• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Tourist dies in ritual in Peru after drinking hallucinogenic ayahuasca tea during 'spiritual tourism session'

Home> News> World News

Published 19:57 6 Jun 2025 GMT+1

Tourist dies in ritual in Peru after drinking hallucinogenic ayahuasca tea during 'spiritual tourism session'

Aaron Wayne Castranova reportedly passed away after consuming the concoction earlier this week

Olivia Burke

Olivia Burke

A US tourist has passed away after reportedly drinking a hallucinogenic tea during a 'spiritual session' in Peru.

Aaron Wayne Castranova is said to have died on Monday (2 June) after consuming an ayahuasca brew which led to a 'breakdown' inside his body, the Daily Mail reports.

The 41-year-old was taking part in a spiritual retreat at a lodge in the region of Loreto when he ingested the concoction, which is also known as yagé, kamarampi and huni.

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive drink which is typically brewed and consumed as a tea or a concentrated liquid, but it can also be smoked.

Advert

The tea is created by combining the leaves of the chacruna shrub - which contains the hallucinogenic compound DMT - and the ayahuasca vine - which contains MAO inhibitors.

These MAO inhibitors block the digestion of DMT and allow it to enter the bloodstream and reach the brain.

Ayahuasca is said to contain hallucinogenic properties which provides a sense of euphoria and enlightenment. However, some people can have negative experiences such as vomiting, panic and paranoia.

The tea is created by combining leaves from a chacruna shrub and the ayahuasca vine (Giulio Paletta/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The tea is created by combining leaves from a chacruna shrub and the ayahuasca vine (Giulio Paletta/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

According to reports, Castranova drank the hallucinogenic tea and later suffered multiple organ failure.

Advert

The regional prosecutor's forensic pathologist, Narciso Lopez, said that the tourist had suffered a 'breakdown' inside of his body 'that led to his death'.

Local news outlet Canal N reported that it is suspected Castranova experienced complications including acute pancreatitis and pleural effusion, which is a medical term that describes fluid on the lung.

It is understood that the tourist had been staying at a hostel in the indigenous community of Santa Maria de Ojeda, where visitors can reportedly take part in psychedelic rituals.

Traditionally, these are conducted under the supervision of a shaman or spiritual guide.

Lopez warned that ayahuasca tea can cause 'not only death, but also permanent, irreversible damage'.

Advert

The US Embassy in Peru has shared a similar warning earlier this year, as it urged Americans visiting Peru to steer clear of these kind of 'dangerous' substances.

It explained that these ayahuasca experiences are often 'marketed to travellers in Peru as ceremonial or spiritual cleansers' - however, the consequences of taking part can be fatal.

Officials have warned Americans to be wary of the drug (Getty Stock Image)
Officials have warned Americans to be wary of the drug (Getty Stock Image)

The US Embassy's website states: "The US Embassy recommends that U.S. citizens visiting Peru NOT ingest or use traditional hallucinogens, often referred to as ayahuasca or kambo.

"Ayahuasca can cause several negative health effects, including nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, and even death.

Advert

"Some of the long-term effects include psychosis, difficulty sleeping, neurological diseases, and ongoing hallucinations."

The Embassy said that last year, several US citizens had died or experienced severe illnesses 'including mental health episodes' after consuming ayahuasca.

"These incidents often occur in remote areas near or within the Peruvian Amazon, far away from modern medical facilities," it continues.

"The limited connectivity and limited access to emergency services and hospitals increases the risks.

"Facilities or groups offering ayahuasca/kambo are not regulated by the Peruvian government and may not follow health and safety laws or practices."

Featured Image Credit: Getty/Pedro Pardo

Topics: World News, Health, Drugs, US News

Olivia Burke
Olivia Burke

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

X

@livburke_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

6 hours ago
7 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • 6 hours ago

    Man who survived shark attack shares the one thing people should ‘never do’ in situation

    One mistake could easily cost you your life

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Mum who snorted £1k-a-week worth of cocaine reveals worrying effect it had on body

    The 31-year-old said she managed to rack up £10,000 in debt

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Elon Musk opens new 'Tesla Diner' leaving people praising one aspect of the restaurant

    There's at least one aspect of the place people like

    News
  • 8 hours ago

    Major update on Brits who smuggled £300k worth of drugs into Bali using Angel Delight sachets

    They were found with nearly 1kg of cocaine

    News
  • Family make shocking new claims as dad dies in freak MRI machine accident after being trapped for nearly an hour
  • Mum-of-two dies in skydiving tragedy after ‘experiencing complications during descent’
  • British tourist, 20, dies while climbing on Spain's dangerous 'Monkey Bridge' path
  • Woman, 24, dies after undergoing six cosmetic surgeries in just eight hours through surgeon she found online