Ayahuasca in Asia: Amazonian hallucinogenic plant medicine finds following in the East despite shady status
- Ayahuasca vine, that is smoked or made into a brew, is a substance that is outlawed in most parts of the world
- Despite this, shamans are using it in spiritual healing ceremonies in Asia for those who know where to look
“As I shuffle into a more comfortable position, my body starts to melt into the mattress and my visions become more intense. I helplessly mumble, ‘Please make it stop’, but it’s no use. Mother ayahuasca hasn’t finished with me yet.”
So writes Lee Walpole, whose curiosity about ayahuasca was sparked when he watched a YouTube documentary on the ancient Amazonian concoction. Ayahuasca has been used as a spiritual healing medicine for thousands of years and is ceremoniously administered by shamans.
In an attempt to boost his energy levels and sharpen his mind while working for a British tabloid newspaper, the 32-year-old Briton had been popping pills.
“Nootropics [smart drugs] and amphetamines were a choice,” he says. “They kept me awake and alert. While my family thought I was addicted to the pills, I always felt I could stop at any time. Still, there was something in the back of my mind that made me wonder where a spiritual journey could take me.”
Walpole was attending a wellness retreat in Thailand when a casual chat with another participant turned to the subject of ayahuasca. The main hub for ceremonies is the Amazonian regions of Peru and Brazil, which every year welcome thousands of people hoping to achieve spiritual awakening – often described as a rebirth.
Ayahuasca means “spirit vine” in the native South American Quechua language.