Ayahuasca and Neuronal Regeneration

The World Ayahuasca Conference, which began in Ibiza in 2014, had its second edition this past October in Rio Branco, Brazil.

This initiative, led by the ICEERS Foundation, under the advice of the UN Economic and Social Council, aims to study ayahuasca and the ethnobotanical practices associated with it, as they are cultural heritage and a reflection of the customs of South American indigenous peoples. In the context of globalization, these conferences seek to protect these practices and understand them, rather than subjecting them to irrational persecution. The effects of the plant on people suffering from depression, addictions, or post-traumatic stress syndrome are well-known, but unfortunately, the penalization of its consumption and its classification as a “hard drug” have stifled research to better understand its effects.

Banisteriopsis caapi (Terpsichore, Wikipedia)

In the shadow of these conferences and following studies that include LSD or MDMA in psychological therapies, also in Brazil, a scientific study has been published regarding the effects of ayahuasca, titled Harmine stimulates proliferation of human neural progenitors, authored by Vanja Dakic (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) and Stevens K. Rehen (D'Or Institute for Research and Education).

RESEARCH ON HARMINE

This research specifically addresses the effects of harmine, a beta-carboline present in the decoction of the plant that has shown therapeutic results for depression.

Ayahuasca and chacruna (Awkipuma, Wikipedia)

In the first phase of the study, it was analyzed how it affects mice, as Vanja Dakic summarizes: “It has been shown in rodents that the antidepressant medication works by inducing neurogenesis, so we decided to test whether harmine, an alkaloid that reaches its highest concentration in the decoction of the psychotropic plant ayahuasca, would trigger neurogenesis in human neuronal cells.”

Driven by these results, in the second phase, their effects on humans were evaluated. After consumption, humans exhibited a 70% increase in the proliferation of neural progenitor cells.

Stevens Rehen, co-author of the study, explains in more detail that their “results demonstrate that harmine is capable of generating new human neuronal cells, similar to the effects of classical antidepressant medications, which are often monitored for various side effects. Furthermore, the observation that harmine inhibits DYRK1A in neuronal cells allows us to speculate about future studies to test its potential therapeutic role in cognitive deficits observed in Down syndrome and neurodegenerative diseases.”

Down syndrome, depression, or Alzheimer's may be conditions that could benefit from the findings of this study. However, our knowledge of ayahuasca is still limited, so it would be wise to wait for science to shed more light on the possibilities of the plant. Perhaps, one day, we may witness its inclusion in routine psychological and neurological therapies and, why not, the healing of illnesses plaguing our century.

Shaman of the Ecuadorian Amazon, June 2016 (Veton Picq, Wikipedia)

In the meantime, massive and secret ayahuasca ceremonies will continue to take place, which have significantly proliferated in recent years, especially in the United States, in Hollywood and Silicon Valley. These meetings, which are accompanied by meditation and dance activities, among others, focus on personal development and overcoming illnesses and addictions. They are quite popular among all types of audiences: many actors and actresses, for instance, have commented on their experiences. Those interested in the plant are not willing to wait for scientific findings and prefer to try it supervised by new ayahuasca gurus.

Article by Nina Slick