The largest randomized psychedelic trial in history happened in Brazil. Its strangest finding isn’t about ayahuasca at all.

  • Cabbanis@lemmy.eco.brOP
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    3 days ago

    They were not present. The ceremonies were conducted by a center in Brazil that receives over 1400 people per year. I meant to say that the data and analysis were coordinated and published by a group of economists.

    • webghost0101@sopuli.xyz
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      edit-2
      3 days ago

      “A commercial center that receives 1400 tourists per year.”

      An intimate sporting retreat just like the ancient shamans intended it.

        • webghost0101@sopuli.xyz
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          edit-2
          3 days ago

          Its not really about the money, just that “life changing psychedelic experience” is being turned into a commercial commodity.

          I do understand it, the tourism was already happening, shamans in high demand. Might as well streamline the experience.

          It just feels wrong though.

          This is from Wikipedia:

          “It is believed that the Shipibo-Konibo are among the earliest practitioners of Ayahuasca ceremonies, with their connection to the brew and ceremonies surrounding it dating back centuries, perhaps a millennium.[19]

          Some members of the Shipibo community have taken to the media to express their views on Ayahuasca entering the mainstream, with some calling it “the commercialization of ayahuasca.” Some of them have even expressed their worry regarding the increased popularity, saying “the contemporary ‘ayahuasca ceremony’ may be understood as a substitute for former cosmogonical rituals that are nowadays not performed anymore.”[20]

          • Cabbanis@lemmy.eco.brOP
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            2 days ago

            At the same time, even in ancient African religions like the Yoruba, payment is necessary for a shaman to conduct a ceremony, as the exchange of value is an intrisical part of the ceremony.

            These ceremonies in Brazil are non profit and the payment is a donation and is often waived.

            Research the most popular groups like Santo Daime, Uniao Vegetal and the Universalists (the ones in the article).