Beatriz Caiuby Labate

About the Author

Beatriz Caiuby Labate is a renowned Brazilian anthropologist and ethnobotanist whose groundbreaking research explores the intersections of indigenous traditions, psychoactive substances, and contemporary spirituality. With a PhD in anthropology from the University of São Paulo, she has dedicated her career to documenting the cultural and religious dimensions of ayahuasca use in Brazil and beyond, bridging academic inquiry with advocacy for the rights of indigenous and religious communities. Labate's work challenges Western misconceptions about plant medicines while highlighting their role in healing and social transformation. As a prolific author, lecturer, and founder of the Nucleus for Interdisciplinary Studies of Psychoactives (NEIP), she continues to influence global discourses on ethnopharmacology, shamanism, and the evolving landscape of entheogenic practices, fostering greater understanding and policy reform worldwide.