Effects of Ayahuasca on Gratitude and Relationships with Nature: A Prospective, Naturalistic Study.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
People who experience awe and mystical states during ayahuasca ceremonies show lasting increases in gratitude and connection to nature. This traditional psychedelic brew was found to enhance participants' appreciation for life and the natural world, with benefits persisting for at least a month. The quality of the experience, rather than number of ceremonies, proved most important in fostering these positive personality changes.
Abstract
Qualitative studies and anecdotal reports suggest that experiences with ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew found in Central and South America, may be followed by individuals enduringly feeling more grateful and connected to nature. Yet, to date, these changes have been understudied. Here, participants (N = 54) completed validated surveys related to gratitude, nature relatedness, and nature appreciation one-week before, one-week after, and one-month after attending an ayahuasca retreat center. Compared to baseline, there was a significant increase in gratitude, nature relatedness, and nature appreciation at the one-week and one-month follow-ups. Ratings of mystical-type experiences and awe, but not ego dissolution, during participants' ayahuasca sessions were weakly-to-moderately correlated with these increases. The number of ayahuasca ceremonies attended at the retreat was not related to change in outcomes, underscoring the importance of the quality rather than the quantity of the experiences in post-acute change. Lastly, participant age was negatively related to the occurrence of mystical-type experiences and awe, supporting literature indicating blunted psychedelic effects with increased age. In the context of study limitations, the results suggest that mystical-type experiences and awe occasioned by ayahuasca may be linked to prosocial changes in gratitude and relationships with nature that may be beneficial to mental health.