It's actually nothing similar to mushrooms, it's more similar to DMT than anything which ayahuasca has DMT in it. DMT is a natural chemical in your brain, when it's released it makes you dream. When you dream, it's due to the DMT and if you've ever woken up and saw things that seemed real, well they weren't, it's just the DMT being released.
It doesn't necessarily mess you up, it's completely safe and in the Amazon they use it as a symbolic and cultural thing, it's a medicine that comes from a sacred plant in the Amazon. People who are traumatized go to a retreat and come out completely different. Mother ayahuasca puts them through a purge to find theirselves and some purges are worse than others, some go deep within themselves and battle their demons. I only did 2 shots so I battled the beginning of my demons. In the future I plan to attend and actual ceremony and get deep within myself and truly find my purpose and better yet who I actually am. This first trip did nothing but good for me. It's not a drug to get high on, it's to heal yourself, and you need a purpose before taking off on your journey. What you want to know, she will show you. What I saw was explainable, I just thought WOW. She showed me how powerful the mind really is once you open it up.