Gabriel Davis
Mrs. Dempster
UNIV 200
9 February 2016
Does ayahuasca have therapeutic effects on treating depression?
My motivation behind choosing my research topic is a based on a variety of
interests that I have. The first being altered states of consciousness and the effect
they have on the human psyche. Next is an alternative for conventional depression
treatment. Lastly are their medical benefits of using hallucinogenic drugs to treat
mental disorders such as substance dependence, posttraumatic stress disorder,
anxiety and depression? Through my curiosity of these subjects, I am extremely
captivated by the possibility of using ayahuasca as an alternative for depression
treatment.
During my junior year of high school, my mate and I stayed in one night and
watched two documentaries. The first one was Nervous Nirvana, a documentary
about medical benefits of MDMA, LSD, DMT and psilocybin mushrooms. The other
was called DMT: The spirit molecule. It examined the long-obscured mystery of
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a molecule found in nearly every living organism and
considered the most potent psychedelic on Earth. Both documentaries heavily
suggested that there was therapeutic use from hallucinogens. The following summer
I spent a lot of time with my older sister. She has used hallucinogens before and told
me of her experience with magic mushroom. It appeared from my sister’s
experiences that while under the influence of hallucinogens there was a breakdown
of boundaries between self and other. She also told me about her “bad trips”, were
she was forced to face buried memories and emotions. They were described as
terrifying, but very healing, coming out on the other side feeling like a weight had
been lifted off her shoulders.
Arran Frood’s article “Ayahuasca Psychedelic Tested for Depression a Pilot
Study With Shamanic Brew Hints at Therapeutic Potential” reviews a study done by
Jaime Hallak, a neuroscientist at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. In his study he
gave one mild dosage of ayahuasca to six volunteers in Brazil. Ayahuasca is a sacred
drink traditionally brewed from Banisteriopsis Caapi jungle vine and leaves of
Psychotria Viridis shrubs. All of the participants had been diagnosed with mild
depression and had tried at least one conventional anti depressant drug with no
response. None of the participants had consumed ayahuasca before. The study
found improvements in depression symptoms within 2-3 hours; where as
conventional anti-depressants take up to weeks to reach desired therapeutic effects
(Hallak 2015). According to Jamie Hallak (2015) “The benefits, which were
statistically significant, continued to hold up in assessments over the next three
weeks.” (P.1). The study concluded that it is biochemically plausibly for ayahuasca
to treat depression. It is plausible because the Banisteriopsis Caapi jungle vines used
in theayahcause contain the chemicals harmine, tetrahydroharmine and harmline.
These chemicals inhibit the enzyme called Monoamine Oxidase A (MAO-A), which is
responsible for breaking down serotonin and other neurotransmitters. While the
Psychotria Viridis contains DMT, a structural analog of serotonin, that binds to
serotonin receptors. This study is criticized for its lack of a placebo control group
that has a “well-documented effect in clinical trials of antidepressants,” (Frood 2015
P.1). Though this study shows promise, their needs to be more research done with a
placebo control group.
The second source I used is “Therapeutic use of Ayahuasca” by Fernanda
Palhano-Fontes, Joao C. Alchieri, Joao Paulo M. Oliveira, Bruno Lobao Soares, Jaime
E. C. Hallak, Nicole Galvao-Coelho and Draulio B. de Araujo. The main purpose of the
book is to address all therapeutic uses of ayahuasca. The main purpose of this
source in my research is it’s in depth analysis of depression causes and diagnosis.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder that has intense effects on the
individual’s emotional state and quality of life. It is common in 17% of people
through out their life, women being two times more likely to develop then men (F.
Palhano-Fontes et al. 2014). MDD most presents itself in recurring episodes, but
20%-25% of diagnosed individuals have chronic depression (F. Palhano-Fontes et
al. 2014). “The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the
American Psychiatric Association (DSM-IV-TR) defines this condition based on the
presence of depressed mood (irritable mood in children and adolescents) and/or
loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia) for at least 2 weeks, accompanied by at least
four of the following symptoms: (a) considerable change in weight (5 % of body
weight), (b) frequent insomnia or hypersomnia, (c) psycho- motor agitation or
retardation, (d) fatigue or loss of energy, (e) low self-esteem or inappropriate guilt,
(f) diminished capacity to think, concentrate, or make decisions, (g) recurrent
thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or suicide attempts”(F. Palhano-Fontes et al.
2014 P. 24). The main theory for the cause of depression is the monoamine theory.
It suggests that MDD is caused decreased levels of monoamine such as dopamine,
norepinephrine, and serotonin. The monoamine that gets the most attention is
serotonin because reduced serotonin levels are seen most common in people
diagnosed with MDD. It can be concluded that ayahuasca has potential as an anti
depressant because the active chemical DMT produces a serotonin analog that binds
to the serotonin receptor and the harmline acts as a inhibitor for the Monoamine
Oxidase A which stops it from breaking down neurotransmitters like serotonin.
Decreased levels of serotonin are linked to MDD
My third source used is “The therapeutic potential of harmine and ayahuasca
in depression: Evidence from exploratory animal and human studies” by Flá via de
Lima Osó rio, Ligia Ribeiro Horta de Macedo, Joã o Paulo Machado de Sousa, Joel
Porfírio Pinto, Joã o Quevedo, José Alexandre de Souza Crippa, and Jaime Eduardo C.
Hallak. The article contains information on the clinical aspects of depression,
traditional treatment for depression, chemicals in ayahuasca, and ayahuasca and
depression treatment looking at a study done with rats as well as a one done on
humans. When ayahuasca is consumed alkaloids harmine, tetrahydroharmine and
harmline bind to MAO-A enzymes, preventing them from breaking down
monoamines. Inhibition of MAO allows proper levels of DMT to reach the central
nervous system causing intense perceptual, cognitive, and affects alterations (Lima
Osó rio et. Al, 2011, P. 76). The main alterations being; predominant sensation of
well being, fleeting feeling of apprehension, complex thoughts, novel experience
about ones identity (ego loss or softening), vivid images even when eyes are closed,
and altered sense of touch (Lima Osó rio et. Al, 2011, P. 76). One study mentioned in
this source was done by Fortunato and colleagues tried to assess anti depressant
properties of harmline in a animal study. They induced anhedonia (loss of interest
and pleasure), a major feature of depression, in the rats over a 40-day period. The
rats were subject to “food and water deprivation, forced swimming, flashing light
isolation, physical restraint and cold temperatures” (Lima Osó rio et. Al, 2011, P. 81).
The test was successful in inducing anhedonia, also caused adrenal gland to increase
in weight. When harmline was administered, all effects were reversed in the rats.
The findings support that harmline, an active ingredient in ayahuasca, is a potential
candidate for treating depression.
While conducting my research I began to question regulations on
hallucinogenic drugs. If it evidence is coming out that these substances are safe and
might even have therapeutic use, then why are they some of the most strictly
regulated substances by our government? Shouldn’t opiates, Benzodiazepine, meth
and alcohol be more strictly regulate since they are more dangerous.
Even though my topic is only focusing ayahuasca and the treatment of
depression, I wonder if ayahuasca is able to treat more than one mental illness, such
as substance dependency or anxiety. I also question what are the negative effects of
ayahuasca. Many individuals have to be on anti-depressants for long extended
periods of time, would taking ayahuasca that long have negative effects on the
health of psychological well being of the person?
I think in order to make more argument deeper; I will have to broaden it to
encompass all mental disorders and ayahuasca effects on them. Likewise I need to
find more research that disproves the counter claim that ayahuasca has no effect on
depression.
References
de Lima Osório, F., de Macedo, L. R. H., de Sousa, J. P. M., Pinto, J. P., Quevedo, J., de
Souza Crippa, J. A., & Hallak, J. E. C. (2011). 5. The therapeutic potential of
harmine and ayahuasca in depression: Evidence from exploratory animal and
human studies. The ethnopharmacology of ayahuasca, 75-85.
Frood, A. (2015). Ayahuasca psychedelic tested for depression. Nature. Retrieved
February 5, 2016, from http://www.nature.com/news/ayahuascapsychedelic-tested-for-depression-1.17252
Labate, B. C., & Cavnar, C. (2014). The therapeutic use of Ayahuasca. Berlin:
Springer-Verlag. Retrieved February 5, 2015.