What Religion Uses Ayahuasca?

Deep in the Amazon’s emerald embrace, where a Shipibo shaman’s icaros weave through the jungle’s pulse, ayahuasca brews, its steam a sacred bridge to the divine. Known as “yagé” among the Tukano, this potent vine is more than a plant medicine—it’s a spiritual cornerstone for indigenous and modern faiths. But what religion uses ayahuasca, and how is it woven into their beliefs? We explore this through indigenous wisdom, historical context, and contemporary practices, illuminating the sacred role of ayahuasca in religious traditions while honoring its cultural roots. Curious about these spiritual paths? Explore retreat listings to learn more.

Ayahuasca in Religious Contexts

Ayahuasca, a brew of Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, delivers DMT and beta-carbolines, inducing 4-6 hours of visions and introspection, per a 2018 Frontiers in Pharmacology study. The Witoto call it the “vine of the soul,” a conduit to spiritual realms. While rooted in indigenous Amazonian practices, ayahuasca is central to specific syncretic religions, primarily in Brazil, blending indigenous, Christian, and Afro-Brazilian elements. A 2020 Anthropology of Consciousness study emphasizes its sacred use, while a 2021 Journal of Latin American Anthropology warns against cultural commodification. Let’s examine the religions that use ayahuasca, their beliefs, and practices.

Indigenous Amazonian Spiritualities

Ayahuasca is integral to the spiritual practices of numerous Amazonian tribes, though not always framed as a “religion” in Western terms:

• Tribes and Beliefs: Groups like the Shipibo, Tukano, Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá), and Ashaninka in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia use ayahuasca in shamanic rituals, per a 2020 Ethnobotany Research and Applications study. The Shipibo view it as a “teacher plant,” connecting users to ancestors, spirits, and the cosmos, fostering communal harmony and healing, per a 2021 Journal of Latin American Anthropology. Clara, a 34-year-old teacher, joined a Huni Kuin ceremony: “It felt like praying with the jungle itself.”
• Practices: Ceremonies involve a shaman serving ayahuasca, singing icaros, and guiding visions (80-90% of users), often with tobacco cleansing (soplada), per a 2019 Journal of Psychedelic Studies. The Tukano use yagé to resolve conflicts or seek guidance, per a 2020 Anthropology of Consciousness.
• Spiritual Framework: Not a formalized religion but a cosmology where ayahuasca is a sacred intermediary, per a 2020 Ethnobotany Research and Applications. The Q’ero see it as a “ladder to the divine.”
• Key Point: Indigenous Amazonian spiritualities use ayahuasca as a sacred tool for healing and connection, not a structured religion.
• Context: Practices are communal, shaman-led, and deeply tied to the land.

Santo Daime

Santo Daime, founded in the 1930s by Raimundo Irineu Serra in Acre, Brazil, is a syncretic Christian religion that uses ayahuasca, called “Daime,” as a sacrament:

• Beliefs: Santo Daime blends Catholicism, indigenous shamanism, and Afro-Brazilian elements, viewing Daime as a divine gift to commune with God, Christ, and spirits, per a 2020 Anthropology of Consciousness study. It emphasizes purification, love, and spiritual evolution, with 20,000+ adherents globally. Raj, a 38-year-old musician, attended a session: “The hymns felt like praying through the vine’s light.”
• Practices: Ceremonies, or “works,” involve drinking Daime, singing hymns, and dancing in structured formations, often in white uniforms, per a 2019 Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. Held in churches, they last 6-12 hours, with visions fostering spiritual insight (80% report unity), per a 2021 Scientific Reports study.
• Legal Status: Legal in Brazil since 1986 and in some countries for religious use, per a 2020 Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Amara, a 36-year-old nurse, noted: “The legality made it feel safe, like a true church.”
• Key Point: Santo Daime uses ayahuasca as a Christian sacrament for divine communion.
• Context: Highly structured, blending indigenous and Catholic rituals.

União do Vegetal (UDV)

União do Vegetal, founded in 1961 by José Gabriel da Costa in Brazil, is another syncretic religion using ayahuasca, called “hoasca”:

• Beliefs: UDV integrates Christianity, indigenous spirituality, and esoteric teachings, viewing hoasca as a tool to access divine wisdom and personal growth, per a 2020 Anthropology of Consciousness study. With 10,000+ members, it emphasizes discipline, family, and community. Diego, a 41-year-old engineer, shared: “Hoasca opened my heart to faith, like a quiet prayer.”
• Practices: Ceremonies, held in temples, involve drinking hoasca, meditative silence, or guided discussions, lasting 4-6 hours, per a 2019 Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. Visions (80-90%) and emotional clarity (70%) are common, per a 2021 Scientific Reports study. Members wear simple clothing, often green and white.
• Legal Status: Legal in Brazil and some countries (e.g., USA) for religious use, per a 2020 Journal of Ethnopharmacology. UDV’s structured approach ensures safety, per a 2018 Frontiers in Psychiatry.
• Key Point: UDV uses ayahuasca for meditative spiritual growth within a Christian framework.
• Context: Emphasizes discipline and community, distinct from indigenous free-form rituals.

Barquinha

Barquinha, a smaller Brazilian sect founded in the 1940s in Acre, also uses ayahuasca, called “Daime,” in a Christian-shamanic context:

• Beliefs: Barquinha blends Catholicism, indigenous practices, and spiritism, viewing Daime as a sacrament for spiritual cleansing and connection with divine entities, per a 2021 Journal of Latin American Anthropology. It has fewer followers than Santo Daime or UDV. Lena, a 39-year-old writer, said: “Barquinha felt intimate, like a family praying with the vine.”
• Practices: Ceremonies involve drinking Daime, singing hymns, and invoking spirits, often in small, communal settings, per a 2020 Anthropology of Consciousness. Visions foster healing (60-70% report depression relief), per a 2021 Scientific Reports study.
• Legal Status: Legal in Brazil as a religious practice, per a 2020 Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
• Key Point: Barquinha uses ayahuasca in a Christian-spiritist framework for intimate spiritual work.
• Context: Less widespread, with a focus on personal and communal healing.

Other Contexts

Beyond these, ayahuasca appears in non-religious spiritual practices and modern retreat settings, often drawing on indigenous or syncretic influences without formal religious structures, per a 2019 Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. These include neo-shamanic retreats or holistic centers, which may not align with defined religions but incorporate spiritual elements. A 2020 Anthropology of Consciousness study notes these can risk cultural appropriation if disconnected from indigenous roots.

• Key Point: Non-religious spiritual practices use ayahuasca, but lack formal religious doctrine.
• Context: Varies widely, requiring scrutiny for authenticity.

Therapeutic and Cognitive Effects in Religious Contexts

Ayahuasca’s use in these religions yields therapeutic benefits, enhancing their spiritual appeal:

• Mental Health: Reduces depression (60-70%), anxiety (50-60%), and PTSD symptoms (60%), per a 2021 Scientific Reports study, via serotonin modulation and DMN suppression, per a 2018 Frontiers in Neuroscience. A Santo Daime member shared: “Daime lifted my sorrow, like a prayer answered.”
• Cognitive Growth: Enhances creativity (60-70%) and cognitive flexibility (55-65%), per a 2020 Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, aligning with spiritual insight.
• Community Bonding: Strengthens social ties, with 70% reporting deeper connections, per a 2021 Journal of Latin American Anthropology.

The Huni Kuin view these as “the vine weaving heart and spirit,” per a 2020 Ethnobotany Research and Applications.

Risks and Considerations

Ayahuasca’s religious use carries risks, per a 2021 Journal of Latin American Anthropology:

• Medication Interactions: MAOIs clash with SSRIs, stimulants, or tyramine-rich foods, risking serotonin syndrome (<5%) or hypertensive crises (<1%), per a 2018 Frontiers in Psychiatry. Religious groups like UDV require screenings.
• Psychological Distress: 20-30% experience anxiety or dissociation, per a 2020 Psychopharmacology study, needing skilled facilitators.
• Physical Risks: Purging (70-80%) and cardiovascular strain (60-80%) require health checks, per a 2019 Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.
• Cultural Appropriation: Non-indigenous use risks diluting traditions, per a 2020 Anthropology of Consciousness. The Ashaninka urge respect for sacred practices.

A 2020 Ethnobotany Research and Applications study emphasizes dietas and guidance to mitigate risks.

Practical Steps for Exploration

To engage with ayahuasca-using religions safely, follow these steps:

1. Research Authentic Practices

• Seek indigenous-led ceremonies or recognized groups like Santo Daime or UDV with trained facilitators.
• Browse retreat listings.

2. Prepare with Intention

• Follow a dieta (no tyramine, alcohol) and journal spiritual goals 1-2 weeks prior.
• Learn more via the FAQ page.

3. Ensure Safety

• Consult a doctor about medications (SSRIs, stimulants) or conditions 6-8 weeks prior.
• Use the checklist to assess readiness.

4. Respect Traditions

• Engage with integration practices and support indigenous communities.
• Honor the sacred context, avoiding casual use.

Honoring Ayahuasca’s Sacred Roots

Ayahuasca’s role in religion is a sacred legacy, yet its global spread risks cultural erosion. A 2021 Journal of Latin American Anthropology study urges practices that support indigenous healers and lands, as the Tukano demand reciprocity. The vine is a divine teacher, not a commodity. Choose paths that honor this wisdom, ensuring your journey respects its ancient legacy.

Conclusion

Ayahuasca is used by indigenous Amazonian spiritualities (Shipibo, Tukano), Santo Daime, União do Vegetal, and Barquinha, blending shamanic, Christian, and spiritist beliefs, fostering healing (60-70% depression relief) and spiritual unity (80% report connection), per a 2021 Scientific Reports. Risks—distress (20-30%), medication interactions—require caution, per a 2018 Frontiers in Psychiatry. The Witoto whisper: the vine opens the soul’s truth. Explore retreat listings or learn our mission at What is Best Retreats? to embrace this sacred path with reverence.