The leaves of this jungle bush have been used for ages in the brew 'ayahuasca,' prepared by the shamans of the Amazon Rainforest to diagnose and heal countless afflictions. The leaves of the Chacruna plant are usually cooked together with mascerated segments of the ayahuasca vine (banisteriopsis caapi).

Because of its chemical composition, the mixture of plants allows the shaman to enter a spiritual dimension where most of shamanic work takes place. The brew is drunk in healing ceremonies lead by 'curanderos', or shamans that heal.

There are several different varieties referred to as Chacruna by the shamans of the Amazon, but psychotria viridis is the most common of them all.

The shiny leaves of this evergreen bush are long and narrow and vary from bright to dark green. The small white flowers grow on long stalks that produce several red berries, about 1cm in length. These berries contain multiple long, oval seeds.