Sociopsychotherapeutic Functions of Ayahuasca Healing in Amazonia
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 1989 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.1989.10472145 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Vision Transcendental number Psychotherapist Aesthetics |
| Citations | 59 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca healing rituals provide the entire community access to transcendental experiences that have integrative and cohesive social functions. |
Abstract
The social and psychotherapeutic functions of healing rituals with ayahuasca among Amazonian groups are examined, and their healing effectiveness is explained in terms of Western scientific and sociopsychotherapeutic perspectives. The article includes an overview of the preparation and application of ayahuasca, the symbolic adaptations to the process of social change, the role of singing, the perceptive mode during the visionary state, and the structure of the visions. It is noted that the healing activities provide the entire community access to transcendental experiences, which clearly have integrative and cohesive social functions. Ethnopsychology provides important insights into the functions of archaic healing rituals, and can be used to illustrate the transcendental experiences and pathological use of drugs in modern societies.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ayahuasca, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 41
- Peak experiences and the afterglow phenomenon: When and how do therapeutic effects of hallucinogens depend on psychedelic experiences? Journal of Psychopharmacology February 9, 2015
- Risk assessment of ritual use of oral dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and harmala alkaloids Addiction December 20, 2006
- The Therapeutic Potentials of Ayahuasca: Possible Effects against Various Diseases of Civilization. Frontiers in Pharmacology March 2, 2016
- The globalization of ayahuasca: Harm reduction or benefit maximization? International Journal of Drug Policy December 5, 2006
- Psychedelic Communitas: Intersubjective Experience During Psychedelic Group Sessions Predicts Enduring Changes in Psychological Wellbeing and Social Connectedness. Frontiers in Pharmacology March 25, 2021
and 36 more in the library
Cites 3
- Hallucinogenic Music: An Analysis of the Role of Whistling in Peruvian Ayahuasca Healing Sessions Journal of American Folklore July 1, 1971
- Tendiendo un puente entre el cielo y la tierra en alas de la canción: El uso de la música en un ritual alucinógeno de curación en el bajo Huallaga, Loreto. Perú Amazonía Peruana January 14, 1979
- A modern-day shamanistic healer in the Peruvian Amazon: pharmacopoeia and trance. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 1989