Hypotheses Regarding the Mechanisms of Ayahuasca in the Treatment of Addictions
Mitchell B. Liester, James I. Prickett
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs July 1, 2012 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2012.704590 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Addiction Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Consciousness Hallucinogen Indigenous Traditional medicine Psychotherapist Pharmacology |
| Citations | 78 |
| Key points | Proposes four hypotheses—biochemical, physiological, psychological, and transcendent—to explain how ayahuasca may exert anti-addiction effects. |
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a medicinal plant mixture utilized by indigenous peoples throughout the Amazon River basin for healing purposes. The "vine of the soul" or "vine of death," as it is known in South America, contains a combination of monoamine oxidase inhibitors and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). When ingested together, these medicines produce profound alterations in consciousness. Increasingly, ayahuasca is being utilized to treat addictions. However, the mechanism of action by which ayahuasca treats addictions remains unclear. We offer four hypotheses to explain possible biochemical, physiological, psychological, and transcendent mechanisms by which ayahuasca may exert its anti-addiction effects.