Ayahuasca: Hope for a new cure for Alzheimer’s
Ayahuasca, a traditional tea, has attracted scientific interest because of its potential to promote the formation of new neurons. This ability could be crucial to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Research at the Complutense University of Madrid has shown that the active ingredient dimethyltryptamine (DMT), contained in ayahuasca, can help neural stem cells transform into neurons and other cell types such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. This discovery offers the potential to halt or even reverse the progression of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Neural stem cells and neurodegenerative diseases
Our brain contains neural stem cells that do not activate under normal circumstances. A key to treating neurodegenerative diseases is stimulating these cells to produce new neurons. In experiments with animals, DMT caused this activation, suggesting that ayahuasca may help stop the progression of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. If neural stem cells can be stimulated to produce new neurons, it could be a revolution in the treatment of these diseases.
Opportunities and challenges
Research into ayahuasca as a potential treatment for neurodegenerative diseases is promising, but it also presents challenges. While the prospect of creating new neurons offers hope for patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, environmental, cultural and legal issues must be considered. The future of ayahuasca research could pave the way to new treatment methods, but a respectful and sustainable use of the resources and traditions of the Amazon region is essential.
FAQ
Here you will find all the answers to the questions we receive most frequently.
What is ayahuasca and what ingredients does it contain?
Ayahuasca is a medicine that unfolds its effects not only on a physical but also on a psychological level in the brain. Although it is often mistakenly referred to as a drug, it is in fact a shamanic healing art that is becoming increasingly well-known internationally. This may be due not least to the fact that ayahuasca offers the possibility of curing depression, psychosis or other mental illnesses. An ayahuasca experience reveals paths that would possibly never arise in conventional therapy.
The ingredients of ayahuasca medicine are made up of two different herbal components – caapi (the ayahuasca root or liana) and chacruna. Chacruna, which contains DMT, is responsible for the psychoactive effect of ayahuasca. While DMT as an endogenous substance is generally broken down very quickly, the ayahuasca plant caapi with MAO inhibitors ensures that the breakdown of DMT is slowed down during the ayahuasca ceremony.
However, the special thing about ayahuasca tea are not the ingredients, but the unique consciousness of the ayahuasca, whose spirit can gradually be transferred to your body.
What does ayahuasca do and what effect does it have on the brain?
Ayahuasca unfolds a profound change of consciousness in your mindset and has an effect on your brain that helps you to recognize and overcome old or toxic habits. The medicine strengthens your emotional and self-reflective perception and gives you a deep inner knowing. The effect of the ayahuasca plant sets in after 30 to 40 minutes. The peak – the spiritual climax, so to speak – of an ayahuasca experience is usually reached after 90 to 120 minutes. The duration of the effect is around 4 hours, but can also last up to 12 hours.
Ayahuasca cleanses you both physically and mentally. You will meet yourself in the process. The ayahuasca ceremony shows you all your sides, including the unpleasant aspects. It is a self-critical encounter in which you can feel a deep respect for life and nature. The harmony of nature around you will probably also be part of your experience. In the ayahuasca ceremonies during your retreat, the medicine will help you to strengthen your own emotional health and mental clarity. Each process is a highly individual matter. During your personal ayahuasca experience you can experience many things – from insights, shattering experiences, inner wars, rebirths, near-death experiences, enlightenments, to unbearable bliss. You can find, meet and strengthen yourself. Some of your realizations may also appear after the ayahuasca ceremony. The after-effects of the medicine are different for each person, and it is possible that you will deepen and internalize your ayahuasca experience even more in the days following the ceremony.
What happens when you drink ayahuasca and what are the side effects?
Immediately after drinking the bitter ayahuasca tea, you may experience side effects such as diarrhea, discomfort, nausea and vomiting. Ayahuasca then triggers massive visions and puts you into a mind-expanding state of trance for several hours – the so-called chuma. The effects of ayahuasca range from mild visions to powerful out-of-body experiences. These insights bring about a profound healing of your body from the inside out. The visions are usually followed by other feelings (e.g. the feeling of flying or being behind your own ego). However, it is also possible that you will not receive any visions on your ayahuasca journey. Sooner or later, everyone experiences emotional highs and lows during an ayahuasca ceremony. Long forgotten memories can resurface and you will meet your innermost self. Ayahuasca not only changes your consciousness during the ceremony, but also has a lasting effect on your thoughts. The effects of such an experience can appear months after your ceremony.