WTF: Let economists control and study your trip? Surprised it's only 1 in 8 bad trips (which is worse than normal). Not for me, and yeah it's right there in the abstract, 200x financial gain. FU.

Otherwise unsurprising, psychedelics help depression and neuronal plasticity, shocker.

[–] descartador@lemmy.eco.br 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

They were not present. The ceremonies were conducted by a center in Brazil that receives over 1400 people per year. I meant to say that the data and analysis were coordinated and published by a group of economists.

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 week ago

Thanks for that, the thought was awful. Blessed be :)

[–] webghost0101@sopuli.xyz 0 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

“A commercial center that receives 1400 tourists per year.”

An intimate spiritual retreat just like the ancient shamans intended it.

[–] descartador@lemmy.eco.br 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

The cost is 20 dollars. It's basically for free.

[–] webghost0101@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Its not really about the money, just that “life changing psychedelic experience” is being turned into a commercial commodity.

I do understand it, the tourism was already happening, shamans in high demand. Might as well streamline the experience.

It just feels wrong though.

This is from Wikipedia:

“It is believed that the Shipibo-Konibo are among the earliest practitioners of Ayahuasca ceremonies, with their connection to the brew and ceremonies surrounding it dating back centuries, perhaps a millennium.[19]

Some members of the Shipibo community have taken to the media to express their views on Ayahuasca entering the mainstream, with some calling it "the commercialization of ayahuasca." Some of them have even expressed their worry regarding the increased popularity, saying "the contemporary 'ayahuasca ceremony' may be understood as a substitute for former cosmogonical rituals that are nowadays not performed anymore."[20]”

[–] descartador@lemmy.eco.br 2 points 1 week ago

At the same time, even in ancient African religions like the Yoruba, payment is necessary for a shaman to conduct a ceremony, as the exchange of value is an intrisical part of the ceremony.

These ceremonies in Brazil are non profit and the payment is a donation and is often waived.

Research the most popular groups like Santo Daime, Uniao Vegetal and the Universalists (the ones in the article).

[–] technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You can tell it's an econ study when the premise is pointless, the experiment is pseudo-science, and the results are worthless.

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 week ago

Eh, valid, but the results were interesting. I mean I prefer double blind procedures, but good science can be done without.