A Hallucinogenic Tea, Laced With Controversy. Ayahuasca in the Amazon and the United States
Journal of Travel Medicine July 1, 2009 Marlene Dobkin De Rios, Roger Rumrrill 48 citations
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.