Sananga

The Shamanic Benefits of Sananga Eye Drops

Sananga eye drops burn! So why do people use them? Turns out they have a multitude of shamanic and spiritual uses.

Sananga is commonly made from the roots and bark of Tabernaemontana undulata, a shrub which is found in Brazil and other South American countries. The bark and root is ground into a very fine powder and then extracted into a juice.

This sacred and powerful medicine is used to treat and prevent ocular diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, farsightedness, nearsightedness and even blindness.

Sananga is mostly utilized by the tribes found in the Amazon region such as, Kaxinawás, Matsés and Yawanawá. Some tribes in the Amazon region use Sananga to sharpen their night vision while hunting, however, sananga does more than that.

This powerful eye drop has a healing power that is more spiritual than physical, and has the capacity to increase insight in the minds of those who use it. Sananga is commonly used in preparation for ayahuasca ceremonies due to its capacity to increase visual perception, enhance colors and remove unwanted energy.

Sananga eye drops cause an intense burning sensation that typically lasts for a few minutes, but experienced practitioners claim that the pain is an important part of the healing process. They advise breathing deeply into the discomfort in order to reap all of sananga’s benefits.

Below are some of the benefits of Tabernaemontana genus which is found in sananga:

Antimicrobial: Studies show that Tabernaemontana pachysiphon and Tabernaemontana angulata, found in sananga, are effective in treating skin infections because of its antimicrobial properties.

Antifungal: Tabernaemontana stapfiana is effective in preventing fungal growth.

Antioxidant: Tabernaemontana genus also has strong antioxidant properties which play a critical role in preventing age-related ocular problems.

Anti-inflammatory: Tabernaemontana pandacaqui has anti-inflammatory effects used for treating arthritis.

Anti-cancer: Study shows that Tabernaemontana species, specifically the T. elegans is an effective cancer killer.

The active principle of sananga is ibogaine which is a psychoactive alkaloid and mild stimulant in small doses, but can induce a profound psychedelic state if used in larger doses.

Apart from ibogaine, several other alkaloids, such as coronaridine, quebrachidine, heyneanine, 3-hydroxycoronaridine, ibogamine and voacangine are believed to also be contained in sananga. All of these alkaloids have powerful psychoactive effects and can exert strong antibiotic effects.

Like other psychedelics, sananga can cause mental, visual and auditory changes, and an altered state of mind. But many find sananga to be a unique type of psychedelic not only because of how it is administered but how it effects the body.

The burning sensation one can feel after administration causes the release of endorphins, a chemical produced by the body to ease the pain, which stay in the body after the sananga is gone, leading to a feeling of utmost relaxation.