Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects.
Rafael Guimarães Dos Santos, Jaime Eduardo Cecilio Hallak
CNS Spectrums November 20, 2024 DOI: 10.1017/s109285292400213x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Human |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Ayahuasca DMT |
| Keywords | Harmine Mental health Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Psychoactive substances Tribal medicine Shamanic practices Folk remedies Psychological treatment Behavioral health care |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca shows a good safety and tolerability profile and may improve depressive and anxious symptoms, but evidence is limited by few controlled studies with small samples and short follow-ups. |
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a botanical hallucinogen traditionally used for therapeutic and ritual purposes by indigenous groups from Northwestern Amazonian countries such as Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. Ayahuasca is made by the decoction of two plants, which are rich in the 5-HT1A/2A partial agonist dimethyltryptamine or DMT (from the leaves of the Psychotria viridis bush) and β-carbolines such as harmine, from the stalks of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine. There is an increasing interest in the possible therapeutic effects of ayahuasca, especially for psychiatric disorders (major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorder). This review summarizes information on the pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic potentials of ayahuasca. Although human experimental and naturalist studies published until now suggest a good safety and tolerability profile, often associated with improvements in depressive and anxious symptoms, there are few controlled studies, with small sample sizes, using only single doses, and with short follow-ups. Potential benefits of ayahuasca should be evaluated in larger samples in both experimental and observational studies and using different doses in controlled trials.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ayahuasca, most cited first.