American tourist, 41, died after drinking psychedelic tea at spiritual retreat in Peru

NY Post ^ | 06/07/2025 | Anna Young

[BenLurkin]

An American tourist died after drinking a psychedelic tea that caused a “breakdown” of several organs while he was on a spiritual retreat in the Peruvian Amazon, according to reports.

Aaron Wayne Castranova, 41, died Monday after ingesting ayahuasca — a potent hallucinogenic plant brew banned in the US — during a shamanic ritual at La Casa de Guillermo ICONA, a hostel known for its “spiritual tourism” in Loreto.

The hypnotic elixir triggered a multi-organ “breakdown” that caused the Alabama man’s lethal spiral, according to Narciso Lopez, the regional prosecutor’s forensic pathologist, the Daily Mail reported.

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Hostel managers reportedly claimed Castranova failed to inform ceremony organizers he was on antibiotics, which may have caused the fatal reaction, ahead of the ritual in Santa Maria de Ojeda’s indigenous community.

The mind-altering concoction, long used by Amazonian tribes for spiritual and healing rites, has surged in popularity among tourists seeking transformative experiences or relief from their mental health struggles — despite warnings from the US Embassy in Peru about its adverse effects.

[ConservativeMind]

Play stupid games and win stupid prizes.

[Larry Lucido]

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Kids, don’t do drugs.

[The Sentient Sheep]

Some people are stupid. Some much more than others.

[aquila48]

Another Darwin award winner!

[Ezekiel]

Hostel managers reportedly claimed Castranova failed to inform ceremony organizers he was on antibiotics, which may have caused the fatal reaction, ahead of the ritual

ANTI-BIO-tics

Yikes. Literally a lethal combination..

[VTenigma]

Huh, well isn’t that sumthin’?

[alloysteel]

Do not lick the local frogs....

[Dr. Sivana]

Play stupid games and win stupid prizes.

I heard about this guy who did something like that, and the next year he wound up playing quarterback for the Jets. Tragic.

[Fido969]

Why was he on antibiotics? What was the underlying issue?

[MikelTackNailer]

I heard about this guy who did something like that, and the next year he wound up playing quarterback for the Jets.

That IS bad. Were they able to get him to the Buccs or Titans or was he too far gone for even that?

[Psalm 73]

“I’M AN EGGPLANT!”

[HYPOCRACY]

Rogan and Graham Hancock are always pushing this crap. Have to turn it off when they start trying to one up each other with their stupid drug stories. This guy probably heard one of the shows and thought this was a great idea.

[Psalm 73]

I might roll the side-affect dice with the multiple organ shutdowns, but no way I would risk having to play for the J-E-T-S....

[Mermaid Girl]

Didn’t this putz learn ANYTHING from Family Guy?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQEhBai711o

[GaltAdonis]

“Do not lick the local frogs....”

Yeah. Pay extra for the imported frogs to lick. It’s worth it. /sarc

[Arkady]

They have something to answer for, definitely.

[null and void]

Too bad he didn’t have your coffee as an antidote...

[chrisinoc]

I’ve been to the Peruvian Amazon before. Great place to visit. The guides wouldn’t allow anyone to drink fluids or eat food unless it was from the boat or bottled liquids.

I did pick up a nice blowgun at one of the villages.