Participating in ayahuasca retreats in a traditional Indigenous Amazonian context was associated with significant increases in nature relatedness and improvements in depression and stress, but not anxiety. A moderate negative correlation indicated that greater increases in nature relatedness were linked to lower stress levels. The study involved a mean of 6.31 ceremonies. It remains unclear whether changes resulted from the ayahuasca brew, the ceremonies, or the retreat setting. The findings suggest a potential therapeutic role for such retreats as a multidimensional intervention, but further research is needed to identify mediators and assess long-term effects.
Participation in an indigenous Amazonian ayahuasca retreat, with an average of 5.85 ceremonies attended, was associated with significant increases in nature relatedness and mindfulness, as well as improvements in depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety. Changes in nature relatedness were negatively correlated with depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety, and positively correlated with mindfulness. It remains unclear whether these changes resulted from the brew, the ceremony, or the retreat setting. The pilot study suggests a potential therapeutic role for such retreats as a multidimensional intervention, but further research is needed to identify mediators and assess long-term effects.