Ayahuasca: A review of historical, pharmacological, and therapeutic aspects.
PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences December 1, 2023 Simon G D Ruffell, Max Crosland-Wood, Rob Palmer et al. 37 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic plant brew from the Amazon made from Banisteriopsis caapi vine and a DMT-containing plant like Psychotria viridis, has attracted growing interest since the year 2000. This review covers its history, pharmacology, and the phenomenological responses it produces. Anecdotal reports range from positive to accounts of physical and psychological harm. The authors discuss effects on personality and mental health, and examine phenomenological analyses of the experience. They conclude that ayahuasca is a promising psychedelic agent deserving more empirical research into its neurochemical mechanisms and potential therapeutic use.