The use of ayahuasca, even in its original indigenous context, is not a fixed body of traditional knowledge but rather a dynamic network of human and non-human actors—including spirits, biochemical substances, specialists, clients, and theories—that transform the practice as they perform and disseminate it. This paper surveys the diversity of ayahuasca's composition, uses, and agents across the Amazon, describing it in terms similar to modern science and technology.
Ayahuasca is an ancient beverage used in spiritual rituals. The term, of Quechua origin, is analyzed etymologically by anthropologist Luna (1986) as combining 'aya' (person, soul, dead spirit) and 'wasca' (rope, vine, liana), translating to 'rope of the spirits', 'rope of the dead', or 'vine of souls'. The text discusses the cultural and linguistic roots of the name, highlighting its significance in indigenous traditions.