Traditional Indigenous Medicine of the Peruvian Amazon and its Potential for Psychological Treatment and Personal Growth

Traditional medicine of the Peruvian Amazon, particularly the hallucinogenic vine ayahuasca, is used by indigenous communities for healing, spiritual contact, and other purposes. Growing interest from people in Europe and the US has led to 'shamanic tourism'—individuals undertaking ayahuasca expeditions. Ayahuasca shows psychotherapeutic potential, including use in structured therapeutic communities for drug addicts (Takiwasi). The text notes potential benefits and risks for such tourism. The term 'shaman' originates from East Siberia, meaning 'the one who knows,' while in the Peruvian Amazon the healer is called curandero, vegetalista, or medicine man.

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Abstract

This contribution explains the context and basic principles of traditional medicine of the Amazon.In particular, it focuses on the hallucinogenic vine ayahuasca, traditionally used by indigenous communities in the Amazon as a tool for healing, establishing contact with spiritual life, and for many other purposes.In the last decades, there is rapidly growing interest in ayahuasca observed among people from other cultures (Europe and the US in particular), who come to the Amazon to undergo the ayahuasca ritual.This contribution demonstrates ayahuasca's psychotherapeutic potential, and shows the possibilities of ayahuasca in structured therapeutic community for drug addicts (Takiwasi).There are potential benefits and risks for individuals undertaking ayahuasca expeditions on their own ("shamanic tourism").The motivation of these individuals is mentioned in the text. Traditional Medicine of the Peruvian AmazonThe traditional medicine of the Peruvian Amazon belongs to the area known as "shamanism".Interest in this phenomenon in recent decades has increased among the general public and among professionals.It was first mentioned in the scientific research by researchers such as Lévi-Strauss, Mircea Eliade or Michael Harner.Other important factors are represented by the psychedelic movement, books by Carlos Castaneda and also due to the rapid dissemination of information across cultures, and the reduction of travel costs.Michael Harner (Nicholson, 1987) assumes that this interest is related to the necessity for free spiritual growth.The word "shaman" probably originated in the Tungusic languages, in East Siberia, and means "The one who knows".It was used to describe a religious specialist who goes into trance and communicates with "spirits" in order to recover souls, ensure fertility, and to protect or accompany the souls of the dead (Bowie, 2008).In the Peruvian Amazon, this professional is usually called a medicine man, vegetalista or curandero (from the Spanish word "curar" -to heal).Because the name "curandero" predominates in South America, we will prefer it in this article.