A grief-stricken woman who sought counselling from a shamanic group has complained about being given an illegal psychedelic toad secretion, saying she has not been the same since.

Gabriela Augusta Silva, from Goias, in Brazil, says she underwent a ritual involving a Bufo alvarius, also known as a Colorado River toad or a Sonoran Desert toad, that was carried out by the Sao Paulo-based Instituto Xamanismo Sete Raios (the Seven Rays Shamanic Institute).

The toad, which the organisation has admitted was used on no more than two occasions, is found in Mexico and in the United States. They also added that it had apparently been used by some members of the organisation independently on later occasions, but these were not officially sanctioned.

The toxin the toad secrets from its glands, 5-MeO-DMT, which is similar to the DMT found in other psychedelic drugs, has psychoactive properties and is illegal in Brazil. It is typically burnt and inhaled after being extracted from a toad and dried.

Gabriela’s brother died in a car accident in 2017 and, seeking a greater connection with God, she went to the institute in October 2021.

She was reportedly encouraged to try the substance by one of the members of the group.

Now she says she suffers from panic and anxiety attacks, psychotic episodes, breathing problems and suicidal thoughts as a result, even having to be hospitalised at one point.

Gabriela claims it was only when she saw a doctor that she found out that she had inhaled an illegal substance.

Local media say that other people have come forward also claiming that they were not informed that they were going to be taking an illegal substance, that they did not sign any waivers of responsibility and that they were not provided with follow-up care after the sessions.

It is also claimed that Sete Raios members, informed about the adverse effects that people began experiencing, told them they were “normal”.

Gabriela’s lawyer Auro Jayme said: “They manipulate people, give a tone of religiosity to these rituals and announce these cures, including through that prohibited substance, the bufo.”

He added: “It seems that this illicit substance comes from Mexico. It is necessary to know if it actually comes from that country, who brings this drug in and how it is brought because from there it could be construed to be international drug trafficking.”

The authorities in Brazil have reportedly opened an investigation for drug trafficking into the organisation.

Sete Raios, who have over 200,000 followers on social media, claim they are victims of religious persecution.

The organisation reportedly told local media through its lawyers that it “never had or aims to encourage or promote the social or therapeutic use of substances or, even, the replacement of health practices, in the case of exclusivity of a ritualistic and religious approach, with spiritual purposes.”

But they admitted that they had received a visit from an alleged spiritual leader in 2019 who had bought the psychoactive substance from Mexico and had administered it during two rituals.

The organisation said: “At the time of the events, the Institute’s representatives were not aware of the discussion about the legality of the Bufo alvarius in Brazil.”

The organisation also denied that it conducted other sessions at a later date but admitted that “some members of the Institute, independently, continued their studies and individual rituals with Bufo alvarius” and that “these rituals had no connection with the activities of the Instituto Xamanismo Sete Raios, nor with its religious practices”.

The investigation is ongoing.