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Alcohol use disorder needs more effective treatments because relapse rates remain high. Psychedelics, such as ayahuasca, have been used to treat substance use disorders. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of ayahuasca on ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization (EIBS). Swiss mice received 2.2 g/kg ethanol or saline IP injections every other day across nine days (D1, D3, D5, D7, and D9), and locomotor activity was evaluated 10 min after each injection. Then, animals were treated daily with ayahuasca (corresponding to 1.76 mg/kg of N,N-dimethyltryptamine, DMT) or water by oral gavage for eight consecutive days. On the seventh day, mice were evaluated in the elevated plus maze. Then, mice were challenged with a single dose of ethanol to measure their locomotor activity. Dopamine receptors, serotonin receptors, dynorphin, and prodynorphin levels were quantified in the striatum and hippocampus by blot analysis. Repeated ethanol administration resulted in EIBS. However, those animals treated with ayahuasca had an attenuated EIBS. Moreover, ayahuasca reduced the anxiogenic response to ethanol withdrawal and prevented the ethanol-induced changes on 5-HT1a receptor and prodynorphin levels in the hippocampus and reduced ethanol effects in the dynorphin/prodynorphin ratio levels in the striatum. These results suggest a potential application of ayahuasca to modulate the neuroplastic changes induced by ethanol.

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OBJECTIVE: Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic plant preparation, traditionally consumed in sacred ceremonies by indigenous North-Westerner Amazonian countries like Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador. It is fundamental to carefully balance benefits/risks related to the ayahuasca intake, both during ceremonies and experimental settings. The aim is at evaluating and comparing the potential therapeutic benefits versus health risks related to ayahuasca intake (both acutely and chronically), focusing on its application in psychedelic psychiatry. DESIGN: A comprehensive mini overview focusing on psychiatric outcomes following ayahuasca intake both in healthy volunteers and in clinical samples. RESULTS: Preclinical, observational, and experimental studies in healthy volunteers as well as in clinical samples suggest that ayahuasca may be beneficial as an antidepressant, emotional regulator, anxiolytic, and antiaddictive drug, by exerting fast-acting and enduring clinical effects. Ayahuasca appears to be safe and well tolerated, nausea and emesis being the most reported and transient side effects. Some findings suggest not to use ayahuasca in bipolar or psychotic patients because of an increased risk of manic switch and/or psychotic onset. CONCLUSIONS: Further research should be carried out in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, by implementing neuroimaging studies, in order to better evaluate therapeutic potential of ayahuasca in mental disorders.

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Trabalho realizado a partir de uma revisão da literatura da bebida Ayahuasca, um chá que é produzido a partir de duas plantas e é utilizada em contextos religiosos no Brasil desde 1930 para o processo de expansão da consciência e conexão com o divino e também como auxiliar em tratamentos de depressão, uso de drogas, alcoolismo, câncer e diversas doenças. O objetivo desse estudo é verificar a literatura existente e também as pesquisas e trabalhos com a Ayahuasca e a Matéria Médica Homeopática para auxiliar em estudos futuros e projetos de pesquisas para a experimentação patogenética da Ayahuasca e então a criação de um novo medicamento homeopático, a Homeopatia da Ayahuasca.(AU)

Work carried out from a review of the literature on the Ayahuasca drink, a tea that is produced from two plants and has been used in religious contexts in Brazil since 1930 for the process of expanding consciousness and connecting with the divine and also as an aid in depression treatments, drug use, alcoholism, cancer and various diseases. The objective of this study is to verify the existing literature and also the research and work with Ayahuasca and the Materia Medica Homeopathic to assist in future studies and research projects for the pathogenic experimentation of Ayahuasca and then the creation of a new homeopathic medicine, Homeopathy of Ayahuasca.(AU)

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La ayahuasca es una bebida alucinógena, producto de la decocción de las plantas Banisteriopsis caapi y Psychotria viridis y que cuenta con N,N-dimetiltriptamina y ß-carbolinas, como sus compuestos principales. Aunque produce alteraciones somáticas, cognitivas y subjetivas agudas, a menudo intensas, casi no se han reportado efectos adversos luego de un cuadro de intoxicación con este agente. En este artículo se presenta el caso de un varón de 40 años, procedente de la Amazonía peruana, que siguió un curso psicótico tras una sesión ritual de consumo; el episodio psicótico se resolvió favorablemente con tratamiento específico. Aun cuando infrecuentes, estos episodios pueden llegar a ser muy severos y asociarse a conductas violentas. Los usuarios con antecedentes de psicosis, manía o abuso de sustancias psicoactivas parecen estar en mayor riesgo. La literatura en relación al riesgo de reacciones adversas (incluidas conductas psicóticas) debidas al uso de ayahuasca, es escasa y poco concluyente por lo que casos similares al descrito deben evaluarse cuidadosamente y difundirse de manera apropiada. (AU)

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O uso contínuo da Ayahuasca é objeto de estudo devido aos poucos dados pré-clínicos e clínicos referentes à seguridade em relação ao seu uso prolongado. Evidências científicas demostram os benefícios no âmbito psicoterapêutico, à eficácia junto ao tratamento do etilismo crônico e outras drogas de abuso. Esta pesquisa trata-se de um estudo observacional do tipo relato de casos, com o intuito de descrever e relacionar a experiência do uso ritualístico da Ayahuasca à descontinuidade do uso abusivo de substâncias químicas. Os participantes (n=6) constituíram-se de pessoas institucionalizadas em uma comunidade religiosa que faz uso ritualístico do preparado dos vegetais Banisteriopsis caapi e Pyschotria viridis. Por meio de entrevistas individuais registrou-se o histórico de cada indivíduo com base no período de uso e a substância química utilizada. Em seguida aplicou-se questionários específicos para determinar a qualidade de vida e o nível de esperança. Determinou-se os parâmetros hematológicos afim de avaliar eventuais disfunções hematopoiéticas e por fim avaliou-se a satisfação destes em participar da pesquisa. Observou-se baixos valores (p>0,05) para os domínios de capacidade funcional e limitações por aspectos emocionais, o nível de esperança médio foi significativo (p=0,02) e sustentou as perspectivas positivas registradas nas entrevistas, os valores hematológicos estiveram dentro da normalidade e foi alto o nível de satisfação dos participantes com a pesquisa. Concluiu-se que a utilização da Ayahuasca, por meio de um segmento religioso, contribuiu de maneira fundamental para o abandono ou descontinuidade do uso de substâncias química, sendo considerada pelos mesmos uma forma de tratamento.

The continuous use of Ayahuasca is the aim of various studies due to few preclinical and clinical data related to security in relation to its prolonged use. Scientific evidences demonstrate the benefits of psychotherapeutic efficacy in the treatment of chronic alcoholism and other drugs abuse. This research is an observational study of reported cases aiming to describe and relate the experience of the religious ritual that uses Ayahuasca to the discontinuity of the overuse of chemicals. Participants (n = 6) consisted of members of a religious community that makes use of ritualistic infusion of the plants Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria Viridis. Through individual interviews, the history of each based on the period of use and the chemical substance used was recorded. Then specific questionnaires to determine the quality of life and level of hope were applied. Haematological examinations were performed to determine the possible hematopoietic disorders and finally, their satisfaction in participating in the research was evaluated. Low values (p>0.05) for the domains of functional capacity and limitations due to emotional problems were observed. The average level of hope was significant (p=0.02) and sustained positive outlook recorded in the interviews, the hematological values were within normal limits and the degree of participant satisfaction was high with the search. It was concluded that the use of Ayahuasca through a religious segment contributed mainly to the abandonment or discontinuation of the use of chemical substances, being considered a form of treatment.

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La presente investigación es un estudio exploratorio descriptivo que indaga sobre la contribución de los estados modificados de conciencia mediante la experiencia con ayahuasca en la rehabilitación de drogodependientes, desde la perspectiva de quienes han realizado un proceso de sanación en la Comunidad Terapéutica Takiwasi. La investigación es cualitativa y para la recolección de datos se utilizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas, las cuales fueron analizadas mediante codificación abierta de la 'Teoría Fundamentada en los Datos'. Los hallazgos indican que la experiencia con ayahuasca ha facilitado el proceso de rehabilitación al potenciar la toma de conciencia de las propias problemáticas, dinamizando la psicoterapia. Pero aquello que ha permitido un trabajo satisfactorio mediante dicha experiencia es la dinámica cotidiana al interior de la comunidad terapéutica Takiwasi, la cual integrar en igualdad de condiciones, la medicina indígena con la psicología occidental.

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