SPEAKERS

Preliminary studies indicate that ayahuasca ritual use could promote therapeutic effects for people facing severe physical illnesses (SPI). Diseases that threaten life or cause serious residual disability also affect mental health, since they trigger existential issues that may be a source of deep distress. Currently, an increasing number of people have sought ayahuasca after the diagnosis of SPI as a possibility of obtaining physical and psychological benefits that could help to mitigate adversities imposed by the illness. The aim of this study was to explore how the ritual use of ayahuasca during the treatment of severe physical illnesses may influence the way people understand and relate to their illness, using qualitative methods to assess the participants’ perspectives. Fourteen participants who consumed ayahuasca ritualistically during the period of medical treatment for SPI (cancer, HIV, and rheumatological, neurological, gastrointestinal, and dermatological diseases gastrointestinal, dermatological, neurological and rheumatologic diseases) were purposely chosen. Data were obtained through semi-structured in-depth interviews with open-ended questions. Data analysis was performed by thematic analysis, and sample size was defined by theoretical saturation. The results indicate that ayahuasca ritual experience acted on participants’ illness understanding through multiple psychological mechanisms, including introspection, self-analysis, emotional processing and catharsis, recall of autobiographical memories subjectively related to illness origin, illness resignification, and changes of perspective. This study suggests that the subjective experience induced by ayahuasca may facilitate illness acceptance through an influence on the meanings of illness, life, and death. These changes may favor a more balanced relationship with illness and treatment.