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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Ayahuasca is a psychoactive beverage often made with Ibogaine, an indole alkaloid extracted from plants. Photo for illustration purposes only.
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Published
on Tuesday, January 28,
2025
By
the A.M. Costa Rica
staff
Ayahuasca
is a psychoactive beverage often made with
Ibogaine, an indole alkaloid extracted
from plants in the Apocynaceae family,
such as Tabernanthe iboga,
Voacanga africana, and
Tabernaemontana
undulata.
Additional
ingredients include so-called "teacher
plants," such as chacruna, chacrona, or
chaqruy (Psychotria viridis),
and caapi, soul vine, or yagé (Banisteriopsis
caapi),
among others.
The
beverage has been traditionally used by
Indigenous cultures and self-proclaimed
healers for spiritual ceremonies,
divination, and treating various
psychosomatic conditions.
Authorities
said recent investigations have uncovered
locations advertising healing rituals
involving ayahuasca drinks. However, no
organization, clinic, association, or
group in Costa Rica has been granted
health permits to conduct such retreats or
rituals.
Individuals
without medical training, often calling
themselves folk healers, gurus, or
spiritual guides, are promoting these
retreats with false claims that ayahuasca
has healing properties, officials warned.
The
ministry emphasized that there are no
health registries authorizing any person
or organization to commercially operate
ayahuasca retreats in Costa Rica.
For any product derived from these plants to be legally consumed, it must first meet national regulatory requirements for inspection and registration. Moreover, any therapy or healing process must take place in a certified medical establishment, such as a hospital or clinic approved by the ministry.
Authorities
also noted that individuals or groups
offering therapeutic
treatments must be licensed professionals
registered with the country’s medical
board.
Under
current health regulations, all medicines,
whether synthetic or natural, must go
through a legal process for importation,
distribution, marketing, prescription, and
promotion. The ministry must also approve
and certify the medical product before it
can be used.
Products
lacking ministry approval have not been
evaluated for safety, quality, or
efficacy. Unauthorized medical products
are illegal and unfit for use,
application, or consumption.
They
also warned that illicit healing
substances pose serious health risks, as
their origin and storage conditions remain
uncertain.
Officials
urge the public not to consume, use, or
promote ayahuasca-derived products for
therapeutic or healing purposes. They
reiterated that any rituals involving
psychoactive substances for medical
treatment are illegal.
Authorities
are asking the public to report any
suspected ayahuasca or ibogaine healing
rituals. Reports can be
made by emailing
drpis.atencioncliente@misalud.go.cr or
calling the ministry’s hotline at
4003-5000, the emergency line 911, the
Judicial Investigation Organization
(OIJ) at 800-8000-645, or the
fast-response line 1176.
The
Ministry of Public Health is the
state-owned agency that oversees and
regulates public and private healthcare
within Costa Rica.
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