Abstract Musico-healing practices play a key role in indigenous and mestizo traditional medicine in the Amazon. The curative songs or icaros used by the curanderos (traditional healers) of the Peruvian Upper Amazon are administered alongside the psychoactive plant decoction ayahuasca in ritual settings. This Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis examines musical experiences of 6 participants...
Eating DisordersMay 8, 2025Krista Tabuenca, Danielle E Crowe, Artha J Gillis et al.2 citations
A broad array of important and diverse studies surrounding the treatment of eating disorders were published in Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention in 2024. Anorexia nervosa is the most lethal and arguably the most well-studied eating disorder, yet treatment outcomes have been slow to advance. Herein, we review advances to both measuring AN symptom severity specifiers,...
ABSTRACT Background Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a widespread condition with serious health, social, and economic impacts, often marked by relapse despite the availability of FDA-approved treatments. Recent studies suggest that psychedelic substances, such as psilocybin, Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ayahuasca, etc. may offer novel therapeutic potential in treating AUD by modulating...
Research into psychedelics’ clinical potential has corresponded to a growth in public interest and adult use. One common pathway to accessing psychedelics is through psychedelic retreats. While individual retreats have been characterized in the anthropological literature, no systematic evaluation of the psychedelic retreat industry exists. Assessing the characteristics of the psychedelic...
May 1, 2025Angelica Ukaigwe, Abhishek Chauhan, S. Vinod Kumar
Abstract 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a psychoactive compound found in the parotid gland venom of the Sonoran Desert toad, Incilius alvarius, and certain seeds, leaves, and barks within the Amazonian rainforest. Similar to DMT containing ayahuasca, 5-MeO-DMT has become newly integrated as a spiritual sacrament in certain churches, offering a psychedelic experience to process...
While most psychedelic substances are considered to carry a relatively low risk of acute or long-term harm, co-use with other psychoactive substances may increase health and social harm. Using a large international survey of adults who use psychedelics, we sought to comprehensively characterize psychedelic co-use. We used data from the 2023 Global Psychedelic Survey, a web-based survey of...
There has been a recent resurgence in research on psychedelics as therapeutic agents for psychiatric conditions. This leading article outlines the studies to date of classic psychedelic treatments for treatment-resistant depression and major depression, including psilocybin, ayahuasca, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and O-methyl-bufotenine (5-Me-O DMT). We discuss the potential of expanding...
Depression affects over 185 million people worldwide, with approximately one-third classified as treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Current treatments, such as oral antidepressants, often take around 3 weeks to become effective, with no immediate anti-suicidal benefits. The field urgently needs innovative therapies that provide rapid relief. Psychedelics like psilocybin and ayahuasca have...
This chapter explores the key differences between entheogens and synthetic psychedelics, focusing on their origins, cultural contexts, and effects on consciousness. Entheogens are naturally occurring substances, such as psilocybin, ayahuasca, and peyote, traditionally used by Indigenous cultures for spiritual and healing purposes. These substances are often consumed in ceremonial settings with...
Abstract Background and Aims This systematic review examines the association between psychedelic use and enhanced life purpose and meaning, as assessed by the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Purpose in Life Scale (PILS). Interest in psychedelics' therapeutic potential has grown, with some studies suggesting that these substances encourage meaningful psychological insights that...