Joe Rogan explained how he felt after taking 'life altering' Ayahuasca drug

Joe Rogan has previously opened up about his experience using psychoactive brew Ayahuasca, saying the psychedelic is like 'communicating with something that's far more intelligent than you.'

Originating in South America, Ayahuasca was traditionally used for religious or spiritual reasons by indigenous cultures in the region. However, it has since become gradually more popular over the years as various celebrities praise its so-called therapeutic benefits.

Here is everything you need to know about Ayahuasca and the celebrities who've spoken about having life changing experiences while using the substance.

What is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive drink used by the people residing near the Amazon and Orinoco river basins.

The drink is made from a combination of a plant known as Banisteriopsis caapi vine and DMT-containing plants such as Psychotria viridis (via Healthline).

Ayahuasca has roots in several indigenous cultures of South America, but has since become more popular for its psychedelic effects (Getty Stock Images)

Ayahuasca is said to contain hallucinogenic properties which provides a sense of euphoria and enlightenment. However, some people can have negative experiences such as anxiety, hallucinations and personality changes.

The drug's legality varies from country-to-country, with Ayahuasca being legal in South American nations such as Brazil, Mexico and Peru, while it is only legal for religious purposes in the US and Canada.

Nations such as the UK, Germany and France have outlawed the drug entirely.

What was Joe Rogan’s experience on Ayahuasca?

The UFC commentator has alluded about his experience over the years, as well as welcoming experts such as Ron White, Graham Hancock and Dorian Yates onto his podcast to discuss the topic.

"You're still you, you're not drunk that's what's weird about it," he explained during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience with Rob Lowe.

"If you wanted to get real woo-woo you would call it some sort of a chemical gateway into another dimension or to a another realm that you can't access without it."

Rogan went on to add that, while he'd experienced unpleasant side effects such as diarrhoea, he's also had 'a lot of visions' from his trips.

Joe Rogan has often spoken about psychedelics on his podcast (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

"They all seem impossible to describe," he said. "You feel more, you see more, it's vibrant, it's more powerful.

"It seems to be you're communicating with something that's far more intelligent than you."

Who’s been known to try it?

Rogan isn't the only public figure to use Ayahuasca either, with celebrities such as Penn Badgley, Lindsay Lohan and Jim Carrey just a few names who've reportedly tried the substance (via The Hollywood Reporter).

Machine Gun Kelly called his experience with Ayahuasca 'one of the most important things that happened to me in my life' during an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, adding: "It helped me confront things I had been running from."

The rapper - real name Colson Baker - shared the experience with on-off partner Megan Fox, who called using Ayahuasca 'a real ego death.'

"There's nothing glamorous about it. It’s all a part of making you vulnerable, so you sort of surrender to the experience," she said (via The Independent).