THE EFFECTS OF AYAHUASCA IN THE THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

Abstract

Of the countless plants used to treat depression, perhaps none is more complex in terms of terminology and botanical properties than ayahuasca. It is a hallucinogenic and psychoactive medicinal drink valued by Amazonian indigenous tribes that originates from boiling the bark of a vine called Banisteriopis caapi with the leaves of Psycotria viridis. Several studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in treating depression, so the objective of this work was to validate the use of ayahuasca in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Depression is a clinical condition prevalent in the world's population and is a disabling disease in which sufferers feel sad and lose the desire to engage in previously pleasurable activities. Therefore, the use of ayahuasca in all studies presents beneficial properties for improving depression and may become an alternative treatment for depression in the future.