Psychedelic Medicine
October 21, 2026
Michael D. Masucci, Alex S. Cohen, Christopher R. Cox et al.
Background: Within the last decade, ayahuasca, a brew containing a serotonin 2A receptor agonist (i.e., a classical psychedelic compound), has received increased attention as a possible intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder. Ayahuasca has demonstrated potential for long-term symptom reduction, but the biobehavioral changes caused by ayahuasca have not been defined quantitatively or...
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
October 19, 2026
Caio César De Paula, Anna Beatriz Vicentini, Lorena Terene Lopes Guerra et al.
Background: Observational studies with ritual ayahuasca users suggest that experienced users tend to have better cognitive performance, while novice users may experience transient impairments, particularly in working memory. However, no randomized clinical trials have systematically evaluated the cognitive effects of ayahuasca in healthy volunteers. Procedures: This double-blind, randomized,...
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
October 16, 2026
Vitor Trinca, Francisco Prosdocimi, Pedro Côrtes et al.
preprint
Background: Banisteriopsis caapi is the Amazonian liana that provides the β-carboline-rich vine component of ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian psychoactive preparation used in Indigenous and ceremonial contexts. The species encompasses culturally recognized ethnovarieties, some differing in stem architecture. Despite its cultural, ecological, and pharmacological importance, B. caapi remains...
Verdad y Derecho. Revista Arbitrada de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales.
October 14, 2026
Azul Monserrathe Illicachi-Erazo, David Alejandro Toapanta-Amores
La ayahuasca, bebida ritual de los pueblos amazónicos, se consume hoy también en ceremonias comerciales y recreativas, a menudo sin control sanitario. El estudio analizó el uso inadecuado de la ayahuasca y sus efectos en la salud según la percepción de consumidores. Se utilizó un diseño cuantitativo descriptivo, con revisión documental y una encuesta a una muestra pequeña de consumidores en...
Verdad y Derecho. Revista Arbitrada de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales.
October 14, 2026
Janneth Ximena Iglesias-Quintana, José Milton Jiménez-Montenegro, Viviana del Rocío Marfetan-Marfetan et al.
Las plantas medicinales y la ayahuasca forman parte de la medicina ancestral amazónica, pero su uso fuera del contexto comunitario plantea riesgos para la salud y dudas sobre su regulación. El artículo analizó el marco jurídico y la evidencia científica sobre el uso de plantas medicinales y de ayahuasca en Pastaza, desde la salud intercultural. Se realizó una revisión documental de normas,...
Molecular Neurobiology
October 12, 2026
Daiane Momo Daneluz, Alana Sueli Dos Santos, Silvana Regina De Melo et al.
Psychedelic drugs promote rapid neuroplasticity in brain regions affected by trauma exposure, such as the prelimbic (PL) cortex and the dorsal hippocampus (DH), being investigated as potential treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder. Ayahuasca (Aya) contains N,N-dimethyltryptamine, a classic psychedelic. Our previous work showed that Aya reduces fear expression by impairing fear memory...
Frontiers in Public Health
October 9, 2026
Cecile Giovannetti, Anja Loizaga-Velder, Brian Rush et al.
Background Indigenous peoples experience substantial mental health and substance use disparities while remaining underserved by conventional healthcare systems. Despite growing evidence for psychedelic-assisted therapies, Indigenous knowledge systems and Indigenous-led models of psychedelic care remain underrepresented. This paper describes the establishment and implementation of the Yaqui...
Journal of Neuroendocrinology
October 1, 2026
Cristian Ferreira Corona, Felipe Alves Alencar Lima, Jessica Sabrina Canedo da Silva Sumensse et al.
Abstract Human binge eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption accompanied by loss of control and is strongly associated with alterations in reward processing and emotional regulation. Ayahuasca, a psychoactive botanical preparation traditionally used in Amazonian medicine, has been shown to modulate serotonergic signaling and reward‐related behaviors...
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
September 30, 2026
Camila Pasquini De Souza, Vinicius Theiss De Rosso, Daiane Momo Daneluz et al.
Rats emit 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), a widely used measure of drug-induced motivational and affective effects and dopaminergic activity. Although psychedelic drugs are promising for addiction treatment, the effects of ayahuasca (AYA) on 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) remain unclear. We investigated whether acute AYA treatment attenuates lisdexamfetamine (LDX)-induced USVs,...
Aracê.
September 29, 2026
Renato Lemes Peixoto, Lígia Freitas
A Ayahuasca é uma preparação de origem amazônica tradicionalmente produzida a partir da combinação de Banisteriopsis caapi e Psychotria viridis, contendo compostos biologicamente ativos como N,N-dimetiltriptamina (DMT), harmina, harmalina e tetrahidroharmina. Nas últimas décadas, sua utilização ultrapassou os contextos tradicionais e religiosos amazônicos, alcançando centros urbanos e...
Industrial Psychiatry Journal
September 25, 2026
Julio Torales, Marcelo O’Higgins, Iván Barrios et al.
ABSTRACT: Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian brew containing N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and β-carboline monoamine oxidase inhibitors, has expanded globally beyond Indigenous ceremonial systems. While acute visionary and psychotomimetic effects are expected and culturally integrated in ritual contexts, concerns have emerged about persistent psychotic symptoms in vulnerable individuals. This...
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
September 24, 2026
Yurani Carolina Saavedra-Saenz, Marcelo Simas E Silva, Omar Enrique Estrada Semprun et al.
Ayahuasca is an entheogenic beverage traditionally used by Indigenous peoples and local communities throughout Amazonia. Its preparation typically involves the vine Banisteriopsis caapi and the leaves of Psychotria viridis, widely recognized as its principal ingredients. Other plant species and ethnotaxa have also been historically reported in association with ayahuasca preparation, but their...
Psychoanalytic Inquiry
September 22, 2026
Rodolfo Olivieri, Christine Avedikian, Mário Eduardo Costa Pereira et al.
Ayahuasca users often report receiving “messages” or a silent “voice” experienced as coming from an external instance that is neither the self nor other humans present. Building on Diament, Gomes, and Tófoli’s notion of a “plant third party,” we rename this phenomenon the plant third to foreground the field in which alterity is encountered. We first read the plant third through Lacanian...
Journal of Neural Transmission
September 19, 2026
Guilherme Lodetti, Henrique Redivo, Amanda Gomes Teixeira et al.
Pharmacotherapy for depression is commonly prescribed, yet fewer than half of patients achieve remission with a single treatment. Many also experience intolerable side effects, highlighting the need for new treatment approaches. Classic psychedelics interact with the serotonin (5-HT) receptor class and are therefore strongly involved in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses such as depression,...
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
September 18, 2026
Renan Massanobu Maekawa, Lorena T. L. Guerra, Bianca Villanova et al.
Background: Depressive and anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent among patients with cancer and are associated with substantial reductions in quality of life. However, effective therapeutic options remain limited. Ayahuasca, a serotonergic psychedelic traditionally used in Amazonian ritual contexts, has shown rapid antidepressant and anxiolytic effects following a single administration in...
Frontiers in Psychiatry
September 15, 2026
Serena Chiara Civardi, Filippo Besana, Federico Durbano et al.
Background Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a major clinical challenge, with many patients failing to respond to conventional antidepressants. Psychedelic compounds such as psilocybin and ayahuasca have recently gained attention as potential rapid-acting therapies. Beyond their neurobiological effects, methodological, ethical, and real-world applicability concerns are critical for...
npj Mental Health Research
September 10, 2026
Lucas Cruz, Marcio S. C. Longo, Rafael S. Rodrigues et al.
Abstract This observational survey study investigated the relationship between prior ayahuasca experience and mental health and mindset outcomes. Participants planning to attend an ayahuasca ceremony completed a survey before their upcoming ayahuasca use. Measures included substance use, depression, anxiety, stress, spiritual well-being, aberrant salience, and metaphysical beliefs. Participants...
Anales de la Facultad de Medicina
September 9, 2026
Kary Gonzales Dávila, Yolanda Angulo-Bazán, Giancarlo Biaggi Ortega et al.
Introducción: La ayahuasca (también llamada huasca, oasca, caapi o yagé) es un brebaje de uso tradicional, con efectos psicoactivos de interés en la salud humana. Esta situación crea la necesidad de generar conocimiento científico para identificar vacíos en el conocimiento y prioridades en investigación. Objetivo. Describir la producción científica sobre el uso de ayahuasca en seres humanos...
International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
September 1, 2026
Raluca BilacoRusu
Empirical and philosophical interest in psychedelic substances has expanded substantially in recent years, extending beyond clinical applications to questions concerning altered states of consciousness and their possible effects on beliefs about reality. This paper reviews recent empirical research on psychedelic-associated changes in metaphysical belief, focusing on the prospective survey...
DELOS Desarrollo Local Sostenible
August 31, 2026
Ricardo Cavalari Dória, Romulo Ronsani Ferreira, Maria Eugenia Garavello et al.
O uso de ayahuasca vem se expandindo no Brasil para além do contexto religioso tradicional, alcançando também padrões recreativos, com riscos psiquiátricos ainda pouco documentados na literatura nacional. Este relato descreve o caso de uma paciente de 28 anos, com Transtorno Afetivo Bipolar (CID-10 F31.2) diagnosticado havia nove anos e três internações prévias por mania psicótica, internada...