Burned Pages

Burned Pages is a story item which was added in update V.1.0 to Green Hell.

Basic Info
The burned pages can be found in a backpack at the Abandoned Tribal Village. Upon finding the burned pages the player will learn how to make ayahuasca, allowing the player to progress further in to the exploration of the story.

Theory
It is unclear who the notes once belonged to, one theory is that the notes found along with a map and backpack may have belonged to Joao, a refugee who was killed by skull painted warriors. In one of Izabel's journals she mentions that Joao had the map with him when he was killed.

Transcription
Religious rituals and healing ceremonies of the Yabahuaca tribe can't go without the hallucinogenic brew called ayahuasca, which means “liana of the souls” in Quechua. It's also made out of vine, more specifically Banisteriopsis caapi, which contains harmine and harmaline. these substances alone have hallucinogenic properties, but to access the full power of ayahuasca other ingredients are added: other vine, Diplopterys cabrerana, with an equally high amount of psychedelics, leaves of the Psychotria Viridis shurb, and several other species characteristic of South America. There is no one, determined recipe, which is why both the proportions and the used ingredients are chosen individually by each shaman. For the same reason the effect of the mixture can vary dramatically.

Details notwithstanding, the basis of the brew is always the Banisteriopsis caapi vine. First, it has to be cleaned and softened by pounding with wooden mallets until thin fibers remain. Plant ,material acquired this way is then put in a small cauldron of water and boiled over a fire. In the meantime brews made out of other ingredients are prepared, each in a separate pot. Next, all brews are placed in one pot and boiled again until most of the water evaporates.

The preparation of the brew normally takes all day, and the ceremony during which it is taken lasts all night. Ayahuasca is to be taken only in the presence of a shaman, who also serves as a guide. The effect of psychedelic substances usually last several hours. In that time, the participants of the ceremony experience a spiritual revelation. Amazing visions show them the purpose and true nature of the cosmos, and the reason for their existence. Many people who have taken ayahuasca say that they experienced a complete transformation and they intend to use the acquired secret knowledge to become a new, better human being. Few people have a bad reaction to the psychedelics and suffer from nightmares or even hellish visions. For most, it's a way to go through a deep religious experience and get closer to the mysteries of nature.

The shaman can also put the participants of the ritual into a trance, which allows them to contact the spirits of their ancestors and magical beings, who offer advice and serve as spiritual guides. Sometimes the brew also gives the ability to see the future or tap into the collective memory of an entire tribe or even humanity. Some gain memories of their past selves this way.

Vomiting and diarrhea are both important elements of the ceremony. Induced by digesting the brew, they are supposed to cleanse the body of negative energy and emotions, and quite literally expel them from the system. This may seems unpleasant, but bot vomiting and diarrhea have an important medicinal effect for the people living in a tropical jungle, as they help clean the body of many dangerous parasites; harmine and harmaline are practically lethal to these organisms. Although ayahuasca is mainly seen as a religious ritual, it's worth it to consider its medicinal use.

Only recently has western medicine started to appreciate ayahuasca. The first conducted studies showed that it can significantly help patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression, anxiety and trauma. The effect of the brew on memory is truly fascinating. Patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often experience amnesia, as they push the traumatic memories into their subconsciousness and aren't able to recall them. Those given ayahuasca not only reported regaining the lost memories, but also stopped experiencing fear ad got rid of panic attacks. This is probably due to the fact that ayahuasca activates the areas in the brain responsible for memory and emotional reactions. It enhances the neuroplasticity of the brain and the process of neurogenesis, and triggers dopaminergic neurotransmission. These processes, in turn, lead to recovery of memories and memory consolidation. In the case of trauma, they additionally reprogram the emotional reaction and alleviate fear. The memory itself is intact, but the negative emotions associated with it are removed.

It is true that the members of the Yabahuaca who take ayahuasca exhibit good spirits, calmness and stability, and are better at social interactions. they also have excellent memory and concentration.