Despite the West's ban on psychedelics, other parts and cultures have continued their tradition of using them for a variety of purposes, one among them is as a form of recuperative therapy (healing), another would be as a means for enlightenment. In fact, there's like hundreds of places in Peru where you can partake of Ayahuasca which has been used by the native peoples since forever. It's supposed potency far outweighs that of LSD, and it's effects are apparently life-changing, according to some personal accounts. I dated a guy who was a radical sort of psychologist and he and his colleagues provided the type of therapy this article is talking about. I never did it, though; which I regret now :/
The main effect of ayahuasca is that of DMT. When ingested, DMT gets broken down by enzymes called monoaminooxydases (MAO). Therefore, for it to be active, it is mixed with another substance that inhibits said MAO enzymes. I don't recall the exact names of the bark and leaf that are used as a source for each substance. What I am trying to say is, ingesting this mix is pretty uncomfortable. People usually vomit heavily during the sessions. DMT can be smoked/vaporized. The effect is shorter (about 15 minutes) but probably similar in its therapeutic value. Maybe the future will show a more controlled and better application of this substance :) I have hope!