bufo or ayahuasca?
A thorough and clear comparison between Bufo Alvarius (5-MeO-DMT) and Ayahuasca
Both medicines are incredibly powerful tools for healing, personal growth and spiritual awakening
The choice between them depends on your personal goals, readiness, and the type of experience you seek. Whether you are looking for a life-changing, profound breakthrough with Bufo or a long, introspective journey with Ayahuasca, both can provide profound insights and lasting changes when approached with respect and proper guidance.
key differences of the medicines
Bufo Alvarius
Method of Administration
Inhaled as vapor through a pipe (smoked).
Psycho-active Substance
5-MeO-DMT & Bufotenine
Type of Ceremony
Ideally ceremonies are private 1-on-1
Length of Ceremony
20min to 1 hour
Potency
Most powerful entheogen there is
10x more powerful than ayahuasca
Purging
Very rarely
Type of Experience
No choice but to surrender
More neurological
How you feel after
Fully back to normal (you can go about your day)
Best for
Experience of Non-Duality and ego dissolution
High chances of breakthrough
Releasing deep traumas
AYAHUASCA
Method of Administration
Drink the ayahuasca brew
Psycho-active Substance
DMT & Caapi
Type of Ceremony
Group ceremonies
Length of Ceremony
4 to 8 hours
Potency
Powerful
DMT is often referred to as ‘The King of Psychedelics’
Purging
Most likely you will purge multiple times
Type of Experience
More ability to steer & control your experience
More physical
How you feel after
Exhaustion (you need a day to recover)
Best for
Resolving the past
Detox
Physical healing
When friends ask me, I personally recommend Bufo unless they have a specific issue from the past they want to resolve. I prefer Bufo because it is safer, easier, shorter and more powerful.
Bufo is also called ‘the business man trip’. This is because it is short, efficient and to the point. In a bufo journey, there is less opportunity for the mind to come in and take control.
Because of this, is is far less common to experience a ‘bad trip’ with bufo, whereas with ayahuasca there is a real chance of having a bad trip during the journey.
Bufo allows you to experience what lies beyond the ego and takes you into the state of Non-Duality. This is also known as the state of enlightenment, nirvana, unity, or simply put ‘meeting God’.
In addition, ayahuasca is mostly done in a group setting. I do not participate in group ceremonies, because you can come out worse than you went in. During these ceremonies all the participants are fully open, vulnerable and in the middle of great releases. It is quite common to take stuff on that other people are releasing. This is also why I only do private 1-on-1 ceremonies with my clients.
I have seen many people get lost within the realm of plant medicine. When working with ayahuasca, many hop from ceremony to ceremony, under the false impression that they are evolving spiritually. The reality however often is, that they are unconsciously inflating the ego and spiritually bypassing their ‘human issues’ with their new-found spiritual identity.
That being said, both medicines are incredibly powerful and carry profound wisdom. The best way to determine which medicine is best for you, is by doing proper research on both and listen to your own intuition.
I would advice not to watch youtube videos, as they are often sensationalized and don’t portray an accurate picture of what these medicines are really about. Especially the documentaries on bufo that you can find online are not reflecting the true beauty of the medicine.
My thoughts
What Is Bufo Alvarius?
Bufo Alvarius is the most powerful entheogenic medicine known to mankind. The Sacred Medicine comes from the Sonoran desert toad. It is also known as the Colorado River toad, DMT toad, or Incilius Alvarius. This powerful psychedelic is renowned for its loving and transformative qualities. It ushers you into a realm of healing and spiritual elevation like no other.
Components of Bufo Alvarius
5-MeO-DMT (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine): The primary active compound in Bufo Alvarius venom is 5-MeO-DMT, a potent hallucinogen known for its rapid and intense effects. This compound is structurally similar to DMT but produces a distinctly different experience. Interestingly, 5-MeO-DMT is a natural neurotransmitter in the brain. Our brains produce elevated quantities of this psychedelic substance during moments of transcendence, such as birth, near-death experiences, deep meditation, and ultimately, passing from this life. This mystical compound is often referred to as the "DMT Spirit Molecule" or "God Molecule."
Bufotenine: also known as 5-HO-DMT (5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine), is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound.
The Bufo Alvarius Experience
Setting and Intention: Consuming Bufo Alvarius is typically done in a controlled and safe setting, often with the guidance of an experienced facilitator or shaman. The environment is crucial to ensure a safe and supportive experience.
Consumption: The dried venom is smoked or vaporized, usually in a single inhalation. The effects begin almost immediately, within seconds to minutes.
Phases of the Journey:
Onset: The onset of Bufo Alvarius is incredibly rapid and intense. Users often experience a powerful surge of energy and a sense of being propelled into an altered state of consciousness.
Peak Experience: During the peak, users typically report a profound sense of unity, ego dissolution, and merging with the universe. This phase is characterized by intense feelings of bliss, interconnectedness, and transcendence beyond the physical body.
Duration: The entire experience is relatively short, usually lasting between 20min to 1 hour. Despite the brevity, the intensity of the experience can make it feel much longer.
Aftereffects and Integration:
Immediate Aftereffects: After the peak experience, users often feel a deep sense of peace, clarity, and connection. The return to baseline is usually smooth, with lingering feelings of well-being.
Long-Term Integration: The insights and transformative experiences gained from Bufo Alvarius can have lasting impacts. Integration practices such as meditation, journaling, therapy, and discussions with experienced practitioners are crucial to process and incorporate these insights into daily life.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF
A BUFO ALVARIUS CEREMONY?
Ego Dissolution: A Bufo ceremony can induce temporary ego death. Such experiences create a deep connection with the universe and offer breakthroughs, resets and spiritual rebirths.
Spiritual Awakening: Bufo Alvarius therapy helps people have a spiritual awakening, understand reality, and reach higher consciousness levels.
Healing from Trauma: This powerful psychedelic helps us heal deep-seated traumas that are difficult to resolve (e.g. childhood trauma). Releasing these deep-rooted pains can completely change our lives. Many people have experienced lasting emotional healing, personal growth and happiness.
Anxiety and Depression Relief: Bufo therapy helps with anxiety and depression by changing negative thought patterns and forming new neural pathways (neuroplasticity), according to scientific research.
Addiction and Self-Harming Behavior Relief: Bufo benefits those with addiction and self-harming behavior. The medicine allows people to feel self-love which motivates them to make healthier choices.
Psychosomatic Healing: Bufo experiences address mental and emotional blockages, often resolving physical ailments rooted in psychosomatic illnesses.
Enhanced Self-Understanding: Learn more about yourself and your purpose in life through personal insights gained from journeys with the 5-MeO-DMT Spirit Molecule.
Higher States of Consciousness: The DMT toad medicine allows access to higher consciousness, promoting spiritual growth and connection to the universe.
What Is AYAHUASCA?
Ayahuasca is a powerful psychoactive brew traditionally used by indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin for spiritual and healing purposes. It is renowned for its profound psychological and spiritual effects, which can lead to deep personal insights and emotional healing.
Components of Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca is made from two primary ingredients:
Banisteriopsis caapi (the vine): This vine contains harmala alkaloids, which are natural monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). These MAOIs prevent the breakdown of DMT, the active psychoactive component, allowing it to be orally active.
Psychotria viridis (chacruna) or Diplopterys cabrerana (chaliponga): These plants contain N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a powerful hallucinogenic compound that induces the profound visionary experiences associated with Ayahuasca.
The Ayahuasca Experience
Ceremony and Setting: Ayahuasca is usually consumed in a ceremonial context, often led by a shaman or facilitator experienced in its use. The setting is designed to be safe and supportive, helping participants navigate their experiences.
Consumption: Participants drink the Ayahuasca brew, which can have a strong, bitter taste. The effects typically begin to manifest within 30 to 60 minutes.
Phases of the Journey:
Onset: The initial phase can include physical sensations such as nausea, purging (vomiting or diarrhea), and body temperature changes. Purging is considered a cleansing process.
Visionary Phase: As the brew takes effect, participants often experience vivid visual and auditory hallucinations. These can range from geometric patterns to profound, narrative visions involving personal memories or encounters with spiritual beings.
Emotional and Psychological Insights: Ayahuasca can bring deep emotional releases and insights. Participants often confront and process past traumas, fears, and unresolved issues, leading to emotional healing and a sense of clarity.
Purging: Most people release through purging.
Duration: The entire Ayahuasca journey lasts between 4 to 8 hours, with the intensity of the experience gradually decreasing towards the end.
what are the benefits of an ayahuasca ceremony?
Sense of Community: Participating in Ayahuasca ceremonies often fosters a sense of community and connection with others on a similar spiritual journey.
Spiritual Awakening: Ayahuasca helps people have a spiritual awakening, understand reality, and reach higher consciousness levels.
Healing from Trauma: This powerful psychedelic helps us heal deep-seated traumas that are difficult to resolve (e.g. childhood trauma). Releasing these deep-rooted pains can completely change our lives. Many people have experienced lasting emotional healing, personal growth and happiness.
Detoxification: The purging process (vomiting or diarrhea) during an Ayahuasca ceremony is often seen as a physical detoxification, helping to cleanse the body of toxins.
Expanded Consciousness: Ayahuasca can expand one’s consciousness, leading to experiences of unity, interconnectedness, and a broader perspective on life.
Emotional Release: The intense experience often leads to cathartic emotional release, helping individuals let go of pent-up emotions and negative patterns.
Anxiety and Depression Relief: Many participants report significant reductions in symptoms of anxiety and depression after Ayahuasca ceremonies.
Self-Discovery: Ayahuasca can provide deep insights into one’s own behavior, motivations, and life patterns, promoting self-understanding and growth.
“There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled.
There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled.
You feel it, don’t you?”