Estudo sobre o uso da ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi):para fins ritualísticos, medicinais e espirituais no município de Tabatinga-AM.

Abstract

This case study aims to investigate the traditional, ritualistic, medicinal, and spiritual uses of ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi Spruce) at the Yacumama Ayahuasca Center, located in the Vila Verde neighborhood of the municipality of Tabatinga, Amazonas, on the border between Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. Ayahuasca is a beverage of Amazonian origin, traditionally used by indigenous peoples and local communities in mystical rituals. Over time, its use has expanded to include spiritual, therapeutic, and integrative practices. The research seeks to understand how the beverage is incorporated into the cultural and religious practices of the region, in addition to analyzing reports of its healing effects and symbolic importance. Qualitative methods were used, based on a literature review, semi-structured interviews with 30 practitioners, and ritual observations, with the aim of capturing the diversity of meanings attributed to the beverage. Content analysis identified categories such as: physical effects (nausea, vomiting, dizziness), emotional effects (release of trauma, self-awareness), and spiritual effects (visions and contact with the divine). The results reveal a continuous redefinition of ancestral knowledge and contemporary interpretations, highlighting the relevance of ayahuasca not only as a psychoactive substance, but as a central element in the cultural and spiritual identity of local communities. Although ayahuasca use causes initial physical discomfort, participants reported experiences of healing, transformation, and reconnection with themselves. Most use the beverage for medicinal or therapeutic purposes, reinforcing its value as a traditional health agent. The study concludes that ayahuasca is understood as an instrument of integral healing, acting on the physical, emotional, and spiritual planes, supported by ancestral knowledge and collective practices. The research also highlights the importance of respecting local traditions and the spirituality involved in the use of this plant, contributing to the appreciation of traditional Amazonian knowledge and expanding the debate on the use of psychoactive plants in the field of integrative health.