Ayahuasca is a psychoactive tea containing DMT and several harmala alkaloids, which have been used ceremonially for centuries by Indigenous Amazonian groups. Recent decades have seen the brew gaining popularity internationally for its renowned therapeutic and spiritual effects. This has been evident in large numbers of people travelling to South America to partake in ayahuasca rituals; further international expansion of the Brazilian-based Ayahuasca churches; and growing numbers of underground facilitators in Western countries offering neo-shamanic ceremonies, sometimes utilising non-traditional plants, such as Acacia. At the same time, there is growing research interest in potential clinical applications of ayahuasca and encouraging early data.
This presentation draws on the research of our group over the last seven years, including the largest ever study of more than 10,000 ayahuasca drinkers in over 50 countries, to outline evidence relating to the mental health and wellbeing effects of ayahuasca, the effects of set and setting on outcomes, implications of this data and a proposed model for possible medical use, as well as our upcoming Phase 2 clinical trial investigating the use of an ayahuasca inspired DMT-harmala alkaloid product for treatment-resistant depression and alcohol use disorder.
