There is abundant ethnographic and anecdotal evidence that ayahuasca is useful for a variety of ailments, both biological and psychological. Among the indigenous communities where I work, it has long been used for treating alcoholism, depression, and anemia, as well as various culturally specific syndromes such as gusto (fright) and other vague psycho‐spiritual ailments (its use to treat anemia is likely secondary to its powerful anti-parasitic effects.