Four Weekly Ayahuasca Sessions Lead to Increases in “Acceptance” Capacities: A Comparison Study With a Standard 8-Week Mindfulness Training Program
Summary & key facts
Researchers compared two small groups of people to see how mindfulness skills changed after either four ayahuasca sessions or an 8-week mindfulness course. Ten people who took ayahuasca and ten people who completed the standard course filled out questionnaires before and after. The course produced bigger overall gains in mindfulness, but the ayahuasca group showed a similar increase in one specific skill called "acceptance," which means being less judgmental about upsetting thoughts and feelings. The study was small and preliminary, so the results suggest a possible effect but do not prove firm conclusions.
- Two independent groups of 10 people each were tested: one group took four ayahuasca sessions and the other completed an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course.
- Both groups filled out standard self-report questionnaires that measure different parts of mindfulness before and after their interventions.
- The 8-week mindfulness course led to larger increases in overall mindfulness scores than the ayahuasca sessions.
- Only the mindfulness course increased the MINDSENS Composite Index, a combined score that picks up changes linked to meditation practice.
- The four ayahuasca sessions produced an increase in the Non-Judging or "acceptance" part of mindfulness, matching the increase seen after the longer mindfulness course.
- Ayahuasca is a plant tea that contains the psychedelic DMT and other chemicals called beta-carbolines, which together change awareness and affect the brain.
- The study is small and preliminary, so while it suggests that a few ayahuasca sessions might boost acceptance, it does not prove that ayahuasca is an effective replacement for structured mindfulness training.
- The authors recommend future research to test whether combining ayahuasca with mindfulness training could improve therapy outcomes.
Abstract
Background: The therapeutic effects of the Amazonian plant tea ayahuasca may relate to its ability to enhance mindfulness capacities. Ayahuasca induces a modified state of awareness through the combined action of its active principles: the psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and a series of centrally acting β-carbolines, mainly harmine and tetrahydroharmine. To better understand the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca, here we compared the impact on mindfulness capacities induced by two independent interventions: (a) participation in four ayahuasca sessions without any specific purpose related to improving mindfulness capacities; and (b) participation in a standard mindfulness training course: 8 weeks mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), with the specific goal of improving these skills. Methods: Participants of two independent groups completed two self-report instruments: The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and the Experiences Questionnaire (EQ). The MINDSENS Composite Index was also calculated, including those EQ and FFMQ items that have proven to be the most sensitive to meditation practice. Group A (n = 10) was assessed before and after the last of four closely spaced consecutive ayahuasca sessions. Group B (n = 10) was assessed before and after completion of a standard 8-week MBSR course. Results: MBSR training led to greater increases in overall mindfulness scores after the 8-week period. MBSR but not ayahuasca led to increases in the MINDSENS Composite Index. However, the ayahuasca sessions induced comparable increases in the Non-Judging subscale of the FFMQ, specifically measuring "acceptance." Improving this capacity allows for a more detached and less judgmental stance toward potentially distressing thoughts and emotions. Results: The present findings suggest that a small number of ayahuasca sessions can be as effective at improving acceptance as more lengthy and costly interventions. Future studies should address the benefits of combining ayahuasca administration with mindfulness-based interventions. This will allow us to investigate if ayahuasca will improve the outcome of psychotherapeutic interventions.
