Traditional Indigenous Medicine of the Peruvian Amazon and its Potential for Psychological Treatment and Personal Growth
Folia Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis January 1, 2014 Veronika Kavenská 4 citations
Traditional medicine of the Peruvian Amazon, particularly the hallucinogenic vine ayahuasca, is used by indigenous communities for healing, spiritual contact, and other purposes. Growing interest from people in Europe and the US has led to 'shamanic tourism'—individuals undertaking ayahuasca expeditions. Ayahuasca shows psychotherapeutic potential, including use in structured therapeutic communities for drug addicts (Takiwasi). The text notes potential benefits and risks for such tourism. The term 'shaman' originates from East Siberia, meaning 'the one who knows,' while in the Peruvian Amazon the healer is called curandero, vegetalista, or medicine man.