Marlene Dobkin de Rios

American anthropologist and psychotherapist

Marlene Dobkin de Rios

Marlene Dobkin de Rios (1939 – November 10, 2012) was an American cultural anthropologist, medical anthropologist, and psychotherapist known for her pioneering research on the use of psychoactive plants in indigenous cultures, particularly in the Amazon Basin. Her work focused on the cultural context and significance of ayahuasca and other entheogens in traditional healing practices.

Early Life and Education

Marlene Dobkin de Rios was born in 1939. She pursued her higher education in anthropology, earning her degrees from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her academic background laid the foundation for her future research into the intersection of culture, medicine, and psychoactive substances.

Career

Dobkin de Rios began her career as an anthropologist with a focus on the use of hallucinogenic plants in traditional societies. Her fieldwork in the Amazon Basin, particularly in Peru, provided her with firsthand insights into the role of ayahuasca in shamanic practices. She documented the rituals and the cultural meanings associated with these practices, contributing significantly to the understanding of how indigenous peoples use psychoactive substances for healing and spiritual purposes.

Research on Ayahuasca

Dobkin de Rios is best known for her extensive research on ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew used by indigenous tribes in the Amazon. She explored the psychological and physiological effects of ayahuasca, as well as its role in traditional healing ceremonies. Her work highlighted the importance of cultural context in understanding the effects and uses of psychoactive substances.

Contributions to Medical Anthropology

In addition to her work on ayahuasca, Dobkin de Rios contributed to the field of medical anthropology by examining the cross-cultural aspects of health and healing. She investigated how different cultures perceive and treat mental health issues, and how traditional healing practices can inform modern psychotherapy.

Publications

Dobkin de Rios authored several influential books and articles throughout her career. Her publications include "Visionary Vine: Hallucinogenic Healing in the Peruvian Amazon" and "The Psychedelic Journey of Marlene Dobkin de Rios: 45 Years with Shamans, Ayahuasqueros, and Ethnobotanists." These works are considered seminal in the field of ethnobotany and medical anthropology.

Legacy

Marlene Dobkin de Rios's work has had a lasting impact on the fields of anthropology and psychotherapy. Her research has been instrumental in increasing the understanding of the cultural dimensions of psychoactive substance use. She is remembered for her contributions to the study of traditional healing practices and her advocacy for the integration of these practices into modern therapeutic contexts.

Related Pages

• Ayahuasca
• Shamanism
• Psychoactive plants
• Medical anthropology
• Ethnobotany