The unpaved road of ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew, as a treatment for neuropathic pain: A review of mechanistic insights and clinical prospects
Brain Behavior and Immunity Integrative September 14, 2024 Bianca Castro Dos Santos, Ana Kéren Gomes Reis, Ricardo Aparecido Baptista Nucci et al. 1 citation
Neuropathic pain, a chronic condition often accompanied by depression, is difficult to treat with conventional medications. Ayahuasca, a psychedelic brew from Amazonian plants, shows promise for modulating pain. Preclinical studies and fMRI analyses suggest it reduces activity in the default mode network, which is linked to depression, and activates serotonin and sigma-1 receptors while modulating immune responses, including glial cells and the midbrain periaqueductal gray. These actions may address both pain and mood disturbances. However, rigorous research is needed to establish its efficacy, safety, mechanisms, and long-term effects.