O USO RITUALISTÍCO E FARMACOLÓGICO DA AYAHUASCA: UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA
Revista Interfaces Saúde Humanas e Tecnologia April 1, 2020 Cicero Jerfesson Ferreira Silva, Pedro Walisson Gomes Feitosa, Alyne Oliveira Correia 1 citation
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive tea made from Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, contains β-carbonyl alkaloids that block monoamine oxidase (MAO) and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which MAO normally degrades. Used in traditional South American religious rituals by groups like União do Vegetal, Barquinha, and Santo Daime, its religious use is legally protected. Recent studies suggest ayahuasca may have therapeutic benefits for depression, anxiety, and chemical addiction. This review of 11 articles from 2015 to 2019 examines the ritualistic and pharmacological use of ayahuasca, finding evidence of its effectiveness for mental health in both religious and scientific contexts.