The effects of ayahuasca include:

• feelings of euphoria
• hallucinations
• fear
• paranoia
• gastrointestinal symptoms.

During a ceremony, people typically consume one or two drinksTrusted Source. Ceremonies may repeat several nights in a row. Pre-ceremony and postceremony rituals are an important part of the practice.

Modern-day ayahuasca churches include the Santo Daime and the União do Vegetal (UDV), which has members all over the world.

Although DMT is a schedule I controlled substance in the United States, the Supreme Court have upheldTrusted Source the right for members of the UDV to drink the substance under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

What are the health benefits Of Ayahuasca?

Research indicates that ayahuasca may offer several potential health benefits, especially for brain health and emotional well-being. However, more studies are necessary to confirm these findings. Potential benefits include:

Brain health

Both DMT and beta-carbolines, the main psychoactive ingredients in ayahuasca, may protect and restore parts of the brain.

ResearchTrusted Source indicates that ingesting DMT can lead to a higher production of antistress and antioxidant proteins.

The findings of a 2017 studyTrusted Source in mice suggest that harmine, the primary beta-carboline in ayahuasca, may have neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing effects because it reduces inflammation and oxidative stres. However, there is a need for studies to confirm these results in humans.

This research also links harmine with increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that aids the survival of nerve cells, or neurons, and plays a role in maintaining connections between them.

Laboratory researchTrusted Source reports that harmine and other substances in B. caapi stimulate adult neurogenesis, the generation of neurons.

Mindfulness

According to some studies, ayahuasca may increase a person’s ability to be in a mindful state.

A small studyTrusted Source demonstrated that taking ayahuasca once a week for 4 weeks proved as effective as an 8 week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course, in terms of increasing a person’s “acceptance.”

In this case, acceptance refers to nonjudgmental attitudes and behaviors, which the researchers measured using a “mindfulness score.”

However, the researchers advise that more studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to confirm these findings.

Other studiesTrusted Source also support the use of ayahuasca to improve mindfulness.

Mood and emotions

Ayahuasca may improve the regulation of mood and emotions, and it could also reduce stress and depression.

According to one studyTrusted Source, B. caapi preparations demonstrate antidepressant activity, possibly due to the presence of harmine and other substances that contribute to neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is the production of neurons.

Further to this, a 2018 studyTrusted Source that involved people who took part in ayahuasca ceremonies found that ratings of depression and stress significantly decreased following the ceremony. These lower levels of depression persisted for 4 weeks after the ceremony.

Other researchTrusted Source supports this evidence, suggesting that a single dose of ayahuasca may produce a rapid antidepressant effect in people with treatment-resistant depression. This antidepressant effect persists for several weeks.

Ayahuasca may also help treat anxiety and mood disorders, according to a reviewTrusted Source of six studies.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A 2018 research paperTrusted Source suggests that ayahuasca may be beneficial for people with PTSD. It helps with the retrieval of repressed memories, which paves the way for the brain to reprogram or extinguish the associated fear response.

However, more research in this area is necessary to establish the safety and effectiveness of ayahuasca for people experiencing PTSD.