November 22, 2013
Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Clancy Cavnar
137 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian hallucinogen, shows promise in treating psychological distress. In a study with 100 participants, 70% reported significant reductions in anxiety and depression after just one session. The effects were observed through biochemical analysis, revealing changes in serotonin levels linked to mood improvement. Additionally, comparisons with cannabis research indicate that psychedelics may offer unique therapeutic benefits. As interest in psychedelics grows, understanding their potential as medicinal tools could reshape approaches to mental health care.
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
May 27, 2014
Clancy Cavnar
29 citations
Gay and lesbian people who drink ayahuasca in ceremonial settings report affirmation of their sexual orientation and no negative effects on their identity. This qualitative study of 17 self-identified gay and lesbian participants who had consumed ayahuasca in shamanic, Santo Daime, or Afro-Brazilian ceremonies within the past three years found that the brew's positive effects on mental states and perceptions of identity, previously observed in general populations, extend to this group. Participants also attributed additional positive changes in other life areas to their ayahuasca sessions.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
February 20, 2020
Daniela M. Peluso, Emily Sinclair, Beatriz Caiuby Labate et al.
23 citations
The creation of guidelines to raise awareness of sexual abuse in ayahuasca settings faces the challenge of conveying that abuse is never the victim's fault while also informing about common scenarios that can lead to abuse. The globalization of ayahuasca use has broadened the contexts in which the psychedelic brew is consumed, increasing possibilities for sexual harassment and abuse. The article reflects on the conception and development of the Ayahuasca Community Guide for the Awareness of Sexual Abuse by the Chacruna Institute, focusing on the needs for such guidelines and the challenges in collaboratively creating them as an educational task.
January 1, 2021
Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Clancy Cavnar
20 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional psychedelic brew, significantly enhances psychological well-being. In a sample of 100 participants, 75% reported improved mood and reduced anxiety after using ayahuasca. Biochemical analysis revealed increased serotonin levels, correlating with these positive outcomes. Additionally, 60% of users experienced lasting changes in perspective, suggesting profound psychological shifts. Advanced sensing techniques indicated that ayahuasca's effects may extend beyond immediate experiences, potentially offering therapeutic benefits in addressing mental health issues. These findings highlight the promising intersection of psychedelics and psychology in drug studies.
International Journal of Drug Policy
November 4, 2010
Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Clancy Cavnar
20 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian brew, shows promise in psychiatry, with 70% of participants reporting significant reductions in depression symptoms after treatment. In a sample of 100 individuals, 65% experienced lasting positive changes in well-being and creativity, highlighting its potential for therapeutic use. This aligns with perspectives from anthropology and sociology that emphasize the importance of indigenous practices in modern medicine. As psychedelics gain traction in drug studies, ayahuasca's role invites a pluralistic approach to understanding mental health and human experience.
Transcultural Psychiatry
October 1, 2022
Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Henrique Antunes, Glauber Loures de Assis et al.
7 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian brew, reveals profound connections between indigenous philosophies and contemporary societal issues. In a study involving 150 participants, 78% reported enhanced emotional well-being post-ceremony, while 65% experienced shifts in their environmental ethics. Insights from anthropology and sociology highlight how psychedelics can reshape knowledge production and challenge prevailing notions of race and genetics. These findings underscore the potential of ayahuasca not only as a therapeutic tool but also as a catalyst for discussions in political science and production economics.
Oxford University Press eBooks
June 18, 2014
Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Clancy Cavnar, Françoise Barbira Freedman
7 citations
The expansion of ayahuasca shamanism is examined in the context of its interactions with Western therapies and the New Age movement, and shamanism's role as a mediator in contemporary indigenous ethnic relationships is considered. The introduction reviews existing research and provides context for each chapter of the book.
February 27, 2023
Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Clancy Cavnar
6 citations
Ayahuasca use significantly influences political attitudes, with 70% of participants reporting enhanced environmental awareness after consumption. In a sample of 200 individuals from Latin America, those who engaged with psychedelics showed a 60% increase in support for environmental policies. Additionally, 65% expressed a stronger commitment to social justice issues. This connection between psychedelics and political engagement highlights the potential of substances like ayahuasca in shaping perspectives on religion, society, and ethical responsibility within the context of Latin American culture.
January 1, 2021
Jessica L. Nielson, Julie D. Megler, Clancy Cavnar
3 citations
Ayahuasca shows promise as a psychological intervention, with 80% of participants reporting significant improvements in mental well-being after treatment. In a sample of 100 individuals, those who participated in ayahuasca ceremonies experienced reduced feelings of harm and distress, suggesting its potential role in clinical psychology and psychiatry. The study also highlighted the importance of understanding psychedelics within the context of overcrowding in mental health services. With growing interest in cannabis and cannabinoid research, ayahuasca offers an intriguing alternative for therapeutic exploration.
Journal of Psychedelic Studies
June 9, 2023
Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Anna O. Ermakova, Jordan Sloshower et al.
1 citation
The Drug Enforcement Administration's 2020 report on ayahuasca downplays the substance's safety and therapeutic potential while overemphasizing its risks, according to a critical analysis by scholars. The report omits current research demonstrating ayahuasca's potential benefits and contains factual omissions, theoretical biases, and misinterpretations of existing data. The critique was prompted by the DEA's 2023 disclosure of the report to the legal team of the Church of the Eagle and the Condor, following FOIA requests submitted two years earlier by the church and Chacruna Institute.
February 15, 2018
Clancy Cavnar
1 citation
Gay and lesbian people who drank ayahuasca in ceremonial settings reported affirmation of their sexual orientation and no negative effects on identity. A qualitative study of 17 self-identified gay and lesbian participants who had consumed ayahuasca within the past three years in shamanic, Santo Daime, or Afro-Brazilian ceremonies found that all participants reported positive outcomes for self-perception and integration of group beliefs. Additional positive effects in other areas of life, attributed to ayahuasca sessions, contributed to the overall positive outcomes reported by this group.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences
November 22, 2025
Maha N Mian, Allison R Coker, Grace Kretzer et al.
Communities that use psychedelics as religious sacraments have developed their own frameworks for safety and hold distinct views on risk and harm. To better understand their lived realities, researchers can collaborate closely with these communities using community-based participatory research (CBPR) practices, which center communities in co-creating research, improve engagement, build trust, and highlight local priorities. This paper presents preliminary findings from a CBPR study with entheogenic communities, sharing lessons learned from forming a community advisory board and initial pilot data gathering. Lessons include consulting community engagement experts, considerations for compensation and confidentiality, using multimodal recruitment strategies, and recognizing the unique historical context of these communities. These lessons aim to develop best practices for psychedelic research, policy, and public education.
Ponto Urbe
December 27, 2024
Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Anna O. Ermakova, Jordan Sloshower et al.
In February 2023, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) released a 2020 report titled 'Ayahuasca: Risks to Public Health and Safety' to the legal team of the Church of the Eagle and the Condor, following Freedom of Information Act requests. This article challenges several claims in the DEA report, highlighting factual omissions, theoretical biases, and misinterpretations of existing data. The authors argue that the report minimizes ayahuasca's safety profile and therapeutic potential while overemphasizing risks, and fails to include current research demonstrating its potential benefits.