The global expansion of ayahuasca through the Internet
February 15, 2018 Matthew S. Conrad 4 citations
The Internet has been instrumental in the global expansion of ayahuasca by facilitating the sharing of information, the dissemination of commodities, and the development of social networks across distant locations and cultural groups. Online discussion formats have significantly influenced how Peruvian vegetalismo has been reinvented, especially within Western individualistic and consumer contexts. The sharing of information about ayahuasca analogues, along with the promotion and sale of related commodities such as healing retreats, artworks, books, and plants, has expanded worldwide interest and accessibility. Issues of cultural appropriation, representation, and ownership emerge, with novel concepts feeding back into local practices through tourism. Democratized (mis)information sharing poses health concerns and policy challenges.