Ayahuasca in 2025: Where the Sacred Vine Still Grows
But with popularity comes complexity. Indigenous leaders and activists have raised concerns about cultural appropriation, overharvesting of ayahuasca vines, and the commercialization of sacred traditions. Some Amazonian communities are pushing back, creating frameworks for reciprocity and ethical sourcing.
Organizations like The Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fund are advocating for fair compensation, intellectual property protection, and cultural sovereignty for the original stewards of the medicine.
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Image of Shaman, via Derek Dodds
Once whispered about in underground circles and jungle clearings, the psychedelic brew known as ayahuasca is now a global phenomenon—and in 2025, its reach shows no sign of slowing. From Silicon Valley executives to trauma survivors, the call of the vine continues to draw seekers from all corners of the world. But the practice, steeped in centuries of Amazonian tradition, is facing new pressures as demand grows and legality shifts across borders.
The spiritual and medicinal use of ayahuasca originates with Indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin, particularly in Peru, Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador. In places like Iquitos and Tarapoto, ayahuasca ceremonies are still held in malokas (circular huts), guided by shamans who sing icaros—healing songs meant to direct the energies of the ceremony.