PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
December 1, 2023
Simon Ruffell, Max Crosland-Wood, Rob Palmer et al.
37 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic plant brew from the Amazon made from Banisteriopsis caapi vine and a DMT-containing plant like Psychotria viridis, has attracted growing interest since the year 2000. This review covers its history, pharmacology, and the phenomenological responses it produces. Anecdotal reports range from positive to accounts of physical and psychological harm. The authors discuss effects on personality and mental health, and examine phenomenological analyses of the experience. They conclude that ayahuasca is a promising psychedelic agent deserving more empirical research into its neurochemical mechanisms and potential therapeutic use.
Psychoactives
June 13, 2023
Tessa Cowley-Court, Richard Chenhall, Jerome Sarris et al.
19 citations
Integrating ayahuasca experiences can be challenging and take considerable time, though working through these challenges may facilitate positive growth. A global online survey of 1630 ayahuasca drinkers (50.4% male, mean age 43) identified three main themes in integration experiences: overall appraisal (easy, challenging, or long-term/ongoing), beneficial tools (like-minded community, yoga, meditation, journaling), and challenges (feeling disconnected, returning to old life with new understandings). Findings challenge individual psychotherapy as the primary integration tool, suggesting communal and somatic elements may also be useful. An expanded definition of psychedelic integration is proposed that includes working with challenges and adjusting to life changes.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
November 23, 2024
Daniel Perkins, Jerome Sarris, Tessa Cowley-Court et al.
5 citations
People who consume ayahuasca in naturalistic settings—religious, traditional, or non-traditional—report better current mental health and greater psychological well-being, according to a large online survey of 7,576 participants from over 50 countries. More lifetime ayahuasca uses were linked to better mental health scores, and this association remained strong even after accounting for other factors and did not fade over time. Strong mystical experiences, self-insights, and community or social support were also tied to better mental health and well-being, whereas acute extreme fear during sessions and difficulty integrating the experience were linked to poorer outcomes. These patterns held for individuals both with and without a history of mental illness.
February 21, 2023
Simon Ruffell, Nigel Netzband, WaiFung Tsang et al.
3 citations
preprint
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew from the Amazon Rainforest made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and a DMT-containing plant like Psychotria viridis, has seen a surge in global interest since 2000. This review covers its history, pharmacology, and phenomenological effects, as well as clinical applications. Tourists increasingly travel to the Amazon to consume it, and retreat centers offering plant medicine have become a thriving business. Anecdotal reports range from evangelical accounts to stories of physical and psychological harm. The brew shows promise as a psychedelic agent warranting more empirical research into its neurochemical mechanisms and therapeutic uses.