Page "Ayahuasca" Paragraph 60

In Brazil, a number of modern religious movements based on the use of ayahuasca have emerged, the most famous of them being Santo Daime and the União do Vegetal ( or UDV ), usually in an animistic context that may be shamanistic or, more often ( as with Santo Daime and the UDV ), integrated with Christianity.

Both Santo Daime and União do Vegetal now have members and churches throughout the world.

Similarly, the US and Europe have started to see new religious groups develop in relation to increased ayahuasca use.

Some Westerners have teamed up with shamans in the Amazon rainforest regions, forming ayahuasca healing retreats that claim to be able to cure mental and physical illness and allow communication with the spirit world.

Some reports and scientific studies affirm that ritualized use of ayahuasca may improve mental and physical health.