American Dies After Drinking Psychedelic Drink in Peru (3 Photos)

Aaron Wayne Castranova, 41, died after drinking ayahuasca, a powerful hallucinogenic drink, during a shamanic ritual at the La Casa de Guillermo ICONA hostel in Loreto, known for its "spiritual practices."





According to Narciso Lopez, a forensic expert at the regional prosecutor's office, the hypnotic elixir caused multiple organ failures, leading to the American's death.

Hostel managers say Castranova failed to warn ceremony organizers about taking antibiotics before the ritual in the indigenous community of Santa Maria de Ojeda. It could have been fatal.

The drug has been used for centuries in Amazonian tribes in spiritual and healing rituals. Now it attracts tourists seeking transformational experiences or relief from mental suffering.



“These dangerous substances are often sold to tourists in Peru as ceremonial or spiritual cleansers,” the U.S. Embassy website says. — However, ayahuasca contains dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a powerful hallucinogen that is banned in the United States and many other countries.”

According to official sources, several U.S. citizens have died or suffered serious physical and mental harm after using the drug in the past year. Others have been victims of sexual assault, injury, or robbery while under its influence.



Lopez confirmed that the drink, made from grape vines and leaves containing the psychedelic, can lead to serious and irreversible consequences: psychosis, neurological disorders, insomnia, and constant hallucinations.

Short-term effects include nausea, vomiting and increased heart rate.

Castronova died a year after Maureen Rainford, a British mother of three who died after taking ayahuasca at a Bolivian retreat.