Maya G Liester
Palmer Ridge High School, USA
Title: Ayahuasca aka the vine of the soul as a potential new treatment for depression
Biography
Biography: Maya G Liester
Abstract
Introduction: Ayahuasca, a plant mixture from the Amazon rainforest, has been used by indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The brew is prepared by boiling a mixture of two or more plants for hours until only a concentrated liquid remains. The plants used most often are Banisteriopsis caapi, which contains β-carboline alkaloids with monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) properties, and Psychotria viridis, which contains the serotonin agonist N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). In indigenous cultures, this medicine is utilized to facilitate healing, prophesy, and divination. More recently, the use of ayahuasca has spread to non-indigenous cultures, where it has been reported to produce rapid improvement in depression after only a single dose. We review the literature on the use of ayahuasca as a treatment for depression, examining the potential risks and benefits of this medicine, as well as potential mechanisms of action.
Methodology: We conducted a PubMed literature search using the search terms “ayahuasca” and “depression.” The final studies selected for inclusion consisted of articles that examined the effects of ayahuasca on depression.
Findings: HAM-D (Hamilton Depression Scale) and MADRS (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale) scores decrease rapidly following a single dose of ayahuasca, and remain decreased for upto 21 days. Scores are reduced by as much as 82%. Prior reviews have found ayahuasca is well tolerated, increases introspection and positive mood, activates frontal and paralimbic regions, and decreases default mode network activity. Long-term ayahuasca use is associated with increased cortical thickness in the anterior cingulate gyrus and thinning of the posterior cingulate cortex.
Conclusions: Ayahuasca exhibits rapid antidepressant effects. Potential mechanisms of action include: biochemical, physiological, psychological, and transcendent pathways. Other potential uses of ayahuasca in the treatment of psychiatric disorders are discussed. Further research is recommended to investigate the potential benefits and risks of ayahuasca as a treatment for psychiatric disorders