Anthropology

Ayahuasca in the heart of Europe

In recent years, the topic of ayahuasca has also been publicly discussed in the Czech Republic due to the disclosure of prevalent use of ayahuasca by the Czech Psychedelic Society and other organizations aiming to raise awareness about its preparation, use, integration, spirituality, and therapeutic potential. Ayahuasca is utilized in so-called autonomous zones: situations and…

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Anthropology

Drug pleasure ratings

The Net Pleasure Index is the first ever attempt to define and rank drugs in terms of the overall balance of pleasures and harms If you want to guess how it turned out here are the drugs we asked about, in alphabetical order: alcohol, amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine, GHB/GBL, ketamine, LSD, magic mushrooms, MDMA, mephedrone, and…

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Anthropology

How ayahuasca tourism jeopardizes traditional medicine

He warns against unrealistic expectations and charlatans who claim to perform miracle cures. “Someone is missing an arm and thinks the shaman will give them an arm, or they’re blind and think the shaman can restore their sight,” he says. ​ Although the question of whether outsiders are appropriating and changing a traditional practice for…

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Anthropology

How psychedelic science privileges some, neglects others, and limits us all

Currently, indigenous people who have been studying these medicines for many generations receive little if any respect in Western science for their extensive expertise. Furthermore, underground therapists, often women, have been putting their lives, livelihoods, and reputations on the line in the name of healing without institutional protections or recognition for their work. ​ These…

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