Anecdotally, after using ayahuasca one time, in the weeks that followed I experienced a significant "afterglow" and have felt like my brain is "firing on all cylinders". This piqued my curiosity so I did additional research and found many others describing similar effects. I'm captivated by the neurogenesis, neuroprotective, and cognitive-enhancing effects that have been reported. Anecdotally, after using ayahuasca one time, in the weeks that followed I experienced a significant "afterglow" and have felt like my brain is "firing on all cylinders". This piqued my curiosity so I did additional research and found many others describing similar effects. A newly published paper explores this areaome light on this:
A study published last year:
Harmine stimulates proliferation of human neural progenitors. (harmine is the main alkaloid in b. caapi in ayahuasca)Another published just this year:
Effects of the Natural β-Carboline Alkaloid Harmine, a Main Constituent of Ayahuasca, in Memory and in the Hippocampus: A Systematic Literature Review of Preclinical Studies.Harmine is a natural β-carboline alkaloid found in several botanical species, such as the Banisteriopsis caapi vine used in the preparation of the hallucinogenic beverage ayahuasca and the seeds of Syrian rue (Peganum harmala). Preclinical studies suggest that harmine may have neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing effects, and retrospective/observational investigations of the mental health of long-term ayahuasca users suggest that prolonged use of this harmine-rich hallucinogen is associated with better neuropsychological functioning. Thus, in order to better investigate these possibilities, we performed a systematic literature review of preclinical studies analyzing the effects of harmine on hippocampal neurons and in memory-related behavioral tasks in animal models. We found two studies involving hippocampal cell cultures and nine studies using animal models. Harmine administration was associated with neuroprotective effects such as reduced excitotoxicity, inflammation, and oxidative stress, and increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. Harmine also improved memory/learning in several animal models. These effects seem be mediated by monoamine oxidase or acetylcholinesterase inhibition, upregulation of glutamate transporters, decreases in reactive oxygen species, increases in neurotrophic factors, and anti-inflammatory effects. The neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing effects of harmine should be further investigated in both preclinical and human studies.
Previous research has shown ayahuasca to produce anti-depressant effects:
Antidepressive and anxiolytic effects of ayahuasca: a systematic literature review of animal and human studies.Edited by Gordo, 11 October 2017 - 12:06 PM.
