title: Ayahuasca: Pharmacology, neuroscience and therapeutic potential.
abstract: Ayahuasca is the Quechua name for a tea obtained from the vine Banisteriopsis caapi, and used for ritual purposes by the indigenous populations of the Amazon. The use of a variation of the tea that combines B. caapi with the leaves of the shrub Psychotria viridis has experienced unprecedented expansion worldwide for its psychotropic properties. This preparation contains the psychedelic 5-HT2Areceptor agonist N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) from P. viridis, plus β-carboline alkaloids with monoamine-oxidase-inhibiting properties from B. caapi. Acute administration induces a transient modified state of consciousness characterized by introspection, visions, enhanced emotions and recollection of personal memories. A growing body of evidence suggests that ayahuasca may be useful to treat substance use disorders, anxiety and depression. Here we review the pharmacology and neuroscience of ayahuasca, and the potential psychological mechanisms underlying its therapeutic potential. We discuss recent findings indicating that ayahuasca intake increases certain mindfulness facets related to acceptance and to the ability to take a detached view of one's own thoughts and emotions. Based on the available evidence, we conclude that ayahuasca shows promise as a therapeutic tool by enhancing self-acceptance and allowing safe exposure to emotional events. We postulate that ayahuasca could be of use in the treatment of impulse-related, personality and substance use disorders and also in the handling of trauma. More research is needed to assess the full potential of ayahuasca in the treatment of these disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain. Electronic address: bethdclave@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Clavé
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM). Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica-Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, School of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain. Electronic address: jsolerri@santpau.cat.
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM). Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica-Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: matilde.elices@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elices
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM). Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica-Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: jpascual@santpau.cat.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM). Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica-Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: ealvarezm@santpau.cat.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica-Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; Human Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: fuente.revenga@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de la Fuente Revenga
authors.affiliation: The Beckley Foundation, Beckley Park, Oxford OX3 9SY, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.affiliation: The Beckley Foundation, Beckley Park, Oxford OX3 9SY, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feilding
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM). Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica-Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain; Human Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: jriba@santpau.cat.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031581:Banisteriopsis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002243:Carbolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009488:Neurosciences; D010600:Pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002243:Carbolines; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Ayahuasca; Beta-carbolines; DMT; Neuroscience; Pharmacology; Therapeutic potential