Subjective Theories about (Self‐)Treatment with Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca, a psychoactive beverage used in ritualized settings such as Santo Daime and neo-shamanic rituals, is often called a 'healing ritual' by participants. Interviews with 15 people who used ayahuasca for conditions like chronic pain, cancer, asthma, depression, alcohol abuse, or Hepatitis C revealed diverse motivations, subjective effects, and user types. Most participants believed ayahuasca positively influenced their illness or improved their coping, and enhanced their general well-being. The authors conclude that ayahuasca's effects should not be reduced to a pharmacological model; instead, it acts as a psychological catalyst shaped by sociocultural ideas.

Study at a glance

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ayahuasca is a psychoactive beverage that is mostly used in ritualized settings (Santo Daime rituals, neo‐shamanic rituals, and even do‐it‐yourself‐rituals). It is a common practice in the investigated socio‐cultural field to call these settings “healing rituals.” For this study, 15 people who underwent ayahuasca (self‐)therapy for a particular disease like chronic pain, cancer, asthma, depression, alcohol abuse, or Hepatitis C were interviewed twice about their subjective concepts and beliefs on ayahuasca and healing. Qualitative data analysis revealed a variety of motivational patterns, subjective effects, and user types. Most participants were convinced that ayahuasca had influenced their illness positively or improved their coping with their illness. More importantly, it had enhanced their well being in general. As a result, we concluded that the effects of ayahuasca should not be reduced to a pharmacological model. The substance should be conceptualized as a psychological catalyst that unfolds within different fields of sociocultural ideas.