A Mobile man has reportedly passed away after drinking herbal tea containing the powerful hallucinogenic drug ayahuasca at a spiritual retreat in Peru.
According to Peruvian news outlet La República, Aaron Wayne Castronova, 41, died on Monday from multiple organ failure after suffering a breakdown triggered by the spiritual brew seeking an "expansion of conscience."
Castronova had been staying at a hostel in the indigenous community of Santa Maria de Ojeda, called La Casa de Guillermo, which has long been associated with “spiritual tourism.” There, attendees can take part in psychedelic rituals under the supervision of a shaman or guide.
According to the hostel's managers, Castronova failed to disclose that he was taking antibiotics to the ceremony organizers, which may have led to organ failure.
The U.S. Embassy recommends that U.S. citizens visiting Peru not ingest or use traditional hallucinogens, often referred to as ayahuasca or kambo.
Ayahuasca is said to benefit those suffering with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders.
The U.S. Embassy in Peru says of ayahuasca:
These dangerous substances are often marketed to travelers in Peru as “ceremonial” or “spiritual cleansers.” However, Ayahuasca is a psychoactive substance containing dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a strong hallucinogen that is illegal in the United States and many other countries.
Ayahuasca can cause several negative health effects, including nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, and even death. Some of the long-term effects include psychosis, difficulty sleeping, neurological diseases, and ongoing hallucinations. In 2024, several U.S. citizens died or experienced severe illness, including mental health episodes, following consumption of ayahuasca. These incidents often occur in remote areas near or within the Peruvian Amazon, far away from modern medical facilities. The limited connectivity and limited access to emergency services and hospitals increases the risks.
Aside from the negative health effects, U.S. citizens in Peru have also recently reported being sexually assaulted, injured, or robbed while under the influence of these dangerous substances at “healing” or “retreat” centers. Facilities or groups offering ayahuasca/kambo are not regulated by the Peruvian government and may not follow health and safety laws or practices.
Castronova's body remains in Peru as the U.S. Embassy attempts to locate his family, according to La República.
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