(MODs: This probably belongs in the Aya room, but since I can't post there yet, feel free to move it if you need to. Thx)

I made my first caapi only brew yesterday!

Received a package of shredded Peruvian caapi on Friday, and got set up Sat morning. Cleaned the kitchen, cleared the air, and began to clear me too, just rice and plantains and water, tho a short cp of coffee early to stave off my coffee headache. At noon I started my first pot, and hoped by watching the color that I would be able to figure out what kind it was, not that it matters so much right now, but just to try to learn and be informed.

I'd guess it's yellow, based on comparing it to the pics in another thread of different caapis in brew pots. Thx for those pics!

I didn't acidify the water for the first two pots, but went out to get mors ROsmosis water and vinegar, and more plantains in between pots. After reading even more on the comparisons of remaining harmalas between acidified and non-acidified water, I decided to add vinegar to the last pot. I knew it probably wouldn't make a difference in the long run, but why not try? So I measured out 2 qts of RO water, the pH was just under 7 and I added 1t of white vinegar, which brought it down to 6, then added another tsp which didnt change it at all. I debated whether to try to get it lower, as the vinegar itself only tested at 4.5 - seemed to me it would take a lot of vinegar the make it drop more, so just went with that.

So, I got finished up quite late, the third pot didn't seem to have much in it, though the color was more pale than the others. I ended up with very dark yellow brown tea, that I still needed to reduce down to manageable doses. But I was tired, and my head was killing me, so I decided to wait until morning to have a cup, as my intention was not to take a big/normal dose but to microdose to get to know the plant and how my body would handle it. I know that I am quite sensitive to substances in general, so going slow is probably best for me.

This morning at 10a I began sipping a warm cup of 'tea' as it wasnt fully reduced, and I figured that I probably only had the equivalent of about 10g. The taste really wasnt bad at all, to me, and the warmth was nice on my empty stomach. Within 15 min I knew I needed to go lie down as I was certainly feeling some body effects- rumbling gut let me know that even a small dose like this was going to bring a purge. I snuggled up in bed with the dog and cat who came along for the ride, and sort of dreamed and meditated for a few hours- warm feelings, asking questions, noticing how my body felt... Nothing huge or remarkable, but definitely differences in my internal vision, colors that I don't usually see, and in patterns of movement that are also different. Often when I am receiving some kind of healing treatment, I see certain colors-blue, magenta, violet- swirling in a particular pattern, usually ending in a violet orb- today there was violet but it was being encircled and compressed by a brilliant green tracer.

I wasnt expecting to feel much of anything today really, just wanted to have a 'getting to know you' session, but hours later I purged again- now at least I know which direction it is more likely to come from!

Baby steps and patience... It's all good. Maybe I'll have a chance to microdose again in a day or two, then a couple weeks off for some medical crap, and hopefully continue on toddling with this batch that I made up. I'm going to pasteurize what I have, and keep it in the fridge until I get another chance. Soon come.

Seems like a smart move to work your way into it gradually, especially since you know you're sensitive. It's interesting you can actually distinguish it's effects in such small amounts. Curious to see what more of it does. I hope you and the caapi will get along.

I think you did yourself a favor by not using much vinegar, mine had way too much it was pretty revolting. But I drank a wine glass full of it anyway and didn't have any stomach issues at all, for whatever reason.

Its a good idea to allow the body the opportunity to build its relationship with the vine. Its my opinion that the body needs time to learn, adjust and accept the medicine. We read so often peoples problems with ayahuasca and dosing and I feel often times the amounts were fine but the body hasn't synced with the vine.
Keep moving forward new friend. An endless bounty waits the seeker.

When you do not reduce, the tea had no chance of damping of the vinegar, not that bad except for the taste and that the vinegar will promote the purging.

About microdosing, I regulary take tea the equivalent of 0.5 to 1 gr vine, each day.
It keeps you in touch with the vine, works antidepressant for sure, and holds you more sensitive when ceremony comes by.

Great, thanks for the tips! I wasn't sure just how "micro" a microdose would be, so it's interesting what you've said about only .5 to 1 g doses. I might try that then.

I didnt really find the taste all that bad, didnt notice any vinegar taste. I have had plenty of truly nasty tasting Chinese m,edicine in my day ( revolting powders that you dump in your mouth- UGH!) that were much worse. Next time I brew, I'll try using more vinegar. By then I may be ready to add some light. Hope so.

Yes, getting to know the vine and letting it get to know me, slowly, is my plan. Especially when it comes to purges, and how it affects my head and physical stability even at low doses. All good stuff to know before I go back to brasil this winter. I plan on looking up my friend to talk to him more about what is in his brew, and see about having ceremony with him again, just in a different setting

I keep hearing that silly song.. "getting to know you, getting to know all about you..." lolz

Ah, just thought of a question:

What do you do about diet when microdosing? In general I eat a pretty clean, healthy diet, but well, I do love me some pork. It's something I picked up in Brasil- the more kinds of pork you can put in one dish, the better... lol. And ripe fruits for breakfast, lots of them.

It seems that my diet is comprised of many of the foods that should be avoided before ayahuasca- coffee, chocolate, pork products, beef, onions, garlic, ripe fruits, avocados, fermented and soy things like tofu, soy sauce - I don't eat bread, corn, and in general avoid fish up here... but am happy with rice and beans, plantains, chicken...

So if I wanted to super micro dose, like Jees does, a little bit (.5-1g) each day, how do you resolve the diet issue? Should I consider it like a dieta, an extended period of abstinence/avoidance of all the offending foods, and return to my normal diet when I am not dosing?

thanks for the support, agradeços.

Id say dieta for microdosing is a bit much but its entirely up to you. How long do you plan on M.Dsing for?

Hi Julz. Informative post. Hope to be experimenting with caapi in the near future. What admixture plant do you plan to use for your ayahausca? I recently used syrian rue with minosa. It was an extraodinary experience however the taste is a huge problem for me.

After my first session, I then had two failed experiences and they were not pleasant, lots of purging and not much else. After this I decided to put the aya idea in the back burner and use salted freebase along with extracted harmalas alkaloids, at least until I work out the correct dose for myself.

Best of luck on your travels and keep us informed of your progress!

O mon, I was thinking about doing these micro doses for a week or so, after I take some time off for medical...

Whenever I think about wanting to drink something now, I think about what I have eaten recently, and if the plant would be offended... lol, maybe taking it too far? Really, I love bacon, and sausage, and the thought of not eating any for several weeks is, well, kinda sad.

Since Jees mentioned drinking a little bit everyday, I just kinda wondered what one would do about food interactions.

GoodApollo, I think I am going to stick with caapi only for a while, and then hopefully get some chacruna to make a complete brew, that is if I can find some in a reasonable time frame. My hope is to have a couple good full dose sessions here at home before I return to brasil for the winter. There I hope to meet up with an ayahuasceiro that I know, and see what he's cooking up. So, staying traditional I guess.

I'm really uncertain about many admixtures, or vaping or other variations of MAOI+DMT plants to make a brew. Just want to keep it simple for now.