Ayahuasca is a type of brew made from ingredients with hallucinogenic properties. Though some claim that it can benefit brain health and well-being, it is also associated with several potential risks. This drink was used for spiritual and religious purposes by ancient Amazonian tribes and is still considered sacred by some religious communities in Brazil and North America, including the Santo Daime.
What are the effects?
The main ingredients of Ayahuasca, Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, both have hallucinogenic properties.
Psychotria viridis contains N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a psychedelic substance that occurs naturally in the plant.
DMT is a powerful hallucinogenic chemical. However, it has low bioavailability, as it gets rapidly broken down by enzymes called monoamine oxidases (MAOs) in your liver and gastrointestinal tract.
To produce a hallucinogenic effect, DMT must be combined with something containing MAO inhibitors (MAOIs). Banisteriopsis caapi contains potent MAOIs called β-carbolines, which also have psychoactive effects of their own.
When combined, these two plants form a powerful psychedelic brew that affects the central nervous system, leading to an altered state of consciousness that can include hallucinations, out-of-body experiences, and euphoria.
Many people who have taken Ayahuasca claim that the experience led to positive, long term, life-altering changes. This may be due to the effects of Ayahuasca on the neurological system.
Recent research has shown that Ayahuasca may have certain health benefits.
May benefit brain health
The main active ingredients in Ayahuasca — DMT and β-carbolines — may have some qualities that make them beneficial for your brain.
DMT activates the sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R), a protein that blocks neurodegeneration and regulates the production of antioxidant compounds that help protect your brain cells.
Harimine, the main β-carboline in Ayahuasca, may also have memory-boostinge, based on test-tube and animal studies.
Additionally, a test-tube study suggests that exposure to harmine increased the growth of human neural progenitor cells by over 70% in 4 days. These cells generate the growth of new neural cells in your brain.
Considerations and potential side effects
While taking part in an Ayahuasca ceremony may seem alluring, consuming this psychedelic brew can lead to serious, even life threatening, side effects.
For starters, the expected side effects of ayahuasca can be extremely uncomfortable. These include:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- paranoia
- panic
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