A hallucinogenic tea made from a giant Amazonian vine, ayahuasca (meaning spirit vine), has been used as a religious sacrament for centuries across several South American cultures. Spiritual leaders and shamans consider it enlightening and healing, but it is viewed as an illicit drug by officials in South America and the United States. The book examines the history, realm, and arguments surrounding ayahuasca, including its movement into the U.S., where church groups have fought for legal use and drug tourists travel to South America, often risking exploitation by charlatans. It also covers U.S. scientific investigations into ayahuasca's potential healing properties and includes the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances and interviews with Amazonian shamans.
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic tea made from a vine native to the Amazonian rainforest, has been used as a religious sacrament for centuries across several South American cultures. Spiritual leaders and shamans consider it enlightening and healing. The book explores the history, realm, and debates around ayahuasca, which some view as a sacrament and others as a scourge. It covers its movement into the United States, leading to legal battles and rulings from the United Nations, and the rise of drug tourism to South America, where charlatans put tourists at risk. Opponents fight its use while scientists investigate its potential healing properties for physical and mental health. The book includes text from the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances and interviews with Amazonian shamans.