March 2026
Ayahuasca
What March 2026's 7 new studies found, synthesized from the papers below. All Ayahuasca research →
The synthesis
Synthesized from 7 studies in the library · AI-generated, grounded in the abstracts below
Found by searching the library for Ayahuasca, yage, hoasca, banisteriopsis, then ranked by relevance.
Research on ayahuasca published in March 2026 indicates consistent positive associations with mental health, well-being, and cognitive function, though the evidence is largely observational and cross-sectional. Studies report reductions in depression and anxiety, improvements in quality of life and spiritual well-being, and enhanced cognitive flexibility and empathy, with no long-term deficits observed. However, the lack of longitudinal and controlled designs limits causal conclusions, and most samples are small or self-selected.
Evidence by study
Direction is which way each study's own result points, not our rating of the study.
What the directions mean
- Supports:
- the study found the intervention worked, or its hypothesis held.
- Opposes:
- it found the opposite, no benefit or a harm.
- No effect:
- no significant difference either way.
- Mixed:
- effects in both directions within the same study.
- Unclear:
- the abstract does not report a direction.
| Study | Design | Sample size | Direction | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Religiosidade dos adeptos de um centro daimista, Piedade, SP 2026 | observational | 48 | Supports | Experienced ayahuasca users (over 20 years) showed higher religiosity scores compared to beginners and non-users. |
| Ayahuasca and Public Health III: Health Status of a Sample of Ayahuasca Ceremony Attenders in Portugal. 2026 | observational | 203 | Supports | Ayahuasca users reported better health, lower chronic disease and obesity, higher physical activity, lower alcohol use, and improved psychological well-being compared to population norms. |
| LGBTQ+ Ayahuasca Retreat Experience is Associated with Benefits to Mental Health, Quality of Life, and Spiritual Well-Being: A Prospective, Naturalistic Study. 2026 | observational | Supports | Significant reductions in depression and anxiety, and increases in spiritual well-being and quality of life, sustained up to 2-3 months post-retreat, with minimal adverse effects. | |
| Exploring Colombian medicinal flora used in indigenous and campesino health systems for neuropsychiatric disorders and neuropharmacological potential: an ethnopharmacological review 2026 | review | Unclear | Ayahuasca (yagé) was the most frequently reported preparation in Colombian ethnopharmacological literature for neuropsychiatric conditions, but no direct clinical data were provided. | |
| Enchanted consciousness revisited – Ayahuasca visualizations and Sartre's ideas on hallucination 2026 | theoretical | Unclear | A philosophical analysis using Sartre's concept of enchanted consciousness and Shanon's typology of ayahuasca hallucinations to explore psychedelic double bookkeeping. | |
| Effects of ayahuasca on neuropsychological performance and social cognition: A systematic review. 2026 | review | Supports | Short-term improvements in working memory and cognitive flexibility; observational studies found increased empathy and emotion recognition; long-term studies found no neuropsychological deficits. | |
| Multidimensional Ego-Dissolution Assessment (MEDA): Scale Development and Substance-Specific Comparisons 2026 | observational | 51 | Supports | Ayahuasca (along with DMT) produced higher ego-dissolution scores than LSD/psilocybin on four of six factors, with universal high scores on insight and pleasure. |
Experienced ayahuasca users (over 20 years) showed higher religiosity scores compared to beginners and non-users.
observational Sample size: 48
Ayahuasca users reported better health, lower chronic disease and obesity, higher physical activity, lower alcohol use, and improved psychological well-being compared to population norms.
observational Sample size: 203
Significant reductions in depression and anxiety, and increases in spiritual well-being and quality of life, sustained up to 2-3 months post-retreat, with minimal adverse effects.
observational
Ayahuasca (yagé) was the most frequently reported preparation in Colombian ethnopharmacological literature for neuropsychiatric conditions, but no direct clinical data were provided.
review
A philosophical analysis using Sartre's concept of enchanted consciousness and Shanon's typology of ayahuasca hallucinations to explore psychedelic double bookkeeping.
theoretical
Short-term improvements in working memory and cognitive flexibility; observational studies found increased empathy and emotion recognition; long-term studies found no neuropsychological deficits.
review
Ayahuasca (along with DMT) produced higher ego-dissolution scores than LSD/psilocybin on four of six factors, with universal high scores on insight and pleasure.
observational Sample size: 51
Points of agreement
- Ayahuasca use is consistently associated with positive mental health outcomes (reduced depression/anxiety, improved well-being) across different populations.
- No evidence of long-term cognitive deficits or serious adverse effects is reported.
- Ayahuasca is linked to enhanced spiritual or religious experiences and ego-dissolution.
Conflicts
- The systematic review notes that experimental studies found only reduced reaction times in social cognition, while observational studies reported increased empathy and emotion recognition, suggesting a possible discrepancy between controlled and naturalistic settings.
- The theoretical paper (25098) focuses on philosophical interpretation, which does not directly align with empirical findings from other studies.
Gaps
- No longitudinal or causal designs are included; most studies are cross-sectional or short-term prospective.
- Sample sizes are small and populations are highly specific (e.g., daimista adherents, Portuguese users, LGBTQ+ retreat attendees), limiting generalizability.
- Durability of effects beyond 2-3 months is not assessed.
- Blinding, placebo controls, and objective measures are absent.
- Dose-response relationships and potential risks in vulnerable populations are not explored.