The DOI matches its Crossref record; 139 of the 139 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Ayahuasca: Pharmacology, neuroscience and therapeutic potential
Abstract
Ayahuasca is the Quechua name for a tea obtained from the vine Banisteriopsis caapi, and used for ritual purposes by the indigenous populations of the Amazon. The use of a variation of the tea that combines B. caapi with the leaves of the shrub Psychotria viridis has experienced unprecedented expansion worldwide for its psychotropic properties. This preparation contains the psychedelic 5-HT 2A receptor agonist N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) from P. viridis, plus β-carboline alkaloids with monoamine-oxidase-inhibiting properties from B. caapi. Acute administration induces a transient modified state of consciousness characterized by introspection, visions, enhanced emotions and recollection of personal memories. A growing body of evidence suggests that ayahuasca may be useful to treat substance use disorders, anxiety and depression. Here we review the pharmacology and neuroscience of ayahuasca, and the potential psychological mechanisms underlying its therapeutic potential. We discuss recent findings indicating that ayahuasca intake increases certain mindfulness facets related to acceptance and to the ability to take a detached view of one's own thoughts and emotions. Based on the available evidence, we conclude that ayahuasca shows promise as a therapeutic tool by enhancing self-acceptance and allowing safe exposure to emotional events. We postulate that ayahuasca could be of use in the treatment of impulse-related, personality and substance use disorders and also in the handling of trauma. More research is needed to assess the full potential of ayahuasca in the treatment of these disorders.
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“Indeed, converging evidence from preclinical and human studies suggest that oral formulations of DMT such as ayahuasca show potential in reducing anxiety, depressive symptoms, addictive behaviors, and posttraumatic distress (1–3, 30–35).”
From Potential therapeutic effects of an ayahuasca-inspired N,N-DMT and harmine formulation: a controlled trial in healthy subjects (2024) · cites this paper as [31]
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de Vos, C. M. H., Mason, N. L., & Kuypers, K. P. C. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.724606 · Cited by 269
“When DMT is administered without the other ayahuasca components, effects arise within minutes after ingestion when inhaled or injected, and last for 15min (15).”
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Sampedro, F., de la Fuente Revenga, M., Valle, M., Roberto, N., Domínguez-Clavé, E., Elices, M., Luna, L. E., Crippa, J. A. S., Hallak, J. E. C., de Araujo, D. B., et al. (2017) · International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyx036 · Cited by 200
Ayahuasca enhances creative divergent thinking while decreasing conventional convergent thinking
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Hamill, J., Hallak, J. E. C., Dursun, S. M., & Baker, G. B. (2018) · Current Neuropharmacology · doi:10.2174/1570159x16666180125095902 · Cited by 201
Metadata
- Authors
- Domínguez-Clavé, E., Soler, J., Elices, M., Pascual, J. C., Álvarez, E., de la Fuente Revenga, M., Friedlander, P., Feilding, A., & Riba, J.
- Affiliations
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES)
- Beckley Foundation (GB)
- Venue
- Brain Research Bulletin
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-09
- Volume
- 126
- Issue
- Pt 1
- Pages
- 89-101
- ISSN
- 0361-9230 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2301686735
- Cited by
- 226
- References
- 139
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 4
- FWCI
- 2.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Brain Research Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Synthesis and bioactivity of alkaloids
- Keywords
- ayahuasca, Banisteriopsis caapi, Psychotria viridis, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, β-carbolines, monoamine oxidase inhibition, psychedelics, altered states of consciousness, substance use disorders, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, self-acceptance, trauma, personality disorders, impulse control disorders, therapeutic potential
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Carbolines, Humans, Neurosciences, Pharmacology, Plant Extracts, Banisteriopsis
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