Plant Teachers: Ayahuasca, Tobacco, and the Pursuit of Knowledge

"The dose makes the poison," says an old adage, reminding us that all substances have the potential to heal or to harm, depending on their use. This is especially true of tobacco. Although Western medicine treats it as a harmful addictive drug, tobacco is considered medicinal by indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest. Along with the hallucinogen ayahuasca, tobacco forms a part of treatments designed to heal the body, stimulate the mind, and inspire the soul with visions. Anthropologist ...