What does research say about ayahuasca and anxiety?

Does ayahuasca help with anxiety?

Ayahuasca may reduce anxiety for some people, but the evidence is preliminary and mixed, and ayahuasca is not an established or FDA-approved treatment for anxiety. Observational studies report anxiety reductions, and in a survey subgroup of 1,125 people with anxiety, 90% reported some improvement while 2.7% said symptoms worsened. The one randomized placebo-controlled social anxiety pilot improved self-perception of speech performance in a simulated public-speaking test.

The strongest signals come from surveys and observational work rather than controlled trials. In the Global Ayahuasca Project, 90% of 1,125 respondents with anxiety reported improvement, either 'a bit' (20%), 'very much' (54%) or 'completely improved/resolved' (16%). These are self-reports of past use, not clinician-verified outcomes. In the same survey, 2.7% of people with diagnosed anxiety considered their symptoms worsened.

Sources, checked November 15, 2026: The Effects of Ayahuasca on Psychological Disorders: A Systematic..., Ayahuasca and Dimethyltryptamine Adverse Events and Toxicity..., Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects - PMC, A landscape analysis of psychedelic retreat organizations advertising..., Long-term mental health and wellbeing outcomes associated with...

How might ayahuasca affect anxiety in the brain?

Ayahuasca's plausible brain effects on anxiety involve DMT acting on serotonin receptors and changes to the default mode network, but these are associations from imaging studies, not proven anxiety benefits. Reviews note ayahuasca decreases default mode network activity and may enhance neuroplasticity. No study has shown that any of these changes treats an anxiety disorder.

• DMT, the main psychoactive component, is a serotonin and sigma-1 receptor agonist.
• The vine's MAO inhibitors keep DMT active orally; without them DMT has no oral effect.
• Reviews report decreased default mode network activity, which researchers link to reduced rumination in other psychedelics research.
• Long-term users show structural differences in parts of the default mode network, a cross-sectional association only.
• Acute physiological effects, including raised heart rate and blood pressure, are probably mediated by the 5-HT2A receptor.

Sources, checked November 15, 2026: Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in..., Ayahuasca: A review of historical, pharmacological, and therapeutic..., Ayahuasca Therapy Information- UC Berkeley BCSP, Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects - PMC

Who should not drink ayahuasca because of anxiety or psychiatric risks?

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation states that anyone with a personal or family history of mental health conditions, including anxiety, psychosis or bipolar disorder, should avoid ayahuasca. Clinical trials of ayahuasca excluded people with current medical disease, pregnancy, neurological disorders, personal or family history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mania or hypomania, substance abuse and suicidal risk. A diagnosed anxiety disorder also raised the odds of adverse mental health effects in a large survey.

• Personal or family history of psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mania or hypomania: excluded from clinical trials.
• Cardiovascular concerns: ayahuasca raises blood pressure and heart rate moderately and transiently.
• Combining with serotonergic medications: SSRIs and similar drugs can interact with ayahuasca's MAO inhibitors and risk serotonin syndrome.
• Cleveland Clinic guidance states risk of harm is higher for people experiencing depression, anxiety, psychosis or mania.
• Do not stop prescribed medication on your own; medication decisions belong with the prescribing clinician.

Screening history matters in research settings. One review states that taking a psychiatric and drug use history before ayahuasca or DMT administration in controlled settings may reduce the occurrence of psychotic experiences. Retreat screening varies widely, so ask any provider directly what medical and psychiatric screening they perform.

Sources, checked November 15, 2026: Ayahuasca - Alcohol and Drug Foundation, Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in..., Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca..., Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects - PMC, Ayahuasca: What It Is and Risks

How does ayahuasca compare with evidence-based anxiety treatments?

Ayahuasca has far weaker evidence than established anxiety treatments, and no psychedelic is FDA approved for anxiety or any other condition. Cognitive behavioral therapy and approved medications remain first-line treatments. Psilocybin and MDMA remain Schedule I substances, but a meta-analysis cited by the VA National Center for PTSD found large, statistically significant anxiety reductions from psilocybin-assisted therapy, while ayahuasca evidence remains observational or from small pilots.

A UC Berkeley meta-review found psilocybin, ayahuasca and LSD could be effective for anxiety and mood disorders, but that is early-stage evidence, not a comparison of approved options. If cost or access is the concern, a licensed clinician can match treatments with actual evidence to the specific diagnosis.

For a side-by-side look, see ayahuasca versus psilocybin.

Sources, checked November 15, 2026: A landscape analysis of psychedelic retreat organizations advertising..., Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for PTSD - PTSD: National Center for PTSD, Ayahuasca Therapy Information- UC Berkeley BCSP, Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects - PMC

What are the heart and blood pressure risks of ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca produces moderate, transient increases in heart rate and blood pressure, probably via the 5-HT2A receptor, and a Cleveland Clinic expert's main concern is the risk of overdose and immediate harm. One controlled dose study found a high dose of freeze-dried ayahuasca raised diastolic blood pressure by 9 mm Hg after 75 minutes. People with heart conditions or high blood pressure should treat this as a screening question for a clinician.

Survey data add context. In the Global Ayahuasca Survey, chest pains were reported by 4.7% and fainting by 4.2% of respondents, with 2.3% of all users needing medical attention for physical side effects. These figures come from self-report, not monitored cardiac data. Poison-center case series report rare severe events including seizures in 2% and cardiac arrest in 1% of cases.

Sources, checked November 15, 2026: Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects - PMC, Ayahuasca: What It Is and Risks, Ayahuasca: A review of historical, pharmacological, and therapeutic..., Ayahuasca and Dimethyltryptamine Adverse Events and Toxicity..., Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca...

What is ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a brewed Amazonian beverage whose primary psychoactive component is DMT from Psychotria viridis leaves, combined with monoamine oxidase inhibitors in the Banisteriopsis caapi vine that keep DMT active when drunk. Indigenous people in Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador have used it for over a thousand years in shamanic practice. Effects typically begin 30 to 60 minutes after drinking, peak between 60 and 120 minutes, and fade by about four to six hours.

In the United States, classic psychedelics including DMT are Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act, which restricts both research and prescription. No psychedelic substance is currently FDA approved for medical use. See our page on ayahuasca legality in the U.S.

Sources: Ayahuasca - Alcohol and Drug Foundation, Ayahuasca Therapy Information- UC Berkeley BCSP, Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects - PMC, The Effects of Ayahuasca on Psychological Disorders: A Systematic...

Is ayahuasca good for anxiety?

There is no established answer. No randomized controlled trial has demonstrated that ayahuasca treats an anxiety disorder. A literature search through September 2016 found no randomized trials of ayahuasca for psychiatric illness, and a review describes limited evidence with promising but unconfirmed findings.

Some studies report anxiety reductions. Van Oorsouw et al. studied 73 participants over four weeks and found decreased stress and anxiety but no difference in depression. A prospective study of 28 ayahuasca-naive participants found reduced psychiatric symptoms at 1 to 4 and 7 to 14 days after ritual use. These are observational or small samples without the comparisons needed to establish treatment.

Sources: Ayahuasca: An ancient sacrament for treatment of contemporary..., The Effects of Ayahuasca on Psychological Disorders: A Systematic...

Can ayahuasca make anxiety worse?

Yes, it can. Anxiety-like reactions were the most common adverse effect in one study, and experimental studies list transient anxiety and fear among ayahuasca's common adverse effects. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation states ayahuasca can trigger or worsen conditions such as anxiety, schizophrenia or psychosis, and that people with a history of these should avoid it.

Two findings matter for readers with diagnosed anxiety. First, in the large Global Ayahuasca Survey analysis, having an anxiety disorder significantly increased the odds of adverse mental health effects. Second, among respondents with diagnosed anxiety, 2.7% considered their symptoms to have worsened as a result of ayahuasca consumption. One naturalistic study also reported a subject with no baseline psychiatric disorder who met criteria for generalized anxiety disorder at follow-up.

Sources: The Effects of Ayahuasca on Psychological Disorders: A Systematic..., Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects - PMC, Ayahuasca - Alcohol and Drug Foundation, Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca...

What are the physical side effects of ayahuasca?

Nausea and vomiting are the most common physical effects. In the Global Ayahuasca Survey of more than 10,000 people, about 70% reported physical side effects, most commonly nausea and vomiting, and 2.3% required medical attention. Experimental studies also list gastrointestinal discomfort, drowsiness, headache, and moderate transient increases in blood pressure and heart rate.

A full list of after-effects and what they mean is on our after-effects page.

Sources: Ayahuasca: What It Is and Risks, Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca..., Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects - PMC, Ayahuasca: A review of historical, pharmacological, and therapeutic...

What is the most common adverse effect of ayahuasca?

Physically, vomiting and nausea are the most common adverse effects, reported by about 62% of one large survey sample. Mentally, anxiety-like reactions were the most common adverse effect in one study, and in the large survey the most frequent mental health adverse effect was hearing or seeing things others do not, at 28.5%. For after-effects, 55.9% of survey respondents reported adverse mental health effects in the weeks or months after consumption, though about 88% viewed them as part of a positive process of growth or integration.

Sources: Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca..., The Effects of Ayahuasca on Psychological Disorders: A Systematic..., Ayahuasca and Dimethyltryptamine Adverse Events and Toxicity...

Is ayahuasca safe with anxiety medication such as antidepressants?

This is a medication question for a licensed clinician, not a website. Combining ayahuasca with other serotonergic drugs and MAO inhibitors, which include many antidepressants, may cause serotonin syndrome, which can be serious or fatal, though such effects appear rare and were never reported in experimental or clinical settings. Cleveland Clinic guidance states that using ayahuasca alongside medications that raise serotonin risks serotonin syndrome, ranging from mild to life-threatening.

In the treatment-resistant depression trials, patients were off antidepressants during dosing after an average two-week washout. That is a supervised research protocol, not a do-it-yourself instruction. Do not stop or change any medication based on this page. Bring the specific question to the prescribing clinician before considering any retreat, and see our screening questions page.

Sources: Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects - PMC, Ayahuasca: What It Is and Risks, Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in...

Which psychedelic is best for anxiety?

No psychedelic is approved as a treatment for anxiety, so no substance can be called best. The most studied psychedelics are MDMA and psilocybin, according to the VA National Center for PTSD. A meta-analysis cited by the VA found large, statistically significant reductions in anxiety from psilocybin-assisted therapy. A meta-review found psilocybin, ayahuasca and LSD could be effective for anxiety and mood disorders, but that is early-stage evidence, not a ranking.

For comparing retreat claims specifically, see our ayahuasca versus psilocybin comparison. For established anxiety treatments, talk to a clinician.

Sources: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for PTSD - PTSD: National Center for PTSD, Ayahuasca Therapy Information- UC Berkeley BCSP

Does ayahuasca change your brain?

Imaging studies suggest measurable differences in long-term users, but they cannot prove what caused them. Long-term imaging in people who used ayahuasca at least 50 times in two years showed increased cortical thickness in the anterior cingulate cortex and thinning of the posterior cingulate cortex. A study on long-term effects found ayahuasca may enhance neuroplasticity and structurally change parts of the default mode network. Acute effects include changes in brain oscillations within two hours of drinking.

These are associations from cross-sectional designs, not evidence of benefit or harm. Reviews note limited evidence for clinical benefit overall.

Sources: Ayahuasca: An ancient sacrament for treatment of contemporary..., Ayahuasca Therapy Information- UC Berkeley BCSP, Ayahuasca: A review of historical, pharmacological, and therapeutic...

What does research say about ayahuasca for anxiety and depression together?

Most controlled evidence concerns depression, not anxiety. One randomized placebo-controlled trial in 29 patients with treatment-resistant depression found a single ayahuasca dose produced a 57% reduction in MADRS scores at seven days, with remission rates of 64% versus 27% for placebo. Anxiety findings come mostly from observational work: an observational cohort reported anxiety reductions of 47% at 12 months, and a Takiwasi center study reported anxiety reductions at 12 months but was confounded by a multifactorial treatment program lasting 27.9 weeks.

For a fuller treatment of the depression evidence, see our depression research page. The anxiety-specific studies are covered in the sections above on this page.

Sources: Ayahuasca: pharmacology, safety, and therapeutic effects - PMC, Long-term mental health and wellbeing outcomes associated with...

How do you feel after ayahuasca?

Reports vary widely. Within 7 to 14 days of use in one prospective study, participants reported serenity, assertiveness, joy and satisfaction. But 55.9% of a large survey sample reported adverse mental health effects in the weeks or months after use, and for most participants reporting seven of ten such effects, the duration was less than one week. In the treatment-resistant depression trial, the session was not necessarily pleasant and involved psychological distress for some, even though all patients reported feeling safe.

Flashbacks are described by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation as the most common long-term effect of psychedelic use and can be brought on by stress, tiredness, exercise or other drugs. What support after a retreat should look like is covered in our integration page.

Sources: Ayahuasca: An ancient sacrament for treatment of contemporary..., Ayahuasca and Dimethyltryptamine Adverse Events and Toxicity..., Adverse effects of ayahuasca: Results from the Global Ayahuasca..., Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in...

What do people get out of ayahuasca?

In studies of retreat participants, personal development and self-medication were the most common motivations. Reported outcomes include reduced stress and depression ratings after ceremonies, increased satisfaction with life the day after, and improved convergent thinking at four weeks, though satisfaction with life changes did not hold at four weeks.

Users in one comparison study rated ayahuasca experiences as stronger, less pleasurable and with more negative side effects than classic psychedelic users. Expectations shaped by marketing often differ from reported experiences, which is why reading reviews carefully matters.

Sources: A landscape analysis of psychedelic retreat organizations advertising..., Sub-acute and long-term effects of ayahuasca on affect and cognitive..., The Effects of Ayahuasca on Psychological Disorders: A Systematic...

What did the social-anxiety trial measure?

The randomized placebo-controlled pilot involved 17 volunteers with social anxiety disorder. Its primary outcome was self-perception during a public-speaking test. That measure improved with ayahuasca; somatic symptoms increased. Authors described the performance effect as independent of task-related anxiety, with other measures not significantly modified.

This matters because the appealing headline and the clinical question are different. Thinking more favorably about a speech is a specific outcome. It cannot establish that every aspect of an anxiety disorder has improved or that the same result applies to another diagnosis.

What do the survey findings mean?

In the international survey's anxiety subgroup of 1,125 respondents, 70% reported symptoms as very much improved or completely resolved. Another 4.5% reported worsening. The questions concerned participants' perceived changes around past use.

Self-report can describe experiences that deserve study. It does not create a randomized comparison or independently verify a diagnosis and recovery. Ask how participants were recruited, what they recalled and who was missing from the responses. A percentage should retain its denominator and question wording, especially when it is repeated in treatment advertising.

Do other studies resolve the uncertainty?

The six-person cancer-related study published in September 2026 reported depression and anxiety symptom decreases through three weeks. It had no control group. That population and design cannot establish general anxiety-treatment effectiveness.

In the small placebo-controlled retreat study, anxiety, depression and stress decreased in both active and placebo groups. Context is therefore part of the interpretation. These observations ask useful research questions without answering them all. Future work needs clearly defined diagnoses, relevant anxiety endpoints, adequate comparisons and follow-up. Each of those choices changes what a study can conclude.

How should anxiety evidence and possible harms be discussed?

Keep beneficial-outcome research separate from the question of distress during or after use. A claimed benefit does not rule out an adverse experience. Also distinguish an anxiety diagnosis from ordinary nervousness about an unfamiliar trip; a website cannot diagnose either from a reader's interest.

For a clinical conversation, identify the actual problem being considered and the person's current care. Review the cited findings with an appropriately qualified professional rather than choosing a substance from a headline. This article provides no treatment recommendation or instruction to change medicines. A retreat's description cannot establish personal suitability.

What questions would make the next anxiety study interpretable?

Instead of waiting for a headline, you can evaluate the next announced study against the gaps the current evidence leaves open. The first question is diagnostic: who established that participants had an anxiety disorder, using what assessment, and which disorder? A social-anxiety sample, a cancer-related distress sample and a general retreat population answer different questions.

The second question concerns the endpoint. Self-perception of performance, somatic symptoms, questionnaire totals and clinician-rated severity are different measures, and a study can improve one while leaving others unchanged, as the pilot demonstrated. The third question is the comparison: both the active and placebo groups in the retreat study improved, which shows why a before-after change alone cannot isolate the brew's contribution.

The fourth question is follow-up. The cancer study reported reductions through three weeks only; longer benefit remains unexamined. The fifth question concerns who is missing: the survey's 1,125 respondents were self-selected consumers recalling past use, and people with distressing experiences may answer differently or not at all.

Finally, ask how harms were tracked. Benefit endpoints and adverse-experience monitoring are separate study components. A design that measures only improvement cannot characterize distress during or after use. These questions turn uncertainty into a reading tool you can apply to any future claim.