ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science
January 1, 2021
Konstantin Gerber, Inti García Flores, Angela Christina Ruiz et al.
54 citations
Since a 1957 Life Magazine article, chemical compounds from Psilocybe mushrooms have been the subject of many patent attempts, including recent ones for treating depression. The Mazatec indigenous communities, who have used these traditional medicines for millennia, are not included in any of these patents, despite international treaties that recognize indigenous rights to their intangible cultural heritage.
Transcultural Psychiatry
January 6, 2022
Eduardo Ekman Schenberg, Konstantin Gerber
18 citations
Recent clinical trials show evidence of therapeutic potential for ayahuasca in treating depression, but indigenous peoples have used ayahuasca therapeutically for centuries. The authors argue that epistemic injustices have been committed by attributing excessive authority to scientific studies over traditional knowledge, with practical, cultural, social, and legal consequences. They question epistemic authority based on double-blind design, molecularization discourse, and safety issues. A new approach is proposed to enforce indigenous rights, considering cases in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. Indigenous peoples have the right to control their biocultural heritage and traditional medicine.
Transcultural Psychiatry
October 1, 2022
Eduardo Ekman Schenberg, Konstantin Gerber
2 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew, significantly impacts users' mental health and worldview. In a study involving 200 participants, 76% reported enhanced emotional well-being and 65% experienced shifts in their understanding of reality. This suggests that ayahuasca may bridge gaps between psychology and sociology, revealing insights into human behavior and belief systems. Additionally, the findings highlight the potential for psychedelics to inform political science discussions on globalization and environmental ethics, while also prompting further exploration in cannabis research and biochemical analysis techniques.