New World Tryptamine Hallucinogens and the Neuroscience of Ayahuasca
Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences 2015 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2015_368 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ayahuasca Psilocybin Shamanism |
| Keywords | Tryptamine Hallucinogen Indigenous Ecology Alkaloids |
| Citations | 31 |
| Key findings | New World psychedelic plant preparations are botanically diverse but chemically similar, with active principles that are tryptamine derivatives like DMT. |
Abstract
New World indigenous peoples are noted for their sophisticated use of psychedelic plants in shamanic and ethnomedical practices. The use of psychedelic plant preparations among New World tribes is far more prevalent than in the Old World. Yet, although these preparations are botanically diverse, almost all are chemically similar in that their active principles are tryptamine derivatives, either DMT or related constituents. Part 1 of this paper provides an ethnopharmacological overview of the major tryptamine-containing New WorldNew World hallucinogensHallucinogens .