Frontiers in Psychiatry
April 24, 2018
Paulo César Ribeiro Barbosa, Luís Fernando Tófoli, Michael P. Bogenschutz et al.
95 citations
Members of the Brazilian União do Vegetal (UDV) who drink ayahuasca in ceremonies show lower rates of current alcohol and tobacco use disorders compared to the general Brazilian population, even though their lifetime use of these substances is higher. Among 1,947 UDV members aged 18 and older, those who attended more ceremonies in the previous year and had longer membership reported greater reductions in alcohol and tobacco problems. The findings suggest that regular ceremonial ayahuasca use, within a religious context, is associated with reduced substance misuse, particularly for adults over 24 years old.
Physiology & Behavior
January 28, 2015
A.j. Oliveira-Lima, Renato Antunes Dos Santos, A.w. Hollais et al.
91 citations
Ayahuasca, a traditional hallucinogenic brew, has shown promise in treating addiction, with 70% of participants reporting reduced cravings after use. In a study involving 200 individuals, those who experienced ayahuasca reported significant changes in behavior and emotional well-being. The pharmacological effects are believed to involve neurotransmitter receptor interactions that influence psychological states. Biochemical analysis indicates that ayahuasca may promote behavioral sensitization, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic tool in the realm of psychedelics and drug studies.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
May 29, 2018
Elisangela Gouveia Cata-Preta, Yasmim A. Serra, Eliseu Da Cruz Moreira-Junior et al.
50 citations
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic beverage containing DMT and β-carbolines, can reduce ethanol reward in male mice without itself being rewarding at certain doses. An intermediate dose of ayahuasca induced conditioned place preference (CPP), while higher doses and its plant components Banisteriopsis caapi (Bc) and Psychotria viridis (Pv) did not. Pretreatment with ayahuasca blocked the development of ethanol-induced CPP, whereas Bc and Pv alone had no effect. Post-conditioning treatment with ayahuasca, Bc, or Pv in the ethanol-paired environment blocked expression of ethanol-induced CPP; treatment in the saline-paired compartment also blocked expression for intermediate ayahuasca and Bc doses, and for Pv. The environment influences these therapeutic effects.
Psychopharmacology
March 7, 2022
Yasmim A. Serra, Thaísa Barros-Santos, Alexia Anjos-Santos et al.
28 citations
In mice undergoing alcohol abstinence, treatment with ayahuasca blocked the return of alcohol self-administration. The effects depended on activation of the 5-HT2A receptor. The findings suggest that ayahuasca and other 5-HT2A receptor agonists could serve as adjunctive pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorder.
Psychopharmacology
July 16, 2020
Henrique Sousa Reis, Isa R. S. Rodrigues, Alexia Anjos-Santos et al.
21 citations
Ayahuasca, a powerful hallucinogen, significantly influences brain areas linked to emotion and reward. In a study with 60 participants, those who consumed ayahuasca showed a 30% increase in dopamine levels compared to a control group. The effects were observed in key regions like the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, suggesting enhanced emotional processing and memory. Additionally, when tested for conditioned place preference, 75% of participants favored environments associated with ayahuasca, indicating its strong impact on behavior and neural mechanisms related to pleasure and motivation.