Ayahuasca, DMT, and Mental Health: A Current Review of Scientific Studies
Current Addiction Reports – February 21, 2026
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian brew, shows promise in treating various mental health disorders, including depression and PTSD. In human studies with 60 participants, neuroimaging revealed decreased default mode network activity and increased brain connectivity, suggesting enhanced neuroplasticity. Users often report emotional breakthroughs and heightened self-awareness. While findings are encouraging, especially for addressing core psychological processes, caution is advised for individuals with psychosis or bipolar disorder. Structured trials are essential to establish the safety and efficacy of ayahuasca as a therapeutic option in clinical psychology.
Abstract
Summarizes preclinical and clinical evidence on ayahuasca—a traditional Amazonian brew combining N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and β-carbolines—in treating depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use, eating, and personality disorders. Preclinical work shows enhanced neuroplasticity, reduced inflammation, and oxidative stress. Human neuroimaging reveals decreased default mode network activity, increased functional connectivity and brain entropy, indicating a flexible neural state and modulation of pathways related to neuroplasticity, inflammation, and stress response. While promising, the evidence is mainly observational. Users report emotional breakthroughs, increased self-awareness, and mystical experiences tied to therapeutic outcomes. Ayahuasca appears to target core psychological and neurobiological processes across disorders but requires caution in psychotic or bipolar individuals and should be administered with support. Randomized trials are needed to confirm efficacy and safety. In structured, culturally sensitive settings, ayahuasca/DMT may offer a novel treatment and, by integrating indigenous wisdom with modern science, deepen our understanding of healing and consciousness.