May 2026
Ayahuasca
What May 2026's 9 new studies found, synthesized from the papers below. All Ayahuasca research →
The synthesis
Synthesized from 9 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 in May 2026 shows preliminary evidence of altered brain topology (persistent entropy decreases) and potential therapeutic benefits for suicidality and Parkinson's disease, but findings are limited by small samples, lack of controls, and qualitative designs. Results are inconsistent across studies, with some showing null or mixed effects, and a case report highlights serious risks of serotonin syndrome when combined with other serotonergic agents. The evidence is insufficient to draw firm conclusions due to small sample sizes, exploratory analyses, and absence of replication.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| An exploratory persistent-homology analysis of resting-state fMRI functional connectivity under Ayahuasca 2026 | observational | 9 | Mixed | Persistent entropy of H2 features showed a nominal decrease that did not survive correction and was not reproduced with signed correlations; temporal complexity showed non-significant increases. |
| Observability and pharmacological calibration in psychoactive ethnobotany: ceremony duration, admixture selection, and the discovery of ayahuasca 2026 | theoretical | Unclear | Ceremony duration tracks pharmacokinetic duration with high correlation, but relevance to ayahuasca's effects is indirect and not directly addressing therapeutic outcomes. | |
| AVALIAÇÃO IN SÍLICO DAS POSSÍVEIS ATIVIDADES FARMACOLÓGICAS E TOXICOLÓGICAS DOS COMPOSTOS SECUNDÁRIOS QUE COMPÕEM A BEBIDA AYAHUASCA: BANISTERIOPSIS CAAPI E PSYCHOTRIA VIRIDIS 2026 | theoretical | Unclear | Ayahuasca compounds show significant pharmacological potential but also toxicological risks, emphasizing need for further in vivo and clinical studies. | |
| Ayahuasca use and improvements in suicidal behavior: An exploratory qualitative study 2026 | qualitative | 9 | Supports | Ceremonial ayahuasca use was perceived to reduce suicidal ideation and behavior, with themes of improved psychological well-being. |
| Therapeutic properties of ayahuasca component N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in a pre-clinical model of Parkinson's disease 2026 | preclinical | Supports | DMT administration reduced neuroinflammation and preserved neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway, with behavioral improvements. | |
| Baseline Resilience as a Predictor of Ayahuasca Acute Effects and Moderator of the Relationship between Acute Effects and Psychospiritual Outcomes 2026 | observational | 233 | Mixed | Higher baseline resilience predicted more intense acute challenging experiences, but moderation of psychospiritual outcomes was exploratory. |
| Ayahuasca Groups and Networks in the Netherlands: A Challenge to the Study of Contemporary Religion 2026 | theoretical | Unclear | Discusses challenges in studying contemporary religion but does not provide empirical data on ayahuasca's effects. | |
| B48-13 Severe Serotonin Syndrome With Acute Respiratory Failure Following Ayahuasca and Dextromethorphan Use: A Case Report 2026 | case report | 1 | Opposes | Severe serotonin syndrome with acute respiratory failure occurred after ayahuasca and dextromethorphan use, requiring intubation and ICU care. |
| Investigating Hypo‐Egoic Features: Ayahuasca's Psychedelic Path Versus Meditation's Mindful Journey 2026 | observational | 174 | Mixed | Meditators had higher ego dissolution scores than ayahuasca users; no cumulative effect of ayahuasca sessions on ego measures was found. |
Persistent entropy of H2 features showed a nominal decrease that did not survive correction and was not reproduced with signed correlations; temporal complexity showed non-significant increases.
observational Sample size: 9
Ceremony duration tracks pharmacokinetic duration with high correlation, but relevance to ayahuasca's effects is indirect and not directly addressing therapeutic outcomes.
theoretical
Ayahuasca compounds show significant pharmacological potential but also toxicological risks, emphasizing need for further in vivo and clinical studies.
theoretical
Ceremonial ayahuasca use was perceived to reduce suicidal ideation and behavior, with themes of improved psychological well-being.
qualitative Sample size: 9
DMT administration reduced neuroinflammation and preserved neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway, with behavioral improvements.
preclinical
Higher baseline resilience predicted more intense acute challenging experiences, but moderation of psychospiritual outcomes was exploratory.
observational Sample size: 233
Discusses challenges in studying contemporary religion but does not provide empirical data on ayahuasca's effects.
theoretical
Severe serotonin syndrome with acute respiratory failure occurred after ayahuasca and dextromethorphan use, requiring intubation and ICU care.
case report Sample size: 1
Meditators had higher ego dissolution scores than ayahuasca users; no cumulative effect of ayahuasca sessions on ego measures was found.
observational Sample size: 174
Points of agreement
- Ayahuasca's psychoactive effects are attributed to DMT and MAOIs from its plant components.
- Potential therapeutic benefits are suggested for neuropsychiatric conditions like suicidality and Parkinson's disease.
- Safety risks, particularly serotonin syndrome when combined with other serotonergic drugs, are highlighted.
Conflicts
- One study found a nominal decrease in persistent entropy (brain topology) that did not survive correction, while another found no significant changes in temporal complexity.
- Qualitative reports of reduced suicidality contrast with a case report of severe adverse effects.
- Cross-sectional data show no cumulative effect of ayahuasca on ego dissolution, whereas meditation shows cumulative effects.
Gaps
- No large-scale, placebo-controlled RCTs on ayahuasca's effects in humans.
- Durability of therapeutic effects beyond short-term follow-up is unstudied.
- Blinding is not addressed in any study; most are open-label or qualitative.
- Diverse populations (e.g., non-Western, clinical samples) are underrepresented.
- Dose-response relationships and long-term safety data are lacking.