Utilidades terapéuticas del ayahuasca
Libro Comunicaciones January 1, 2020 R. Pinilla, Psicologa Clara Rodriguez, Diana Batet et al.
Ayahuasca shows potential therapeutic benefits for substance dependence, anxiety, depression, near-death experiences, and terminal illness, based on a review of neuropharmacological and clinical evidence. It induces an introspective state with autobiographical memories, promoting new perspectives. Users often compare it to psychotherapy. Agonists of 5HT2A stimulate genes for transcription factors and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), influencing neuronal plasticity, memory, and attention. MAO inhibition and 5HT2A agonism produce anxiolytic and antidepressant effects; sigma-1 agonism promotes neuroplasticity. Neuroimaging shows activation in the left amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus, involved in emotional processing and memory. Studies report reduced alcohol and cocaine use, and decreased depressive symptoms (HAM-D, MADRS, BPRS) in patients with depression, from observational, case-control, and double-blind placebo-controlled trials with limited patients. Improvements in mindfulness domains suggest a link between mindfulness and ayahuasca experiences.