May 2026
Ayahuasca
What May 2026's 10 new studies found, synthesized from the papers below. All Ayahuasca research →
The synthesis
Synthesized from 10 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 spans diverse outcomes: preliminary neuroimaging suggests possible but non-significant changes in brain topology, while qualitative and preclinical studies hint at benefits for suicidality and Parkinson's disease, though with small samples and no controls. However, a case report highlights severe serotonin syndrome risk when combined with other serotonergic agents, and a large longitudinal study found baseline resilience predicts more intense challenging experiences. Overall, evidence is mixed and preliminary, with significant caveats regarding sample sizes, lack of controls, and safety concerns.
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 cohort | 9 | No effect | Persistent entropy of H2 features showed a nominal pre/post decrease that did not survive correction for multiple comparisons and was not reproduced with signed correlations. |
| Phytochemical and Neuropharmacological Evaluation of Banisteriopsis caapi, Paullinia cupana, and Turnera diffusa for Potential Anti-Addiction Activity 2026 | computational and in vitro study | Supports | Harmine, caffeine, and damianin exhibit multi-receptor neuropharmacological activity that may synergistically modulate dopaminergic, serotonergic, and GABAergic systems to mitigate addiction-related behaviors. | |
| Observability and pharmacological calibration in psychoactive ethnobotany: ceremony duration, admixture selection, and the discovery of ayahuasca 2026 | quantitative synthesis with cross-cultural comparison, catalogue analysis, and agent-based simulation | 11 | Supports | Ceremony duration tracks pharmacokinetic duration with a log–log Pearson r of 0.977, and active admixture plants show a bimodal distribution across purpose observability categories. |
| AVALIAÇÃO IN SÍLICO DAS POSSÍVEIS ATIVIDADES FARMACOLÓGICAS E TOXICOLÓGICAS DOS COMPOSTOS SECUNDÁRIOS QUE COMPÕEM A BEBIDA AYAHUASCA: BANISTERIOPSIS CAAPI E PSYCHOTRIA VIRIDIS 2026 | computational analysis | Mixed | Ayahuasca's constituent compounds have pharmacological potential but also present toxicological risks that require further investigation. | |
| Ayahuasca use and improvements in suicidal behavior: An exploratory qualitative study 2026 | qualitative study | 9 | Supports | Ceremonial ayahuasca use in neoshamanic traditions was associated with reduced suicidal ideation and behavior. |
| Therapeutic properties of ayahuasca component N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in a pre-clinical model of Parkinson's disease 2026 | preclinical study | Supports | DMT administration reduced neuroinflammation, preserved neurons, and improved behavioral symptoms in a preclinical model of Parkinson's disease. | |
| Baseline Resilience as a Predictor of Ayahuasca Acute Effects and Moderator of the Relationship between Acute Effects and Psychospiritual Outcomes 2026 | longitudinal study | 233 | Supports | Higher baseline resilience predicted more intense acute challenging experiences during ayahuasca retreats and moderated the relationship between those challenges and later search for meaning in life. |
| Ayahuasca Groups and Networks in the Netherlands: A Challenge to the Study of Contemporary Religion 2026 | theoretical or philosophical paper | Unclear | Argues that the internationalization of ayahuasca involves complex negotiations between legal systems, religious freedoms, and the preservation of indigenous traditions. | |
| Investigating Hypo‐Egoic Features: Ayahuasca's Psychedelic Path Versus Meditation's Mindful Journey 2026 | observational cohort | 174 | Mixed | Meditators scored significantly higher on the 'Delusion of Me' index than ayahuasca users, and cumulative meditation practice showed a significant non-linear association with scores, whereas repeated ayahuasca exposure showed no cumulative association. |
| B48-13 Severe Serotonin Syndrome With Acute Respiratory Failure Following Ayahuasca and Dextromethorphan Use: A Case Report 2026 | case report | 1 | Opposes | Ayahuasca combined with dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine can trigger severe serotonin syndrome with respiratory failure, requiring prompt intubation and critical care. |
Persistent entropy of H2 features showed a nominal pre/post decrease that did not survive correction for multiple comparisons and was not reproduced with signed correlations.
observational cohort Sample size: 9
Harmine, caffeine, and damianin exhibit multi-receptor neuropharmacological activity that may synergistically modulate dopaminergic, serotonergic, and GABAergic systems to mitigate addiction-related behaviors.
computational and in vitro study
Ceremony duration tracks pharmacokinetic duration with a log–log Pearson r of 0.977, and active admixture plants show a bimodal distribution across purpose observability categories.
quantitative synthesis with cross-cultural comparison, catalogue analysis, and agent-based simulation Sample size: 11
Ayahuasca's constituent compounds have pharmacological potential but also present toxicological risks that require further investigation.
computational analysis
Ceremonial ayahuasca use in neoshamanic traditions was associated with reduced suicidal ideation and behavior.
qualitative study Sample size: 9
DMT administration reduced neuroinflammation, preserved neurons, and improved behavioral symptoms in a preclinical model of Parkinson's disease.
preclinical study
Higher baseline resilience predicted more intense acute challenging experiences during ayahuasca retreats and moderated the relationship between those challenges and later search for meaning in life.
longitudinal study Sample size: 233
Argues that the internationalization of ayahuasca involves complex negotiations between legal systems, religious freedoms, and the preservation of indigenous traditions.
theoretical or philosophical paper
Meditators scored significantly higher on the 'Delusion of Me' index than ayahuasca users, and cumulative meditation practice showed a significant non-linear association with scores, whereas repeated ayahuasca exposure showed no cumulative association.
observational cohort Sample size: 174
Ayahuasca combined with dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine can trigger severe serotonin syndrome with respiratory failure, requiring prompt intubation and critical care.
case report Sample size: 1
Points of agreement
- Ayahuasca's constituent compounds show potential pharmacological activity across multiple receptor systems.
- Ayahuasca use may be associated with positive psychological outcomes, such as reduced suicidality and improved well-being.
- Ayahuasca's MAOI content poses risks of serotonergic toxicity when combined with other serotonergic agents.
Conflicts
- One study found no cumulative association between repeated ayahuasca exposure and ego-related measures, while another suggests potential therapeutic benefits from ceremonial use.
- Computational studies indicate both pharmacological potential and toxicological risks, reflecting a mixed safety profile.
Gaps
- Durability of effects beyond short-term follow-up is largely unstudied.
- Most studies lack placebo controls and have small sample sizes.
- Safety data are limited to case reports and computational predictions; clinical trials are needed.
- Dose-response relationships and interactions with other substances are not well characterized.
- Long-term neurobiological changes and their clinical significance remain unclear.