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    ayahuasca adverse effects efectos adversos ICEERS study estudio

    Adverse Effects of Ayahuasca

    21.11.2022

    Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca Survey

    Authors:
    José Carlos Bouso, Òscar Andión, Jerome Sarris, Milan Scheidegger, Luis Fernando Tófoli, Emerita Opaleye, Violeta Schubert, and Daniel Perkins.

    Journal:
    PLOS Global Public Health

    Year:
    2022

     

    About the study

    This study begins with a very long introduction that tries to explain ayahuasca not as a substance, but as a tool within a complex medical system. It also includes an exhaustive review of all the studies that have been published on the adverse effects of ayahuasca.

    The research ends with an analysis of the adverse effects and a first questioning of whether these effects are indeed adverse or we should start looking for new names. This will be addressed in more depth in the next article on the subject, with data also taken from the Global Ayahuasca Survey.
     
    These results have very important implications in terms of public health relating to a traditional practice that has expanded internationally, and which is increasingly sought out by large numbers of non-native users in traditional locations.

     

    Abstract

    Introduction: Ayahuasca is a plant-based decoction native to Amazonia, where it has a long history of use in traditional medicine. Contemporary ritual use of ayahuasca has been expanding throughout the world for mental health purposes, and for spiritual and personal growth. Although researchers have been conducting clinical trials and observational studies reporting medical and psychological benefits, most of these do not report ayahuasca’s immediate or medium-term adverse effects, so these are underrepresented in the literature. With the expansion of ayahuasca ceremonies from their traditional contexts to countries around the world, there is an important public health question regarding the risk/benefit balance of its use.

    Methods: We used data from an online Global Ayahuasca Survey (n = 10,836) collected between 2017 and 2019 involving participants from more than 50 countries. Principal component analysis was performed to assess group effects. Logistic regression analysis was performed to test for adverse effects associated with history of ayahuasca use, clinical, context of use and spiritual effect variables.

    Results: Acute physical health adverse effects (primarily vomiting) were reported by 69.9% of the sample, with 2.3% reporting the need for subsequent medical attention. Adverse mental health effects in the weeks or months following consumption were reported by 55.9% of the sample, however, around 88% considered such mental health effects as part of a positive process of growth or integration. Around 12% sought professional support for these effects. Physical adverse effects were related to older age at initial use of ayahuasca, having a physical health condition, higher lifetime and last year ayahuasca use, having a previous substance use disorder diagnosis, and taking ayahuasca in a non-supervised context. Mental health adverse effects were positively associated with anxiety disorders; physical health conditions; and the strength of the acute spiritual experience; and negatively associated with consumption in religious settings.

    Conclusions: While there is a high rate of adverse physical effects and challenging psychological effects from using ayahuasca, they are not generally severe, and most ayahuasca ceremony attendees continue to attend ceremonies, suggesting they perceive the benefits as outweighing any adverse effects. Knowing what variables might predict eventual adverse effects may serve in screening of, or providing additional support for, vulnerable subjects. Improved understanding of the ayahuasca risk/benefit balance can also assist policy makers in decisions regarding potential regulation and public health responses.

     

    Link to the study

     

    Contact ICEERS Research team

     

    Photo by WrongTog en Unsplash.

     

     

    Categories: Studies & papers , Ayahuasca
    Tags: psychedelics , hallucinogens , mental health , ayahuasca , scientific research , study , adverse effects