A Systematic Review on the Therapeutic Effects of Ayahuasca.
Joana Gonçalves, Ângelo Luís, Eugenia Gallardo, Ana Paula Duarte
Plants July 7, 2023 DOI: 10.3390/plants12132573 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Natural treatments Systematic review Therapeutic properties #ancientmedicine traditional medicine Indigenous healing Folk medicine #ayahuasca yagé Daime #mentalhealth psychological health Behavioral health Emotional wellb |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca may have beneficial effects on depression, anxiety, neurobiological conditions, and possess anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. |
Abstract
Traditional therapies, resorting to the use of plants, have acquired a great demand over the years, both for economic reasons and the preference for natural treatments. Some studies suggest that ayahuasca may have beneficial properties in treating some physical and psychological imbalances. Thus, we carried out a systematic review of studies published up to December 2022, where these themes were addressed. The search was carried out in the PubMed database, and only studies written in English and published in peer-reviewed journals were included. Thus, 228 publications were identified, of which 66 were included in the present study. The reviewed studies suggest that ayahuasca may have beneficial effects on various physical and psychological conditions, namely in the treatment of depression, anxiety and various diseases of the neurobiological system, as well as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, demonstrating its therapeutic potential. The number of studies that address this issue has also been growing, demonstrating interest in the search for alternative treatments. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review where all the findings of therapeutic effects associated with the consumption of ayahuasca are reviewed.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on ayahuasca, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antidepressive, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive effects of ayahuasca, psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD): a systematic review of clinical trials published in the last 25 years Patients from included clinical trials | 2016 | Systematic review | |
| Risk assessment of ritual use of oral dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and harmala alkaloids Humans (ritual ayahuasca use) | 2006 | Systematic review | |
| Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review Participants from included studies | 2022 | Systematic review | |
| Ayahuasca, dimethyltryptamine, and psychosis: a systematic review of human studies | 2017 | Systematic review | |
| Psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Participants in studies of psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms (Major... | 2023 | Systematic review with meta-analysis | n = 14 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 14
- Ayahuasca Pretreatment Prevents Sepsis-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior, Neuroinflammation, and Oxidative Stress, and Increases Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor. Molecular Neurobiology May 1, 2025
- The Clinical Potential of Dimethyltryptamine: Breakthroughs into the Other Side of Mental Illness, Neurodegeneration, and Consciousness Psychoactives February 26, 2024
- Preliminary results from a community-based ayahuasca-assisted mental health program among a Yaqui Indigenous population in Sonora, Mexico Journal of Psychedelic Studies January 24, 2025
- Potential therapeutic use of ayahuasca: A literature review Acta Amazonica 2024
- Guidelines for Establishing Safety in Ayahuasca and Ibogaine Administration in Clinical Settings Psychoactives December 11, 2023
and 9 more in the library
Cites 73
- Antidepressant Effects of a Single Dose of Ayahuasca in Patients With Recurrent Depression Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology December 11, 2015
- Human Pharmacology of Ayahuasca: Subjective and Cardiovascular Effects, Monoamine Metabolite Excretion, and Pharmacokinetics Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics June 18, 2003
- Subjective effects and tolerability of the South American psychoactive beverage Ayahuasca in healthy volunteers Psychopharmacology February 22, 2001
- Increased frontal and paralimbic activation following ayahuasca, the pan-amazonian inebriant Psychopharmacology March 30, 2006
- Risk assessment of ritual use of oral dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and harmala alkaloids Addiction December 20, 2006
and 68 more in the library