Ayahuasca Treatment Center Safety for the Western Seeker
Raven Renèe Ray, Kerry S. Lassiter
Anthropology of Consciousness September 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1111/anoc.12060 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Western seekers |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Indigenous Context archaeology Amazonian Amazon rainforest Traditional medicine Psychotherapist Ecology Anthropology |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | Educating seekers before treatment and providing specialized therapeutic aftercare services is the most practical approach to increasing safety for Westerners attending Amazonian ayahuasca treatment centers. |
Abstract
Abstract Ayahuasca, an ancient Amazonian psychedelic tea traditionally used ceremonially among indigenous peoples, has recently become known as a possible treatment for a wide range of disorders. The awareness of this sacred medicine has grown exponentially over the past decade, attracting westerners from a wide variety of backgrounds, hoping to find treatment for a myriad of emotional and physical illnesses, as well as spiritual needs. In the wake of the commercialization and westernization of the use of ayahuasca, and the subsequent proliferation of ayahuasca treatment centers, this paper examines the benefits and possible risks of this form of therapy in an effort to create a safety protocol for Westerners in this context. The most practical approach to increasing safety for Westerners attending these Amazonian treatment centers is to educate the seeker prior to treatment and to provide access to specialized therapeutic aftercare services.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ayahuasca, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Neuroprotective potential of Ayahuasca and untargeted metabolomics analyses: applicability to Parkinson's disease. Journal of Ethnopharmacology June 12, 2020
- Chemical Composition of Traditional and Analog Ayahuasca Journal of Psychoactive Drugs September 8, 2020
- Metabolomics and integrated network analysis reveal roles of endocannabinoids and large neutral amino acid balance in the ayahuasca experience Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy March 24, 2022
- A landscape analysis of psychedelic retreat organizations advertising online PLoS One May 2, 2025
- Ayahuasca ceremony leaders' perspectives on special considerations for eating disorders. Eating Disorders 2024
and 3 more in the library
Cites 26
- Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 1, 2008
- Human Psychopharmacology of Hoasca, A Plant Hallucinogen Used in Ritual Context in Brazil The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease February 1, 1996
- Personality, Psychopathology, Life Attitudes and Neuropsychological Performance among Ritual Users of Ayahuasca: A Longitudinal Study PLoS One August 8, 2012
- Clinical investigations of the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca: rationale and regulatory challenges. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2004
- Increased frontal and paralimbic activation following ayahuasca, the pan-amazonian inebriant Psychopharmacology March 30, 2006
and 21 more in the library