A pilot study investigating a group of adults visiting an ayahuasca retreat in Peru found significant reductions in their levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity following their stay. These reductions occurred regardless of the duration of the retreat or the...
A three-month study on ayahuasca ritual participants showed slight self-reported decreases in narcissism, not confirmed by informant reports. This research, highlighting ayahuasca's potential psychological impacts, suggests modest changes in personality traits and calls for further investigation into psychedelic-assisted therapies.
A study in the Netherlands found that regular participants in ayahuasca ceremonies exhibit enhanced well-being, healthier lifestyles, and fewer chronic ailments compared to the general Dutch population. However, the study's design doesn't establish causation.
Ayahuasca has been studied to determine if it can help with a variety of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety or addiction, and many studies report positive effects. However, few studies have focused on the side-effects, and these studies...
New findings published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs suggest that regular users of ayahuasca engage in certain positive health behaviors that result in physical and mental health benefits. Compared to normative data, ayahuasca users engaged in more physical exercise, had healthier...
A naturalistic study published in the journal Scientific Reports provides evidence that the ceremonial use of ayahuasca can lead to significant reductions in neuroticism, a personality trait associated with depression and anxiety.
At least some of the mental health benefits tied to ayahuasca ceremonies can be elicited by placebo, according to findings published in the journal Psychopharmacology. The study found that ayahuasca users reported reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression following an ayahuasca ceremony,...
The psychedelic brew known as ayahuasca could help improve the self-perception of those with social anxiety disorder, according to a controlled proof-of-concept study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Ayahuasca, a concoction used for centuries by indigenous Amazon...
In addition to being found naturally in animal tissues, including the human brain, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is the primary hallucinogenic compound found in the psychedelic brew known as ayahuasca. Used for both ritual and medicinal purposes in traditional South American cultures,...
Despite their illegality and a tendency among the media and politicians to demonize their use, psychedelics have been shown to have transformative effects on individuals suffering from mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. At the same time, drug use...
The antidepressant effects of the psychedelic brew known as ayahuasca appear to be related to anti-inflammatory activity, according to new research from scientists in Brazil. Their findings, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, provide new insights into the biological mechanisms...
A study published in Scientific Reports found that first-time users of psychoactive brew ayahuasca showed decreases in psychopathology and depression one month and six months later. Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic beverage traditionally used by Amazonian tribes but that has more...
Consuming a single dose of the psychedelic brew ayahuasca can result in lasting changes in higher-order cognitive brain networks, according to a new study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. Ayahuasca, a concoction used for centuries by indigenous Amazon tribes,...
Scientists are beginning to examine whether the psychedelic brew known as ayahuasca can help reduce suicide risk. But the first study to examine the topic has found inconclusive results. The research has been accepted for publication in Frontiers in Pharmacology....
New research provides evidence that the ritualistic use of the psychedelic drug ayahuasca is not a significant public health concern -- and could in fact have potential benefits. The study has been published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. "Ayahuasca...