Daime

Daime refers to the sacramental brew used in certain Brazilian ayahuasca-using churches, notably Santo Daime, and to the tradition surrounding its use. The beverage is prepared from the vine Banisteriopsis caapi and leaves such as Psychotria viridis or Diplopterys cabrerana. The brew contains DMT and harmala alkaloids, which enable oral DMT effects by inhibiting monoamine oxidase in the gut. It is consumed during ritual ceremonies as a sacrament, accompanied by singing, prayer, and feasting; hymns known as Hinos are integral to the service. The Santo Daime movement emerged in the Brazilian Amazon in the 1930s under Mestre Irineu (Raimundo Irineu Serra) and developed a distinct liturgy and doctrine; other ayahuasca traditions in Brazil include União do Vegetal and Barquinha, each with its own rituals but sharing the use of daime/ayahuasca as a sacrament. The beverage is used for spiritual growth, healing, and community bonding, with participants often reporting visions, emotional release, and insights; purgation (vomiting or diarrhea) is considered an expected, cleansing part of the ceremony by many practitioners. Legal status varies: in Brazil, religious use is generally permitted; elsewhere it is regulated or illegal, depending on jurisdiction. Safety considerations include possible nausea, psychological distress, and dangerous drug interactions, especially with antidepressants. Daime is distinct from non-ritual ayahuasca use and should be understood within its cultural and religious context.