Ayahuasca

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...

“Leon” is a young Brazilian man who has long struggled with depression. He keeps an anonymous blog, in Portuguese, where he describes the challenge of living with a mental illness that affects some 300 million people worldwide, according to the...

Scientists in Canada have found preliminary evidence that a psychedelic drink known as ayahuasca can help people overcome eating disorders. "I was a psychologist working in eating disorders and colleagues and I were witnessing first-hand the drop-out rates, the relapse...

Psychotic episodes associated with ayahuasca and DMT appear to be a rare phenomenon. But new research published in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology suggests that individuals with a history of mental problems could face an increased risk. Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic...

Ayahuasca goes by many names: Daime, Vegetal, Hoasca, Kamarampi, Huni … whatever you call it, this plant-based psychoactive decoction, which has been used by indigenous Amazonians for centuries to contact the spiritual world, has suddenly burst into global consciousness. As...

Long-term use of ayahuasca, a psychedelic drink used medicinally by indigenous Amazon tribes, may have the potential to serve as the basis for treatments for anxiety disorders, according to a study on fear reactions in rats published in the journal...