Ayahuasca may help treat depression
One study showed that the drink has positive effects in patients who have resistance to antidepressants
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic drink consumed in religious rituals in Amazonian South American countries such as Brazil and Peru, could help people with depression who show resistance to antidepressants, according to a study by scientists at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, of the Brazilian city Natal. The work can be downloaded on the bioRxiv.org website.
Follow @tecnoycienciaEC
Also known as yagé, ayahuasca is a mixture of two plants, the chacruna shrub (‘Psychotria viridis’) – which contains the hallucinogen dimethyltryptamine (DMT) – and the ‘Banisteriopsis caapi’ or ayahuasca vine – which has substances that prevent the DMT is disintegrated before reaching the brain. Countries like the United States or the United Kingdom have classified this drink as illegal, while warning about potential dangers for people with mental health problems.
The opposite is that of South America, where, for example, the Peruvian government recognizes it as a pillar of the Amazon identity. More and more tourists contact shamans to go through ayahuasqueros rites that, it is believed, help to treat post-traumatic stress disorders, depression and certain addictions.
Now, this clinical trial on ayahuasca to treat depression found that this concoction can quickly improve people’s mood. In the tests, done in Brazil, a dose was administered to 14 people resistant to depression treatments, while 15 people with the same condition received a placebo.
Those who consumed the placebo were led to believe that they had ingested ayahuasca, and even a potion with a similar taste and color was prepared. It should be noted that none of the volunteers had tried ayahuasca or other psychedelic drugs.
One day before the dose, participants filled out standard questionnaires to measure their depression. The next day, they spent 8 hours in a quiet and supervised environment, where they received both the potion or the placebo.
A week later, those who drank ayahuasca showed significant improvements. The mood of these people went from being severe to moderate on the standard depression scale, according to a series of questionnaires through which they were followed up (one, two and seven days later).
The evidence was that the effect of the antidepressant was superior to that of placebo, according to Draulio de Araújo, lead author of the study and researcher at the Brain Institute of the university.
In detail, both groups showed substantial improvements one or two days after treatment: both the placebo group and the ayahuasca group achieved high scores. It is common in tests with placebos, according to Araújo. But a week later, 64% of people who took ayahuasca felt that their depression was reduced by 50%. In the same period, the positive result was only in 27% of people who took the placebo.
For the Massachusetts General Hospital psychiatrist David Mischoulon, cited by Newscientist, the finding has interesting conclusions, although “patients are required to follow up for longer periods to test whether the effects are sustained.”
Alternative treatments make their way as interesting options for people who do not respond to conventional methods, especially in times when depression affects more and more people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 332 million people suffer from depression annually, a problem that has also been classified as “the main problem of disability in these times.”
If you are interested in participating in an authentic Ayahuasca shamanic journey in the Amazon jungle here at Flower of life Ayahuasca Peru healing retreat center
We would be delighted to welcome you! To suit the desires of our guests here at Flower of life Ayahuasca healing center.We work with both male and female authentic shipibo maestros healers.
For more information on our upcoming retreats or any questions you may have. Please contact us at