Ayahuasca: what does the research show?

This is a risky article for me. The topic is tricky. Before reading, I was informed that the use of hallucinogens is banned in Latvia.

One nuance about me as the author of the article should be taken into account when reading. I am a psychologist who specialises in the subject of psychic experiences and other altered states of consciousness. The word "psychologist" indicates that I am approached by people with difficulties - that is, those who have had a life "experience gone wrong" (including after sad or very mixed feelings Ayahuasca experiences). So my attitude to these phenomena may be more sceptical than perhaps someone else's.

In case you have already had the Ayahuasca experience and are left with a feeling of an unfinished process, I invite you to join "Integration course" for a group of 10 sessions for understanding and emotional processing of spiritual experiences and altered states of consciousness. Find out the next group start date in Groups.

What is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a psychoactive drink made from a plant from the Amazon jungle Banisteriopsis caapi (called the wine of the soul, the wine of the spirits of the dead). Sometimes other herbs are mixed in, the active ingredients of which are beta-carboline alcohols and the hallucinogen N-N-Dimethyltryptamine (N-N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)). Beta-carbolinealkoids themselves produce psychotropic effects, but the main Ayahuasca DMT is considered the active substance.

The drink is also recognisable by its names Hoasca, Caapi, Yaj ́e/Yag ́e and Daime. The composition of a particular drink depends on the master who makes it. Documentation suggests that it may contain around 100 different plant species.

Ingestion of 47-50% causes vomiting in humans. It is also known to Ayahuasca may also cause sweating, urination and diarrhoea.

Drinking changes the visual and auditory perception, the perception of time and space. Visions, visions, hallucinations are perceived. Personal revelations, intellectual ideas, deep emotional reactions and spiritual and mystical experiences, including a sense of access to new sources of knowledge, a sense of access to the mysteries of the universe and to absolute truth. Visions may also include "encounters" with divine beings, a sense of connection or communication with nature, God, spirits, plants, etc.

The effect of the drink lasts about 4 to 6 hours.

From antiquity to the present 

Amazon regions Ayahuasca ceremonies have been practised for thousands of years. However, it is only relatively recently that they have become a central element of Santo Daime, União to Vegetal and Barquinha religions that developed in the early-mid 20th century. Soon after Ayahuasca The ceremonial movement has spread beyond these religions as part of drug tourism*.

* Drug tourism - a phenomenon in which people are attracted to a particular location because of the availability of legal or illegal drugs and related services.

To capture the current size of the sector, it is estimated that there are currently around 30 to 100 tourism-focused businesses in the Iquitos, Peru region alone Ayahuasca ceremonial centre

Tourist motivation Ayahuasca for use

Research shows that travellers are motivated Ayahuasca ceremony attendance varies widely. The main known reasons are:

• Curiosity;
• a thirst for adventure
• solving psychological problems
• a desire for emotional healing;
• a desire for deep self-reflection;
• a desire to grow spiritually
• a desire to get direction for your life;
• a desire to break free from addiction;
• a desire to recover from physical illnesses

Accordingly, also Ayahuasca The advertising slogans for ceremonies often use key words to describe the potential benefits of the experience: spiritual, visionary, transformative, transformative, personal growth, etc. 

Throwing a stone into the garden of advertisers, it should be mentioned that the misconception that "plant-based" formulas are harmless is also often highlighted. Also Ayahuasca Ceremonial purchasers often state that they were not provided with information on the correct use of the drink, toxicity, possible interactions with other substances (e.g. medicines) and possible risks of use. In addition, there are known cases of media reports of Ayahuasca deaths caused by.

What do the results show?

First, research points to the fact that there is now a flood of anecdotal evidence that the use of psychoactive substances enhances spirituality and well-being. However, there are few or mixed and contradictory results of actually reliable studies in this segment.

The good news is that in five out of six cases, people reflect on "pleasant and satisfying" experiences. 

The bad news is that in one out of six cases, people's experiences are neither pleasant nor satisfactory. The volume is significant, 17% cases.

Let's start with the positive

Both decades-old and modern studies of hallucinogens, including Ayahuasca use, show that people are affected by the conditions they cause:

• can make positive changes in their lives (e.g. giving up addictions)
• can solve emotional and intellectual dilemmas;
• report higher creativity;
• develop healthier habits and increase physical activity
• improves relationships with peers
• experiencing more vivid dreams;
• report increased self-awareness
• reports deep personal revelations;
• reports a deep sense of being and a realisation of the reasons why we, as human beings, are on this planet;
• report a deep awareness of God's presence: God as the all-encompassing force behind good and evil; God as the all-encompassing force with a sense of humour.

Let's continue with the positive

In studies where Ayahuasca the user group is compared with a control group (people who experience the ceremony without substance use), the overall group results show that after Ayahuasca presented by the participants:

• lower levels of anxiety;
• lower rates of disapproval, anger and depression;
• lower attention deficit scores
• higher life satisfaction
• a higher acceptance of yourself and your body;
• higher optimism scores
• higher outward energy performance
• higher emotional maturity
• greater openness to experience;
• more reflective spiritual views.

In the long term, these people are more reasoned, respectful, attentive and caring about the well-being of those around them, as well as having closer ties with their like-minded neighbours.

What happens to those who have had a negative experience?

Naturally, this group of 17% people is much, much less talked about in the public sphere. So I offer a look at the research results on what other outcomes besides positive spiritual experiences can be Ayahuasca for ceremonies.

I managed to find a relatively recent (2021) summary article analysing about 30 different studies, publishing case studies (both positive and negative experiences).

As a result of negative experiences, people report:

• paranoid ideas, persecutory delusions, insomnia, hyperactivity, emotional instability, running thoughts, disorganisation lasting several months;
• hospitalisation (in a psychiatric clinic) - for some immediately after the ceremony, for others a year after;
• first psychotic episodes in life (including police involvement to restrain the person) shortly after the ceremony and recurrent psychosis up to a year after the ceremony;
• abnormal behaviour, culminating in uncontrolled aggression;
• intense suicidal thoughts lasting several weeks;
• long-term difficulty concentrating;
• the persistent difficulty in distinguishing what is real and what is not;
• prolonged increased alertness, suspiciousness, irritability, visual and auditory hallucinations.

In short, the results of the studies so far are very controversial

A hypothesis I tend to agree with - Ayahuasca people who are (semi-) emotionally and psychologically stable at the time of use experience the experience as positive. It is likely that a person's state of mental health and suitability for the ceremony is largely unassessed at this time. This has consequences.

Recommendations are gradually emerging from research Ayahuasca persons with a history of psychotic episodes and delusions; persons with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses should not attend the ceremony.

For Ayahuasca therapeutic potential - the results so far are very mixed. Most frequently Ayahuasca is cited as a treatment for depression, anxiety, addictions and other mental health disorders. However, the evidence to date suggests only relatively temporary improvements in mindfulness, creativity and other aspects, while other cases point to possible harm.

To sum up. My duty as a psychologist to potential travellers after Ayahuasca warn that before going to the ceremony, it is advisable to be educated - to gather objective information about the potential benefits and possible risks. It is also advisable to answer honestly the question - how emotionally, psychologically stable do I feel in my life right now?

It may be worth seeing a specialist to check your mental health (the Latvian Clinical Personality Test is available from many psychologists in Latvia), and to make sure you have a psychological support person in case you do find yourself in a more shocking experience than expected. Have someone nearby to help you process the experience.

I am in favour of informed and informed decision-making!

This free content is produced in my spare time without pay. If you see value in what I do, I'd be happy to make you a coffee! It's like a spur to create new content! 🙂

Sources:

Houle , S.K. D, Evans, D., Carter, C.A., Schlagenhauf, P. (2021). Ayahuasca and the traveller: A scoping review of risks and possible benefits. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 44, 102206.

Kavenska, V, Simonova, H. (2015). Ayahuasca tourism: participants in Shamanic rituals and their personality styles, motivation, benefits and risks. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 47(5):351-9. 

Trichter, S.M., Klimo, J., Krippner, S. (2006). Changes in Spirituality Among Ayahuasca Ceremony Novice Participants. [Doctoral dissertation thesis]. Faculty of Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area.

Winkelman M. (2011). Drug tourism or spiritual healing? Ayahuasca seekers in amazonia. Journal of Psychoactive DrugsDrugs 2011;37(2):209-18.