Abstract:
Introduction: ayahuasca was and is used by indigenous populations throughout
history, and may represent an advantage in terms of safety and establishment of its use. Over the two years, ayahuasca was re-signified from a native indigenous drink
to a drink with religious purposes. Among the preparations that use medicinal plants
for the treatment of depression, Ayahuasca stands out; A drink prepared from a
decoction of two plants (or Banisteriopsis vine and Psychotria Viridis leaf), which
according to studies, can reduce the symptoms of depression. Objective: to analyze
the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca for the treatment of depression. Methodology:
study of the integrative literature review type, whose databases used for the research
were: Google Scholar, Scielo, Fiocruz, PubMed; LILACS (Latin American and
Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences); in the period from 2012 to 2023. Results
and discussion: it was observed that depression significantly decreased after a
single dose of ayahuasca and in repeated doses, in studies observed with humans,
primates, hikers and others. In addition to blood perfusion in the brain region involved
in mood regulation and two emotional studies, studies suggest that ayahuasca acts
as a serotonergic agonist, which acts on sound rhythm, mood, among others. Final
considerations: the use of the drink is promising and further studies are needed for
knowledge and safe establishment of its use.
