你的大腦與死藤水：這種致幻藥物有何魔力？：英語精讀講義

The hallucination inducing drug Ayahuasca has been used for centuries 文法

致幻藥物阿亞瓦斯卡（死藤水）已有數百年的使用歷史

by tribes in South America

使用者是南美洲的部落

during spiritual ceremonies.

他們會在靈性儀式中服用它。

But as it becomes more mainstream 文法

但如今，它正日益成為主流

for those seeking optic and auditory hallucinations,

尤其受到追求視覺與聽覺幻覺者的關注，

what exactly is it 表達脈絡

那麼它究竟是什麼

and how does it affect your body and brain?

又會如何影響你的身體和大腦？

Ayahuasca is actually a combination

實際上，死藤水是由

of the leaves of one plant

一種植物的葉子

and the vines of another,

和另一種植物的藤莖混合而成的，

neither of which have any hallucinogenic 文法

這兩種材料單獨使用時

power on their own.

都沒有任何致幻作用。

But the leaves do contain DMT, 文法

但葉子中確實含有 DMT，

which is structurally similar 片語搭配

它的結構類似於

to your neurotransmitter serotonin

神經傳導物質血清素

and to the chemical found in magic mushrooms.

以及迷幻蘑菇中的化學物質。

The problem is your gut enzymes 表達脈絡

問題在於，腸道中的酵素

normally deactivate DMT

通常會讓 DMT 失去活性

before it's absorbed into your bloodstream,

使其無法被吸收到血液中，

and this is where the vines come in. 片語搭配

而藤莖正是在這裡發揮作用。

They inhibit your gut enzymes 文法

它會抑制腸道酵素

from working properly

使其無法正常運作，

and allow DMT to travel within your blood

從而讓 DMT 隨血液流動

and eventually cross the blood-brain barrier.

並最終穿過血腦屏障。

The effects of the drink

這種飲品的藥效

usually hit around half an hour after consumption, 用詞

通常在飲用約半小時後出現，

with hallucinations peaking after 1 hour 文法

幻覺會在一小時後達到高峰

and subsiding within 4 to 6 hours.

並在四到六小時內消退。

But these hallucinations are reported to be different 文法

但根據報告，這些幻覺不同於

from drugs like LSD and shrooms

LSD 和迷幻蘑菇等藥物所造成的幻覺，

in that most people are fully aware 片語搭配

因為大多數人都清楚知道

that they're visually hallucinating.

自己看到的是幻覺。

In addition, instead of hearing voices, 文法

此外，人們聽到的並不是說話聲，

the sounds heard are usually exasperations

而通常是被放大的

of the noises already occurring around them.

周遭原本就存在的聲音。

And unlike those who consume LSD or shrooms 文法

而且，與那些服用 LSD 或迷幻蘑菇

for a good trip, 用詞

只為享受一場美好迷幻體驗的人不同，

many who drink Ayahuasca

許多飲用死藤水的人

are seeking to reconcile

是為了與

with their thoughts and emotions,

自己的想法和情緒和解，

as well as past and present traumatic events.

也為了面對過去和現在的創傷事件。

Afterwards, most feel more at ease 片語搭配

體驗結束後，大多數人會更從容地

with their thoughts

面對自己的想法，

and more accepting of their present situation.

也更能接受目前的處境。

The default mode network 文化背景

預設模式網路

is a distinct area of the brain that,

是大腦中的一個獨特區域，

if overactive, 文法

當它過度活躍時，

is associated with depression,

會與憂鬱症、

anxiety, and social phobia.

焦慮和社交恐懼症有關。

And fMRI brain scans show

功能性磁振造影（fMRI）腦部掃描還顯示，

that Ayahuasca causes a significant decrease 片語搭配

死藤水會顯著降低

in activity within the default mode network.

預設模式網路內的活動。

This is usually linked with a meditative state

這通常與冥想狀態有關，

and explains why some Ayahuasca drinkers

也解釋了為何一些飲用死藤水的人

feel at peace with themselves 慣用語

會感到內心平靜，

and find a renewed sense of purpose 片語搭配

並重新找到人生目標，

after a trip.

而這一切發生在迷幻體驗之後。

Additionally, DMT has been linked with proteins 用詞

此外，DMT 也被發現與某些蛋白質有關，

that promote the maintenance of long-term memory,

這些蛋白質能促進長期記憶的維持、

neural plasticity

神經可塑性

and the regeneration of new neurons.

以及新神經元的再生。

It can bind to specific receptors

它可以與特定受體結合，

found at mitochondria and endoplasmic reticula,

這些受體位於粒線體和內質網上，

and may even have the potential 文法

它甚至可能有能力

to kill certain cancerous cells.

殺死某些癌細胞。

On top of this, 表達脈絡

除此之外，

alkaloids from the vine have been shown 文法

研究也顯示，藤莖中的生物鹼

to induce apoptosis in mice melanoma cells

可誘導小鼠黑色素瘤細胞

and certain liver cancer cells in humans.

和某些人類肝癌細胞發生凋亡。

This is not to say that Ayahuasca 表達脈絡

這並不是說死藤水

is a replacement for radiation or chemotherapy, 片語搭配

可以取代放射治療或化學治療，

but it may hold future possibilities

但它未來或許能為

for cancer research.

癌症研究帶來新的可能。

Interestingly, unlike other drugs

有趣的是，與其他藥物不同，

such as alcohol or cocaine,

比如酒精或古柯鹼，

Ayahuasca does not seem to create a tolerance, 文法

死藤水似乎不會讓人產生耐受性，

so regular drinkers aren't required to drink more

所以經常飲用的人不必喝得更多

in order to achieve the same effect

便能獲得相同的效果，

experienced the first time.

就像第一次飲用時那樣。

After consumption,

飲用之後，

drinkers usually suffer violent retching,

人們通常會劇烈乾嘔，

vomiting, and even diarrhea

嘔吐，甚至腹瀉，

as the brew is extremely acidic, 文法

因為這種飲品的酸性極強，

making an upset stomach normal 文法

所以胃部不適十分常見，

even in experienced drinkers.

即使有經驗的飲用者也不例外。

And there is a dark side of Ayahuasca too. 慣用語

死藤水也有其黑暗的一面。

Fatalities have been linked to its ingestion,

有些死亡案例被認為與飲用它有關，

particularly among tourists,

尤其是在遊客當中，

though the manner of death 講解

儘管具體的死亡原因

is often undetermined.

往往無法確定。

The increase in popularity

隨著它越來越受歡迎，

has also given rise to fake shamans 片語搭配

冒牌薩滿也隨之出現，

unqualified to create the brew safely.

他們根本不具備安全調製這種飲品的資格。

Ultimately, the data is currently too sparse 文法

歸根究柢，目前的資料仍過於有限，

to seriously consider Ayahuasca recreationally

不足以讓我們認真考慮將死藤水用於娛樂，

and more clinical trials are required 文法

還需要進行更多臨床試驗，

to conclude whether Ayahuasca is safe.

才能判斷死藤水是否安全。

Special thanks to Audible

特別感謝 Audible

for supporting this episode

對本集影片的支持，

to give you a free 30-day trial

你可以獲得 30 天免費試用，

at audible.com/asap.

網址是 audible.com/asap。

This week we wanted to recommend

本週我們想推薦

the book Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks,

奧立佛．薩克斯的《幻覺》，

which takes an in-depth look 片語搭配

本書深入探討了

into the myriad of conditions

各式各樣

that induce hallucinations

會引發幻覺的狀況，

and shows just how common they actually are. 文法

並揭示幻覺其實有多麼常見。

You can get a free 30-day trial

你可以獲得 30 天免費試用，

at audible.com/asap

只要前往 audible.com/asap，

and choose from a massive selection.

就能從龐大的內容庫中挑選。

We love them as they're great

我們很喜歡這些有聲書，因為它們非常適合

when you're on the go. 慣用語

出門在外時收聽。

And subscribe for more weekly science videos.

也請訂閱頻道，收看更多每週更新的科學影片。