Comments on: Ayahuasca, Neurogenesis and Depression

By: admin

admin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:08:26 +0000

Thanks Basil. But I didn’t say the hippocampus was enlarged in depressives, I said the amygdala was enlarged.

Enlarged Amygdala Volume and Reduced Hippocampal Volume in Young Women With Major Depression
Lange C, Irle E
Psychol Med
vol. 34, 1059 – 1064, 2004

Enlargement of the amygdala in patients with a first episode of major depression
Biological Psychiatry, Volume 51, Issue 9, Pages 708-714
T.Frodl

That said, there is also evidence in long term depression that the amygdala may be smaller. There are many ways for people to get depressed so no doubt there are many different types of physical indicators.

By: basil

basil — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:14:41 +0000

Thank you for promoting what may be a good cure for those suffering from long term depression. By the comments so far I can see that small matters of detail may cause some readers to prematurely discount your credibility. In that spirit, I offer the following.
1) Hippocampus morphology in depressives is atrophied or misshapen but not enlarged.
See http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/160/1/83

2) The adrenal glands actually produce Cortisol when directed by the pituitary via the hypothalamus (the “HPA axis”). A damaged amygdala may cause an overproduction of cortisol through complicated interactions of the sympathetic and para-sympathetic systems.

By: Maya

Maya — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:27:53 +0000

Wonderful article. Many thanks!
Yet HELP, anybody who managed to get to read The Anatomy of Despair, and Repairing the Mind, from newscientist! They make you have to pay too steeply for the steeply required annual subscription, but I’m dying to read them! Anyone? Or we could share the subsciption;) ?!

By: John Kewitz

John Kewitz — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:13:30 +0000

Wow it seems ayahuasca if prepared correctly and used in the correct manner can be exponentially better at “raising spirits” or curing one of ones illness say than an ssri or an antidepressant. Stop me if im wrong?

By: Scott Brackeen

Scott Brackeen — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:57:51 +0000

I found this research report, which also proves Danial Mirante’s article is correct. The report is written by Dr. Callaway, Dr. D. Mckenna and Dr. C. Grob, (on “Scribd.com”, using the search word Ayahuasca). The title of the report is “The Scientific Investigation of Ayahuasca: A Review of Past and Current Research.” Dr. Calloway used “Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography”, to see what Ayahuasca was doing to his own brain, and found that …
“… Another interesting self-experiment related to this finding was carried out by one of the investigators,
Jace Callaway, following his return to Finland after the field phase of the study was completed. Dr.
Callaway has access to Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) scanning
facilities in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Kuopio. Suspecting that the causative
agent of the unexpected upregulation might be tetrahydroharmine (THH), Dr. Callaway took
SPECT scans of his own brain 5-HT uptake receptors prior to beginning a six week course of daily dosing
with tetrahydroharmine, repeating the scan after the treatment period. He did indeed find that the density of central 5-HT receptors in the prefrontal cortex had increased; when he discontinued THH, their density gradually returned to previous levels over the course of several weeks. While this experiment only had one subject, if it is indicative of a general effect of THH that can be replicated and confirmed, the implications are potentially significant.”
— I like the use of the SPECT here, it’s easier for me to understand—

By: hauscawon

hauscawon — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 04:30:47 +0000

i m floored. great contribution, i didnt know this

peace and love

the huasca won :]

By: admin

admin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:30:17 +0000

Callaway JC, Airaksinen MM, McKenna DJ, Brito GS, Grob CS.
Platelet serotonin uptake sites increased in drinkers of ayahuasca.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1994 Nov;116(3):385-7.
PMID: 7892432 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Abstract

The binding of [3H]citalopram to the platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) transporter was measured in a group of healthy male drinkers of ayahuasca, a psychoactive sacrament indigenous to Amazonia, and a group healthy male controls. An increased number of binding sites (Bmax) in the platelets of ayahuasca drinkers was found, while the dissociation constant (Kd) remained the same for both groups. If indicative of neuronal 5-HT uptake activity, these results would suggest a decreased concentration of extracellular 5-HT, or a response to increased production and release of 5-HT. Such changes in 5-HT synaptic activity, in this case, should not be misinterpreted as an indication of developing neurological or psychiatric illness.

By: Scott Brackeen

Scott Brackeen — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:11:35 +0000

Thank you for the hypothesis; it sounds valid, but can you site any research that states Ayahuasca is proven to do this? This article mentions that, ” …THH, actually causes an increase in the density of platelet serotonin uptake sites in long-term users.” Can you please provide the study or research that states that?

The article is well thought out and well written, by the way.

Thanks!

By: SS

SS — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:25:58 +0000

There aren’t really side effects other than vomiting from the ayahuasca brew (which is symbolically seen as a cleansing and integral part of the experience by shamans). There are some dietary restrictions for consuming an MAOI (cheese and aged meat mainly). Don’t eat anything high in tyramine for 12-24 hours before. People generally fast for about that amount of time to decrease nausea. Gotta hold the stuff down for a bit!

Also keep in mind if you are on SSRI you cant take this because SSRI+MAOI = bad news. Amazing how the government has already screwed people with depression from using this wonderful medicine that features the illegal chemical DMT which is found in our own bodies. Go figure!

By: Jocelyn Blais

Jocelyn Blais — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:27:12 +0000

Since many years, I have a question and I can’t find any answer…
I ask myself what can be the consequences of the amygdala removing chirurgy?…
You know…a lot of children have serious problems with amygdala and doctors often simply remove it…
What can be the effect on one’s health…on the brain equilibrium?…
Thank you !
P.S….I am french-canadian…so…sorry for my poor english…