According to the New York Post , Mr. Aaron Wayne Castranova (41 years old, in Alabama, USA), died on June 2 after participating in a shamanic ceremony (a spiritual ceremony performed by a native shaman) at La Casa de Guillermo ICONA - a famous accommodation for "spiritual tourism " activities in Loreto (Peru).
Here, Castranova drank ayahuasca. According to the Independent , ayahuasca is a fermented drink made from the bark of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the leaves of a plant that contains dimethyltryptamine (DMT, a powerful hallucinogen).
This water is used in traditional ceremonies by indigenous communities in the Amazon region but is banned for consumption in many countries, including the United States.
Narciso Lopez, a forensic expert at the Loreto Regional Prosecutor's Office, said the tea caused "multiple organ failure" that led to Castranova's death. An autopsy is being performed to determine the official cause.
According to Mr. Lopez, the victim suffered serious complications after drinking ayahuasca, including pleural effusion and acute pancreatitis.
Experts say combining ayahuasca with antibiotics can cause dangerous reactions (Illustration: Talita Santana Campos).
Notably, the manager of this accommodation revealed that the victim did not inform the ceremony organizers that he was taking antibiotics, a factor that can cause dangerous side effects when combined with ayahuasca.
The US embassy in Peru previously issued a health warning in January, advising its citizens not to “drink or use traditional hallucinogens, commonly known as ayahuasca or kambo.”
“Ayahuasca can cause a variety of adverse health effects, including nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, and even death. Some long-term effects include psychosis, sleep problems, neuropathy, and persistent hallucinations,” the notice states.
The US Embassy website also noted that in 2024, several US citizens died or became seriously ill after using ayahuasca. Some were also sexually assaulted, robbed or had accidents while under the influence of the substance.
Lopez added that the anesthetic mixture of vines and leaves containing DMT can cause “irreversible damage” and lead to death. Common short-term effects include nausea, vomiting, and rapid heart rate, while long-term effects can include psychosis, insomnia, neurosis, and persistent hallucinations.
Castranova's death recalls the case of British woman Maureen Rainford, who died last year after taking ayahuasca at a retreat in Bolivia, also in the context of seeking a spiritual experience.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/du-khach-tu-vong-sau-uong-tra-gay-ao-giac-trong-nghi-le-tam-linh-20250610150629471.htm
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