Ritual and medicinal plants of the Ese'ejas of the Amazonian rainforest (Madre de Dios, Perú).
Journal of ethnopharmacology May 1, 1996 C Desmarchelier, A Gurni, G Ciccia et al. 63 citations
The Ese'eja, a hunter-fisher-gatherer tribe in southeastern Peru, view disease as arising from accident, distraction, indolence, or evil powers—either from a harmful shaman or the Devil. Their health practices are inseparable from religious beliefs. Shamanic practices, including the use of medicinal and ritual plants, are described to show this integration. Ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi) plays a central role in shaman initiation and healing rituals, with diagnosis and treatment involving invocations to the ayahuasca spirit. The text presents plants used as medicine or invoked for healing.