There are high rates of adverse physical effects and challenging psychological effects from using the plant-based psychoactive ayahuasca, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal Ayahuasca, although they are generally not severe.
by Daniel Perkins of the University of Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues.
Ayahuasca is a South American psychoactive drink used in traditional medicine and ceremony. Its contemporary use for mental health purposes and spiritual and personal growth is spreading throughout the world. Although clinical trials and observational studies have examined the potential benefits of ayahuasca, few have analyzed its adverse effects.
In the new study, researchers used data from an online global ayahuasca survey conducted between 2017 and 2019, which included 10,836 people from more than 50 countries who were at least 18 years old and had used ayahuasca at least once. Ayahuasca was used. Information was collected on participants’ age, physical and mental health, and history and context of ayahuasca use.
Overall, acute physical health adverse effects were reported in 69.9% of the sample, with the most common effects being vomiting and nausea (68.2% of participants), headache (17.8%) and abdominal pain (12.8%). Only 2.3% of participants reported physical adverse events requiring medical attention for the issue.
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Among all participants, 55% reported adverse mental health effects, including hearing or seeing things (28.5%), feeling disconnected or alone (21.0%), and having nightmares or disturbing thoughts (19.2%). However, of all respondents who identified these mental health impacts, 87.6% believed that they were part of a positive growth process either fully or to some extent.
Researchers have also identified several factors that predispose people to adverse physical events, including older age, physical health conditions or substance use disorders, lifetime ayahuasca use, and taking ayahuasca in a non-supervised context.
The authors observe that ayahuasca has notable, though rarely severe, adverse effects by the standards used to assess prescription drugs. In this sense, he states that ayahuasca practices can hardly be assessed with the same criteria used for prescription drugs, as its myriad effects include challenging experiences that are intrinsic to the experience, among which Some are considered as part of its healing process.
The authors state: “Many people are turning to ayahuasca because of disillusionment with traditional Western mental health therapies, although the disruptive power of this traditional medicine should not be underestimated, which usually results in mental health or mental health problems during assimilation.” Emotional challenges do occur. While these are usually fleeting and transitory and seen as part of a beneficial development process, the risk is greater for vulnerable individuals or when used in unsupported contexts.”
Source: Eurekalert
