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.
International journal of toxicology
January 1, 2024
Eleanor White, Tom Kennedy, Simon Ruffell et al.
13 citations
A systematic thematic review of 78 articles found that ayahuasca and its main psychoactive alkaloid DMT are generally safe in controlled settings, with serious adverse effects rarely reported among healthy populations. However, some adverse human events have been documented. In animal models, higher doses of ayahuasca showed abortifacient and teratogenic effects, and isolated harmala alkaloid studies—especially with harmaline—revealed potential toxicity at higher doses, which may increase when co-administered with certain medications. The authors note that high-dose animal studies using synthetic isolates may not translate to human use of therapeutic plant-based extracts. The review concludes that traditional use of ayahuasca and DMT has an acceptable safety profile, but further randomized controlled trials with larger samples and longer follow-up are needed.
February 21, 2023
Simon Ruffell, Nigel Netzband, WaiFung Tsang et al.
3 citations
preprint
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew from the Amazon Rainforest made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and a DMT-containing plant like Psychotria viridis, has seen a surge in global interest since 2000. This review covers its history, pharmacology, and phenomenological effects, as well as clinical applications. Tourists increasingly travel to the Amazon to consume it, and retreat centers offering plant medicine have become a thriving business. Anecdotal reports range from evangelical accounts to stories of physical and psychological harm. The brew shows promise as a psychedelic agent warranting more empirical research into its neurochemical mechanisms and therapeutic uses.
BMJ Open
April 1, 2025
Vanessa L. Beesley, Tom Kennedy, Fiona Maccallum et al.
2 citations
Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) affects up to 30% of bereaved carers in oncology settings, and current treatments fail up to half of participants. The PARTING trial is the first to test psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for cancer-related PGD. In this open-label pilot, about 15 participants receive a 25 mg dose of psilocybin with supportive guidance, plus preparation and integration sessions delivered by a psychologist and a nurse or Indigenous Therapist. Feasibility, safety, and acceptability are assessed through recruitment rates, adverse events, physiological measures, and qualitative interviews. Quantitative measures include grief severity, depression, anxiety, and quality of life over a 12-month follow-up.