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May 2026

Ayahuasca

What May 2026's 9 new studies found, synthesized from the papers below. All Ayahuasca research →

The synthesis

Synthesized from 9 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 in May 2026 shows preliminary evidence of altered brain topology (persistent entropy decreases) and potential therapeutic benefits for suicidality and Parkinson's disease, but findings are limited by small samples, lack of controls, and qualitative designs. Results are inconsistent across studies, with some showing null or mixed effects, and a case report highlights serious risks of serotonin syndrome when combined with other serotonergic agents. The evidence is insufficient to draw firm conclusions due to small sample sizes, exploratory analyses, and absence of replication.

Confidence in the evidence

Insufficient
  • Only one small fMRI study (n=9) with nominal effects that did not survive correction and lacked placebo control.
  • Qualitative study on suicidality (n=9) provides exploratory insights but no quantitative or controlled evidence.
  • Preclinical model of Parkinson's disease shows promise but is not human data.
  • Case report of serotonin syndrome highlights safety risks but is a single case.
  • Cross-sectional survey (n=233) shows resilience predicts acute challenges but effect size is small and exploratory.
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.

An exploratory persistent-homology analysis of resting-state fMRI functional connectivity under Ayahuasca 2026
Mixed

Persistent entropy of H2 features showed a nominal decrease that did not survive correction and was not reproduced with signed correlations; temporal complexity showed non-significant increases.

observational · Sample size: 9

Observability and pharmacological calibration in psychoactive ethnobotany: ceremony duration, admixture selection, and the discovery of ayahuasca 2026
Unclear

Ceremony duration tracks pharmacokinetic duration with high correlation, but relevance to ayahuasca's effects is indirect and not directly addressing therapeutic outcomes.

theoretical

AVALIAÇÃO IN SÍLICO DAS POSSÍVEIS ATIVIDADES FARMACOLÓGICAS E TOXICOLÓGICAS DOS COMPOSTOS SECUNDÁRIOS QUE COMPÕEM A BEBIDA AYAHUASCA: BANISTERIOPSIS CAAPI E PSYCHOTRIA VIRIDIS 2026
Unclear

Ayahuasca compounds show significant pharmacological potential but also toxicological risks, emphasizing need for further in vivo and clinical studies.

theoretical

Ayahuasca use and improvements in suicidal behavior: An exploratory qualitative study 2026
Supports

Ceremonial ayahuasca use was perceived to reduce suicidal ideation and behavior, with themes of improved psychological well-being.

qualitative · Sample size: 9

Therapeutic properties of ayahuasca component N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in a pre-clinical model of Parkinson's disease 2026
Supports

DMT administration reduced neuroinflammation and preserved neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway, with behavioral improvements.

preclinical

Baseline Resilience as a Predictor of Ayahuasca Acute Effects and Moderator of the Relationship between Acute Effects and Psychospiritual Outcomes 2026
Mixed

Higher baseline resilience predicted more intense acute challenging experiences, but moderation of psychospiritual outcomes was exploratory.

observational · Sample size: 233

Ayahuasca Groups and Networks in the Netherlands: A Challenge to the Study of Contemporary Religion 2026
Unclear

Discusses challenges in studying contemporary religion but does not provide empirical data on ayahuasca's effects.

theoretical

B48-13 Severe Serotonin Syndrome With Acute Respiratory Failure Following Ayahuasca and Dextromethorphan Use: A Case Report 2026
Opposes

Severe serotonin syndrome with acute respiratory failure occurred after ayahuasca and dextromethorphan use, requiring intubation and ICU care.

case report · Sample size: 1

Investigating Hypo‐Egoic Features: Ayahuasca's Psychedelic Path Versus Meditation's Mindful Journey 2026
Mixed

Meditators had higher ego dissolution scores than ayahuasca users; no cumulative effect of ayahuasca sessions on ego measures was found.

observational · Sample size: 174

Points of agreement

  • Ayahuasca's psychoactive effects are attributed to DMT and MAOIs from its plant components.
  • Potential therapeutic benefits are suggested for neuropsychiatric conditions like suicidality and Parkinson's disease.
  • Safety risks, particularly serotonin syndrome when combined with other serotonergic drugs, are highlighted.

Conflicts

  • One study found a nominal decrease in persistent entropy (brain topology) that did not survive correction, while another found no significant changes in temporal complexity.
  • Qualitative reports of reduced suicidality contrast with a case report of severe adverse effects.
  • Cross-sectional data show no cumulative effect of ayahuasca on ego dissolution, whereas meditation shows cumulative effects.

Gaps

  • No large-scale, placebo-controlled RCTs on ayahuasca's effects in humans.
  • Durability of therapeutic effects beyond short-term follow-up is unstudied.
  • Blinding is not addressed in any study; most are open-label or qualitative.
  • Diverse populations (e.g., non-Western, clinical samples) are underrepresented.
  • Dose-response relationships and long-term safety data are lacking.
Browse these studies in the library