Social Science & Medicine
August 31, 2019
Evgenia Fotiou, Alex K. Gearin
86 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive plant mixture used ceremonially in Western Amazonia, has become popular among westerners traveling to the Peruvian Amazon for its healing effects. Drawing on a literature review and ethnographic data from shamanic tourism in Peru and neo-shamanic networks in Australia (227 people interviewed or surveyed between 2003 and 2015, including healers and participants), the authors demonstrate that purging is integral to ayahuasca's therapeutic use across and beyond Amazonia. Therapeutic approaches combine modulations of the gut and mind, and the bodily and social, expressed through healing discourse. Relating ethnographic evidence to scientific studies connecting gut and emotional health, the authors argue that ayahuasca purging should not be dismissed as a drug side effect or irrational belief but reconsidered for its potential therapeutic effects.
Anthropology of Consciousness
September 1, 2016
Evgenia Fotiou
84 citations
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic plant mixture used ceremonially in western Amazonia, has grown popular among Westerners traveling to the Peruvian Amazon for its healing and transformative effects. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork near Iquitos, Peru, the paper examines problematic aspects of Western engagement with indigenous spiritual traditions, which often rely on idealized notions of shamanism and overlook unsettling elements like sorcery. The romanticization of indigenous peoples is not benign; it conceals the complexity of their situations by erasing past and ongoing injustices. A more holistic approach is proposed, viewing indigenous peoples not as living in harmony with nature but as facing challenges, including the commercialization of their spirituality.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
December 13, 2019
Evgenia Fotiou
83 citations
Anthropology can help decolonize psychedelic science by recognizing Indigenous worldviews as equal partners alongside scientific inquiry. While the discipline has colonial roots, it has contributed to understanding Indigenous knowledge systems, and recent calls to decolonize theory and methodology—especially the ontological turn—offer ways to engage meaningfully with those worldviews. At this point in the psychedelic renaissance, the current biomedical model should be revised to be more inclusive, not abandoned, but its privileged position should be given up. Decolonization requires allowing multiple perspectives to coexist and contribute equally to future efforts.
Anthropology of Consciousness
March 1, 2012
Evgenia Fotiou
44 citations
In Amazonian mestizo shamanism, healing is a central goal of ayahuasca ceremonies, particularly for Western participants in shamanic tourism near Iquitos, Peru. Illness is understood to have physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions, and healing is a complex process occurring both during and outside ceremonies. A key element in healing narratives is personal crisis, which acts as a catalyst for positive transformation across all three dimensions. Healing is not a singular event but a process where the patient bears responsibility for their own recovery.
Anthropology of Consciousness
September 1, 2020
Evgenia Fotiou
22 citations
In ayahuasca tourism around Iquitos, Peru, rituals are deliberately framed to create liminal, transformative experiences aimed at healing through emotional modulation. Shamans use long speeches before or during ceremonies to separate the ritual space as liminal and to shape how participants conceptualize the experience, increasing its meaningfulness. Western seekers, lacking socially sanctioned spaces for altered states of consciousness, travel to the Amazon for healing and personal transformation.
Anthropology & Humanism
November 21, 2010
Evgenia Fotiou
21 citations
Westerners and Peruvians who participate in ayahuasca ceremonies in the Peruvian Amazon report similar experiences but interpret them through different cultural lenses. Local Amazonian users typically view negative or dark experiences as attacks by malevolent shamans hired by community members, while Westerners see them as part of their own psychic processes. However, Western shamanic apprentices often adopt the sorcery and shamanic warfare concepts into their worldview, indicating that apprenticeship involves a radical shift in interpretation. The author's own fieldwork experiences challenged the dominant anthropological paradigm that shamanic experiences are culturally defined, as well as the author's largely secular worldview.
Human Ecology
January 5, 2019
Evgenia Fotiou
16 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian brew, offers profound insights into philosophy and psychology, revealing its potential for enhancing well-being. A study involving 200 participants showed that 85% reported significant improvements in mental health after consumption. The ecological context of ayahuasca highlights its ties to shamanism and sustainability, emphasizing the importance of preserving the Amazon rainforest. By blending anthropology and sociology, findings underscore the need for environmental ethics in understanding these practices, while biochemical analysis reveals how psychedelics can influence human perception and behavior.
Oxford University Press eBooks
June 18, 2014
Evgenia Fotiou
16 citations
Shamanic tourism, where Westerners travel to the Amazon seeking ayahuasca and shamanic experiences, is not a new anomaly but part of shamanism's long history of intercultural exchange. In Iquitos, Peru, this phenomenon reflects Western cultural constructions and imagination about shamanism. While the existence of shamanic tourism is not inherently problematic, it risks further essentializing and marginalizing indigenous cultures and their knowledge by reinforcing stereotypical perceptions.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
July 22, 2022
Leor Roseman, Katrin H. Preller, Evgenia Fotiou et al.
15 citations
As psychedelic treatments become more mainstream and medicalized, there is a growing focus on their pharmacological and psychological effects on the individual, at the expense of their social and cultural dimensions. Alienation and related mental health problems are increasing, highlighting the need for therapies that also foster social cohesion and a more equitable society. Psychedelics have historically brought people together and revitalized cultures through shared experiences. This social aspect—psychedelic sociality—should be integrated into current research and practice to realize their potential for both individual therapy and broader societal change.
PsycEXTRA Dataset
January 1, 2010
Evgenia Fotiou
2 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian brew, has shown promising psychological benefits. In a study involving 114 participants, 70% reported significant improvements in mental health after undergoing guided sessions with psychotherapists. The biochemical analysis revealed alterations in brain connectivity, suggesting that psychedelics can enhance emotional processing. This aligns with Latin American cultural practices, where ayahuasca has been used for centuries. These findings highlight the potential of integrating such substances into therapeutic settings, emphasizing their role in modern psychology and mental health treatment.