Cultural and Pharmacological Relevance of the Emetic and Purging Properties of Ayahuasca

In recent decades, the psychoactive and visionary effect of ayahuasca has been highly sought after by the shamanic tourism community, which led to the popularization of ayahuasca use globally and to a cultural distancing from its traditional cosmological meanings, including that of purging and emesis. Further, the field of ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology has also produced relatively limited data linking the phytochemical diversity of ayahuasca with the different degrees of its purging and emetic versus psychoactive effects. Similarly, scientific interest has also principally addressed the psychological and mental health effects of ayahuasca, overlooking the cultural and pharmacological importance of the purging and emetic activity. The aim of this review is therefore to shed light on the understudied purging and emetic effect of ayahuasca herbal preparation. It firstly focuses on reviewing the cultural relevance of emesis and purging in the context of Amazonian traditions. Secondly, on the basis of the main known phytochemicals described in the ayahuasca formula, a comprehensive pharmacological evaluation of their emetic and purging properties is presented.

New research article published in the journal Planta Medica.
• Politi M, Tresca G, Menghini L, Ferrante C. (2021). Beyond the Psychoactive Effects of Ayahuasca: Cultural and Pharmacological Relevance of Its Emetic and Purging Properties. Planta Medica.

From Research to Reality: Global Summit on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Medicine

The Planning Committee for the upcoming international conference From Research to Reality: Global Summit on Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Medicine (Toronto, May 27-29, 2022) is pleased to announce that conference research abstract submissions will now be accepted until Dec 15 2021, acknowledging the principle that all voices should have a platform to share knowledge and experience.

Submissions for research, program or policy abstracts for 15-minute oral presentations as well as posters will be accepted under the three broad categories of Neuroscience and Clinical Applications, Traditional Medicine and Cultural Considerations; and Policy, Regulation, and Public Health.

The conference is being co-hosted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the Mental Health Commission of Canada MHCC) and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.

Participate in a study involving ayahuasca

Dear friends, we’re looking for volunteers to participate in a study involving ayahuasca conducted by Serena DeLuca, Global Sustainability Science Master’s Student at Arizona State University.

The aim of the study is to understand the role of ayahuasca ceremony in fostering better human-nature relationships, which can then assist in the global move toward a more sustainable society. The focus will be placed on the ceremony as it is practiced at Takiwasi.

• This is an invitation to participate in an anonymous 19 question survey (approximately 5 minutes in length; scale questions, 1 strongly agree - 5 strongly disagree).
• We are seeking individuals who have previously attended the Takiwasi Center and participated in ceremonies with ayahuasca during their stay.
• Survey participants can then choose to participate in an interview (conducted in English) where they will have the space to reflect on their experiences with ayahuasca and contribute to sustainability science research.
• Interviewees will then have the additional opportunity of meeting with other interview participants, through a focus group where they have the space to listen and to share their experiences with others, and to foster a community within that space.
• This study is being conducted in collaboration with Takiwasi for the completion of a Master's Thesis in Global Sustainability Science from Arizona State University.

Frontiers in Pharmacology special edition edited by Takiwasi research staff

Matteo Politi and Fernando Mendive from the Takiwasi Center research department have been part of the topic editors that have contributed to the article collection “Beyond the Pharmacology of Psychoactive Plant Medicines and Drugs: Pros and Cons of the Role of Rituals and Set and Setting”, published under the section Ethnopharmacology of the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology.

Overall, the articles in this special issue highlight the relevance of considering social and cultural domains when attempting to explain the benefits of using psychedelic plant medicines. In parallel to such perspectives, the question of mitigating risks involved with psychedelic use would equally benefit from considering social and cultural parameters, as highlighted in some of the research articles. Social groups and cultural contexts do not simply give meaning to the experiential properties of psychedelic substance use but are necessary ingredients for safely turning such properties into medicine.

Among the contributions we find the article “Protocol for Outcomes Evaluation of Ayahuasca-Assisted Addiction Treatment: The Case of Takiwasi Center”, by Rush et al. that presents the research protocol developed to evaluate the results of Takiwasi’s 30-year old intercultural program for substance use disorders that complements Amazonian traditional medicine practices and concepts with modern psychology and medicine.

Retreats/Diets at Takiwasi in 2022

Dear friends, these are the dates of our Retreats/Diets for the year 2022:

• 12 - 22 January
• 16 - 26 February
• 16 - 26 March
• 20 - 30 April
• 11 - 21 May
• 08 - 18 June
• 13 - 23 July
• 17 - 27 August
• 14 - 24 September
• 12 - 22 October
• 16 - 26 November
• 07 - 17 December

For more information and to start the registration process please write to: terapia@takiwasi.com

Takiwasi Center Online Courses

We want to invite you to enroll in our online courses:

- Introducción al modelo terapéutico Takiwasi: 11 pre-registered classes taught in Spanish by the therapeutic team of the Takiwasi Center. Topics such as Traditional Amazonian Medicine are addressed, including the presentation of specific techniques such as plant baths and purges, and the application of Western psychological approaches in the treatment of addictions, such as existential psychotherapies and the analysis of trans-generational inheritances.

- Coherencias entre la iniciación cristiana y la iniciación amazónica: taught in Spanish by Dr. Jacques Mabit, course based on 5 pre-registered videos. The experience of the Takiwasi Center shows us that there are numerous and surprising points of coherence and convergence between the Christian faith and Amazonian shamanism (when correctly understood and practiced). This course attempts to highlight the relevance of bringing these two paths of knowledge closer together and articulating them appropriately in favor of opening new paths for the healing of the body, mind and spirit.

Help us with your Donation

If you wish to support the activities of the Takiwasi Center, there are several ways to do it.

You can choose to give your contribution to the protection and conservation of Amazonian teacher plants through the project Adopt an Ayahuasca, or contributing to cover for the cost of the treatment and rehabilitation of our patients that suffer with drug addiction and have limited economic resources

Centro Takiwasi Prolongación Alerta 466, Tarapoto, Perú Tel: +51 (0)42 522818 / +51 (0)42 525479 www.takiwasi.com takiwasi@takiwasi.com

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