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March 2026

Ayahuasca

What March 2026's 7 new studies found, synthesized from the papers below. All Ayahuasca research →

The synthesis

Synthesized from 7 studies in the library · AI-generated, grounded in the abstracts below

Found by searching the library for Ayahuasca, yage, hoasca, banisteriopsis, then ranked by relevance.

Research on ayahuasca published in March 2026 indicates consistent positive associations with mental health, well-being, and cognitive function, though the evidence is largely observational and cross-sectional. Studies report reductions in depression and anxiety, improvements in quality of life and spiritual well-being, and enhanced cognitive flexibility and empathy, with no long-term deficits observed. However, the lack of longitudinal and controlled designs limits causal conclusions, and most samples are small or self-selected.

Confidence in the evidence

Low-Moderate
  • Only one systematic review (16 studies) and one prospective naturalistic study (SGM retreat) provide stronger designs; the rest are cross-sectional or theoretical.
  • Sample sizes are small (e.g., 48, 203, 51 for ayahuasca in scale development) and populations are specific (e.g., Portuguese users, LGBTQ+ retreat attendees, daimista adherents).
  • Results are consistent in direction (positive) across studies, but all rely on self-report and lack blinding or active controls.
  • No meta-analysis or large-scale RCT is included; the systematic review notes most studies are observational.
How we rate confidence

Confidence reflects the strength of the underlying evidence, not whether the result is favorable. It weighs the number and size of studies, their design (randomized trials count for more than observational or single-case work), how consistently they point the same way, and their risk of bias.

Tiers run from Insufficient to High. High is rare in this field: small, early, or open-label studies land lower even when their direction is encouraging.

Evidence by study

Direction is each study's finding relative to your question: Supports, Opposes, No effect, Mixed, or Unclear.

Religiosidade dos adeptos de um centro daimista, Piedade, SP 2026
Supports

Experienced ayahuasca users (over 20 years) showed higher religiosity scores compared to beginners and non-users.

observational Sample size: 48

Ayahuasca and Public Health III: Health Status of a Sample of Ayahuasca Ceremony Attenders in Portugal. 2026
Supports

Ayahuasca users reported better health, lower chronic disease and obesity, higher physical activity, lower alcohol use, and improved psychological well-being compared to population norms.

observational Sample size: 203

LGBTQ+ Ayahuasca Retreat Experience is Associated with Benefits to Mental Health, Quality of Life, and Spiritual Well-Being: A Prospective, Naturalistic Study. 2026
Supports

Significant reductions in depression and anxiety, and increases in spiritual well-being and quality of life, sustained up to 2-3 months post-retreat, with minimal adverse effects.

observational

Exploring Colombian medicinal flora used in indigenous and campesino health systems for neuropsychiatric disorders and neuropharmacological potential: an ethnopharmacological review 2026
Unclear

Ayahuasca (yagé) was the most frequently reported preparation in Colombian ethnopharmacological literature for neuropsychiatric conditions, but no direct clinical data were provided.

review

Enchanted consciousness revisited – Ayahuasca visualizations and Sartre's ideas on hallucination 2026
Unclear

A philosophical analysis using Sartre's concept of enchanted consciousness and Shanon's typology of ayahuasca hallucinations to explore psychedelic double bookkeeping.

theoretical

Effects of ayahuasca on neuropsychological performance and social cognition: A systematic review. 2026
Supports

Short-term improvements in working memory and cognitive flexibility; observational studies found increased empathy and emotion recognition; long-term studies found no neuropsychological deficits.

review

Multidimensional Ego-Dissolution Assessment (MEDA): Scale Development and Substance-Specific Comparisons 2026
Supports

Ayahuasca (along with DMT) produced higher ego-dissolution scores than LSD/psilocybin on four of six factors, with universal high scores on insight and pleasure.

observational Sample size: 51

Points of agreement

  • Ayahuasca use is consistently associated with positive mental health outcomes (reduced depression/anxiety, improved well-being) across different populations.
  • No evidence of long-term cognitive deficits or serious adverse effects is reported.
  • Ayahuasca is linked to enhanced spiritual or religious experiences and ego-dissolution.

Conflicts

  • The systematic review notes that experimental studies found only reduced reaction times in social cognition, while observational studies reported increased empathy and emotion recognition, suggesting a possible discrepancy between controlled and naturalistic settings.
  • The theoretical paper (25098) focuses on philosophical interpretation, which does not directly align with empirical findings from other studies.

Gaps

  • No longitudinal or causal designs are included; most studies are cross-sectional or short-term prospective.
  • Sample sizes are small and populations are highly specific (e.g., daimista adherents, Portuguese users, LGBTQ+ retreat attendees), limiting generalizability.
  • Durability of effects beyond 2-3 months is not assessed.
  • Blinding, placebo controls, and objective measures are absent.
  • Dose-response relationships and potential risks in vulnerable populations are not explored.
Browse these studies in the library