sometimes blocks deep processing
Dependence/ withdrawal	Very low dependence, minimal withdrawal	Discontinuation syndrome common
Onset of relief	Immediate to hours	Weeks

Side effects

SSRIs

• Common: weight gain, sexual dysfunction, emotional blunting, gastrointestinal upset, and insomnia.

• Risks: serotonin syndrome (esp. with polypharmacy), withdrawal upon discontinuation.

B. Caapi vine microdose

• Common: mild digestive cleansing, slight fatigue, intensified dreaming.

• Rare: hypertensive reactions if combined with contraindicated drugs/foods.

• Risks: serotonin syndrome if combined with SSRIs or serotonergic medications.

Long-term outcomes

SSRIs

Effective in symptom suppression may require indefinite use, with possible neuroplastic dampening over time.

B. Caapi

Evidence (early studies + ethnomedical reports) suggests neuroprotective and neurogenic effects (harmine stimulates neurogenesis in vitro), potential long-term restoration of emotional balance rather than mere suppression.

• Pure B. Caapi Vine microdose demonstrates several advantages over SSRIs: Immediate effects (vs. delayed onset with SSRIs).

• Multimodal neurotransmitter action (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine vs. serotonin only).

• Emotional processing rather than suppression, allowing trauma/grief integration.

• Fewer long-term side effects, lower dependence risk.

• Potential neuroprotective/neurogenic properties absent in SSRIs.

*While the vine may be superior in tolerability and depth of healing, it carries interaction risks (notably with SSRIs, stimulants, and certain foods). Controlled studies in humans remain limited, and medical supervision is advised.

The return back to plant medicines

Today, 99% of pharmaceutical medicines contain petrochemicals. Thankfully, there is a huge curiosity and push to explore the benefits of natural plant medicines, and companies like Ancestral Herbs exist that offer us a line of organic, potent extracts from the Amazon Rainforest.

B. Caapi ayahuasca – Pure being

Mood elevator, dopamine regulator, anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, reduces oxidative stress, repairs & creates new neural pathways. See here.

Cats' claw – Pure immunity

Immune support, autoimmune issues, mild anti-inflammatory. See here

Instead of just boosting the immune system, it balances it. Acting as an immunomodulator to help regulate the immune system, it both stimulates the immune system while also calming overactive immune responses, and helps to prevent autoimmune reactions. Beneficial for both infections and autoimmune conditions, it contains alkaloids and polyphenols that help stimulate white blood cells and neutralize free radicals like turning on the “Bat-Signal” to activate the white blood cells to get to work and be on alert to eliminate bacteria, harmful organisms, viruses, parasites, and infections.

This potent concentrated extract is the go-to all-natural, anti-viral against the common cough and cold, the Flu, and COVID-19.

Traditionally used to treat gastritis, ulcers, inflammatory bowel conditions, IBS, Crohn’s, Colitis, and soothes the gut lining. It’s an anti-inflammatory that reduces TNF-alpha (inflammatory molecule), and is shown to ease symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoarthritis, reducing joint pain and improving mobility. Early research suggests neuroprotective effects that protect cells from oxidative stress, reducing beta-amyloid plaque and oxidative damage, which are linked to aging conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. On top of all that, it enhances the body’s ability to repair breaks in damaged DNA strands, which makes it unique among other herbal medicines. Truly a pharmacy in itself.

Chuchuhuasi – Pure Vitality

Back pain, joint pain, muscle cramps, rheumatism, arthritis, and healthy libido. See here.

Often called “Tree of Strength” or “Trembling Back”, this traditional medicine is drank as a daily energizer, endurance & stamina booster, pain reliever, and aphrodisiac. Widely used for back pains and joint issues, it helps ease muscle tension, body aches, chronic inflammation, arthritis, and rheumatism.

Considered an adaptogen, helping the body handle stress and fatigue, it contains triterpenes and alkaloids that help regulate immune response and help prevent seasonal illness. Helps with bloating, stomach aches, and digestion. It’s also traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and fertility aid for men and women alike.

Pinon Blanco – Pure clarity

Detox, gut health, parasite cleanse, intestinal cleanse, and supports mental clarity. See here.

The gut is often referenced as the second brain.

Clear gut = Clear mind

The pure white light “anti plant”… Anti-parasitic, antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory. Traditionally used to eliminate intestinal worms and parasites and clear toxins from the gut, as well as a blood cleanse and detoxifier.

Bobinsana – Pure Heart

Emotional healing, heart opening, heart health, ease of pain, menstrual support, sleep, calming, mild anti-inflammatory. See here.

The heart-opening medicine of the Amazon is known to awaken compassion, empathy, and emotional healing from grief and heartache. Blossoming open our hearts like it’s beautiful pink and white puffy flowers, Bobinsana is considered a master plant teacher that guides us through a heart-opening journey of inner healing, spiritually and physically.

Offering support for arthritis, rheumatism, bone and joint pain, it helps reduce swelling and stiffness. Helps calm anxiety and stress to relax, as well as helps with sleep.

Uvos Colorado – Pure moon

Alleviates muscle spasms, menstrual cramps, menopause pains, cramping, and bloating, helps regulate period cycle, and restores blood health. See here.

A natural antispasmodic, known to relax uterine muscles, alleviate muscle spasms, reduce bloating and water retention, restore circulation, and relieve menstrual cramps. Traditionally used to build and cleanse blood after menstruation, it strengthens blood and replenishes lost nutrients, as well as helps regulate cycles.

Pinon Colorado – Pure dreams

Sleep support, Lucid Dreams, helps blood circulation and is a Mild joint and muscle relaxant. See here.

This traditional plant teacher helps us tap into our dream world and inner song and voice. It can help aid deep sleep and lucid dreaming without the heavy weighted grogginess of common sleep remedies. This plant is also often used by vocalists and musicians to connect with the spirit of song, intuition, and creativity within.

These plant medicines are made from only one ingredient, vines or the bark of a tree or shrubs, and cooked in an old-fashioned way that makes a highly concentrated formula that is up to 40x stronger than a traditional 1:1 tincture. Preserved with 100% Gluten Free Cane Sugar Alcohol and made with a whole lot of love, from the ground up.

Visit Ancestral Herbs for more info.

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Read more from Aaron Eschenburg

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Aaron Eschenburg, Ayahuascero, Astrotheologer

Aaron Eschenburg is an Ayahuasca Shaman and creator of the natural plant medicine company Ancestral Herbs. Being hit by a drunk driver at 21 spiraled him into a journey of exploring alternative medicines to get away from the side effects of pharmaceuticals. Astrotheology and plant medicines then came into his life at the same time, creating a better understanding of humanities relationship with our living planet solar system, and Universe. He now dedicates his life to helping others explore the options of natural healing, entheogenic practices, and embracing the Aquarian Age.