Santo Daime in the context of the new religious consciousness
April 8, 2016 Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Rafael Guimaraes Dos Santos, Brian Anderson et al. 2 citations
Ayahuasca, used ritually in South American religions such as Santo Daime and União do Vegetal and in Amazonian rehabilitation centers, shows therapeutic potential for treating substance dependence. Anthropological and psychiatric data indicate that ritual ayahuasca use can aid healing from addiction. The chapter reviews evidence from these settings and discusses methodological, ethical, and political considerations for future research. It places current studies in the context of psychedelic and psycholytic therapies developed between the 1950s and 1970s, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary approaches to understand ayahuasca's role in dependence treatment.