ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Ayahuasca, an entheogen from the Amazon rainforest, has garnered growing interest to treat substance dependence. To date, there is little research concerning the act of Ayahuasca-related purging (mainly vomiting), which is considered to be central to healing during Ayahuasca rituals. This study explored practitioner perspectives on purging during Ayahuasca rituals at the Takiwasi Centre in Peru. METHOD: We conducted in-depth interviews with curanderos (healers), plant preparers, and psychotherapists (N=11) at the Takiwasi Centre between August-October 2021. Interviews were conducted and transcribed in Spanish. Interviews were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: Participants described purging as a fluid concept that went beyond the act of vomiting. Participant narratives around purging were organized into three central themes or "accounts": Spiritual-oriented, which highlighted the relationship between purging and spiritual development; Amazonian-oriented, which placed emphasis on purging as a cathartic expulsion of embodied cargas (loads) that are perceived to lead to sickness; and Clinical-oriented, which stressed that purging generates a range of empirically-observable therapeutic benefits. All of these explanatory models emphasized the pivotal interconnection between purging and healing during Ayahuasca-assisted treatment for substance dependence at Takiwasi. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights practitioner perspectives on purging at the Takiwasi Centre, who offer three main explanatory models for this aspect of healing during Ayahuasca-assisted therapy for substance dependence. This research contributes to the limited literature on the role of purging in Ayahuasca-related healing, which may inform further investigation into differential understandings of the role of purging for therapeutic benefits.
ABSTRACT
Objetivo. Describir el perfil de usuarios, pacientes atendidos y tratamientos brindados en el Centro Takiwasi por medio del sistema de información PPLUS, entre los años 2013-2018. Materiales y métodos. Estudio descriptivo. De acuerdo con los objetivos bajo los cuales el sistema PPLUS ha sido concebido, se recolectó información sobre la cantidad de registros, número de usuarios del sistema, áreas involucradas, modalidad de egreso de la comunidad terapéutica, prácticas de medicina tradicional amazónica, uso de los módulos del sistema, y perfiles de usuarios por fines de investigación. Resultados. Se encontró una tendencia irregular de registros de información, siendo registrado el pico máximo en el año 2016. Ciento ochenta y ocho pacientes egresaron de la comunidad terapéutica, de los cuales el 45,2% (85) recibió alta médica. Entre el 54,8% de los pacientes de Takiwasi que no terminaron el tratamiento, un 33,5% no lo hicieron por solicitar retiro voluntario, en su mayoría durante el primer mes de tratamiento. Se registraron 19 620 prácticas de medicina tradicional amazónica, de las cuales las sesiones de ayahuasca representaron el 36,1% y las sesiones de purga, el 39,1%. Se observó que el 46,5% de perfiles de investigación correspondieron a practicantes de psicología, mientras que el 29,8% (34) fueron investigadores externos. Conclusiones. La implementación y uso del sistema PPLUS en el Centro Takiwasi, durante los años 2013 a 2018, ha sido gradual, pero no lineal; sin embargo, la información obtenida y la capacitación del personal en su uso hacen que se convierta en una herramienta tecnológica con potencial para la investigación y desarrollo a corto plazo.
Objective. To describe the profile of users, patients treated, and treatments provided at the Takiwasi Center, through the PPLUS information system, between the years 2013-2018. Materials and methods. A descriptive study. According to the objectives under which the PPLUS system has been conceived, information was collected on the number of registries, system users, areas involved, modality of clinical discharge, practices of traditional Amazonian medicine, use of system modules, and user profiles for research purposes. Results. An irregular trend of information registers was found, with the maximum peak recorded in 2016. 188 patients were discharged from the therapeutic community, of which 45.2% of them (85) received medical discharge. Among 54.8% of Takiwasi patients who did not complete the treatment, 33.5% requested voluntary withdrawal, mostly during the first month of treatment. 19620 practices of traditional Amazonian medicine have been recorded, of which ayahuasca sessions represented 36.1% and purge sessions, 39.1%. It was observed that 46,5% of research profiles corresponded to psychology practitioners, while 29.8% (34) were external researchers. Conclusions. The implementation and use of the PPLUS system at the Takiwasi Center, during the years 2013 to 2018, has been gradual but not linear; However, the information obtained and the training of personnel in its use make it a technological tool with potential for short-term research and development.