Reports by explorers and travelers and the first scientific studies on ayahuasca (dating from 1850 to 1950) within the current debate on the “psychedelic renaissance”
História Ciências Saúde-Manguinhos – January 01, 2023
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ayahuasca, a traditional Indigenous psychoactive brew, has seen a resurgence in interest during the psychedelic renaissance, which began gaining traction in the early 2000s. Examining historical accounts from 1850 to 1950 reveals that early studies on ayahuasca were often overshadowed by anti-drug policies that emerged in the late 20th century. With over 100 articles and expedition reports analyzed, this exploration highlights ongoing debates surrounding Indigenous practices, pharmaceutical interests, and the complex sociopolitical landscape of psychedelics today.
Abstract
Abstract This article describes the associations and controversies between indigenous and western uses of ayahuasca between 1850 and 1950 in relation to the “psychedelic renaissance.” This movement has gained scientific attention since 2000, but hearkens back to the 1960s and 1970s, when anti-drug policy halted research on the “therapeutic potential” of psychoactive substances. Pioneering studies on ayahuasca date back to the early twentieth century and mention reports of expeditions to Amazonia from 1850 onward. Here, these articles and reports are analyzed according to the historical aspect of actor-network theory and recent studies. We infer that history casts light on the current political debate about indigenous uses, classifications, and meanings, pharmaceutical interest in ayahuasca, and the debate on “drugs.”