Editing Ayahuasca (section)

== Effects ==
{{See also|N,N-Dimethyltryptamine#Effects{{!}}DMT effects}}

=== Adverse effects ===
In the short term, ingesting Ayahuasca can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. These three effects, known as purging, are traditionally recognized to be a part of the spiritual experience of ayahuasca. Physiologically, vomiting is a result of increased [[serotonin]] circulating in the gut, which directly stimulates the [[vagus nerve]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fotiou |first1=Evgenia |last2=Gearin |first2=Alex K. |date=2019-10-01 |title=Purging and the body in the therapeutic use of ayahuasca |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027795361930526X |journal=Social Science & Medicine |volume=239 |pages=112532 |doi=10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112532 |pmid=31494522 |issn=0277-9536}}</ref> Other short-term side effects include [[Hypertension|increased blood pressure]] and [[tachycardia]]. Additionally, increased secretion of hormones like [[prolactin]], [[cortisone]], and [[growth hormone]] has been correlated with ayahuasca consumption.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Frecska |first1=Ede |last2=Bokor |first2=Petra |last3=Winkelman |first3=Michael |date=2016-03-02 |title=The Therapeutic Potentials of Ayahuasca: Possible Effects against Various Diseases of Civilization |journal=Frontiers in Pharmacology |language=English |volume=7 |page=35 |doi=10.3389/fphar.2016.00035 |doi-access=free |pmid=26973523 |pmc=4773875 |issn=1663-9812}}</ref> Rarer side effects include [[dyspnea]], [[seizure]]s and [[serotonin syndrome]]. Ayahuasca is suspected of triggering [[psychosis]] in people with a predisposition to the condition, and there is a lack of safety information for Ayahuasca's possible effects on pregnancy and breastfeeding.<ref name=tox>{{cite journal |vauthors=White E, Kennedy T, Ruffell S, Perkins D, Sarris J |title=Ayahuasca and Dimethyltryptamine Adverse Events and Toxicity Analysis: A Systematic Thematic Review |journal=Int J Toxicol |volume=43 |issue=3 |pages=327–339 |date=2024 |pmid=38363085 |pmc=11088222 |doi=10.1177/10915818241230916 |type=Review}}</ref>

=== Psychological effects ===
People who have consumed ayahuasca report having mystical experiences and [[Spirituality|spiritual]] revelations regarding their purpose on earth, the true nature of the [[universe]], and deep insight into how to be the best person they possibly can.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gorman |first=Peter |title=Ayahuasca in My Blood: 25 Years of Medicine Dreaming |year=2010 |publisher=Johan Fremin |isbn=978-1-4528-8290-1}}</ref> Many people also report therapeutic effects, especially around depression and personal traumas.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Harris |first=Rachel |title=Listening to Ayahuasca |publisher=New World Library |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-60868-402-1 |location=Novato, California |pages=120–200 |language=English}}</ref>

This is viewed by many as a spiritual awakening and what is often described as a near-death experience or rebirth.<ref name="Campos 2011" />{{rp|67–70}} It is often reported that individuals feel they gain access to higher spiritual [[dimension]]s and make contact with various spiritual or extra-dimensional beings who can act as guides or healers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Metzner |first=Ralph |title=Ayahuasca: Human Consciousness and the Spirits of Nature |year=1999 |pages=46–55}}</ref>

The experiences that people have while under the influence of ayahuasca are also culturally influenced.<ref name="Hay20" /> Westerners typically describe experiences with psychological terms like "[[ego death]]" and understand the hallucinations as repressed memories or metaphors of mental states.<ref name="Hay20" /> However, at least in [[Iquitos]], Peru (a center of ayahuasca ceremonies), those from the area describe the experiences more in terms of the actions in the body and understand the visions as reflections of their environment, sometimes including the person who they believe caused their illness, as well as interactions with spirits.<ref name="Hay20" />

Most psychological effects can be accredited to the influx of [[serotonin]] caused by the psychoactive combination of DMT with ''beta-''carbolines. Serotonin stimulates a group of G-protein coupled receptors known as [[5-HT receptor|5-HT]] receptors. Specifically, stimulation of the [[5-HT2A receptor|5-HT2A]] receptor type is correlated with hallucinogenic effects.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nichols |first1=David E. |last2=Nichols |first2=Charles D. |date=2008-05-01 |title=Serotonin Receptors |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/cr078224o |journal=Chemical Reviews |volume=108 |issue=5 |pages=1614–1641 |doi=10.1021/cr078224o |pmid=18476671 |issn=0009-2665}}</ref>

=== Potential therapeutic effects ===
{{See also|Psychedelic therapy}}There are potential [[antidepressant]] and [[anxiolytic]] effects of ayahuasca.<ref name="Nunes dos Santos Osório Sanches pp. 195–205">{{cite journal | last1=Nunes | first1=Amanda A. | last2=dos Santos | first2=Rafael G. | last3=Osório | first3=Flávia L. | last4=Sanches | first4=Rafael F. | last5=Crippa | first5=José Alexandre S. | last6=Hallak | first6=Jaime E. C. | title=Effects of Ayahuasca and its Alkaloids on Drug Dependence: A Systematic Literature Review of Quantitative Studies in Animals and Humans | journal=Journal of Psychoactive Drugs | publisher=Informa UK Limited | volume=48 | issue=3 | date=2016-05-26 | issn=0279-1072 | doi=10.1080/02791072.2016.1188225 | pmid=27230395 | pages=195–205| hdl=11449/159021 | s2cid=5840140 | hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Carbonaro Gatch 2016 pp. 74–88">{{cite journal | last1=Carbonaro | first1=Theresa M. | last2=Gatch | first2=Michael B. | title=Neuropharmacology of N,N-dimethyltryptamine | journal=Brain Research Bulletin | publisher=Elsevier BV | volume=126 | issue=Pt 1 | year=2016 | issn=0361-9230 | doi=10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.04.016 | pmid=27126737 | pmc=5048497 | pages=74–88}}</ref><ref name="Frecska Bokor Winkelman p. ">{{cite journal | last1=Frecska | first1=Ede | last2=Bokor | first2=Petra | last3=Winkelman | first3=Michael | title=The Therapeutic Potentials of Ayahuasca: Possible Effects against Various Diseases of Civilization | journal=Frontiers in Pharmacology | publisher=Frontiers Media SA | volume=7 | pages=35 | date=2016-03-02 | issn=1663-9812 | doi=10.3389/fphar.2016.00035 | pmid=26973523 | pmc=4773875 | doi-access=free }}</ref>

Ayahuasca has also been studied for the treatment of addictions and shown to be effective, with lower [[Addiction severity index|Addiction Severity Index]] scores seen in users of ayahuasca compared to controls.<ref name="FábregasGonzález2010">{{cite journal|last1=Fábregas|first1=Josep Maria|last2=González|first2=Débora|last3=Fondevila|first3=Sabela|last4=Cutchet|first4=Marta|last5=Fernández|first5=Xavier|last6=Barbosa|first6=Paulo César Ribeiro|last7=Alcázar-Córcoles|first7=Miguel Ángel|last8=Barbanoj|first8=Manel J.|last9=Riba|first9=Jordi|last10=Bouso|first10=José Carlos|title=Assessment of addiction severity among ritual users of ayahuasca|journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence|volume=111|issue=3|year=2010|pages=257–261|issn=0376-8716|doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.03.024|pmid=20554400}}</ref><ref name="LiesterPrickett2012">{{cite journal|last1=Liester|first1=Mitchell B.|last2=Prickett|first2=James I.|title=Hypotheses Regarding the Mechanisms of Ayahuasca in the Treatment of Addictions|journal=Journal of Psychoactive Drugs|volume=44|issue=3|year=2012|pages=200–208|issn=0279-1072|doi=10.1080/02791072.2012.704590|pmid=23061319|s2cid=32698157}}</ref><ref name="McKenna2004">{{cite journal|last1=McKenna|first1=Dennis J|title=Clinical investigations of the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca: rationale and regulatory challenges|journal=Pharmacology & Therapeutics|volume=102|issue=2|year=2004|pages=111–129|issn=0163-7258|doi=10.1016/j.pharmthera.2004.03.002|pmid=15163593}}</ref><ref name="Frecska Bokor Winkelman p. "/> Ayahuasca users have also been seen to consume less [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]].<ref name="HarrisGurel2012">{{cite journal|last1=Harris|first1=Rachel|last2=Gurel|first2=Lee|title=A Study of Ayahuasca Use in North America|journal=Journal of Psychoactive Drugs|volume=44|issue=3|year=2012|pages=209–215|issn=0279-1072|doi=10.1080/02791072.2012.703100|pmid=23061320|s2cid=24580577}}</ref>