Western Medicine’s “Hail Mary”.
Ayahuasca is an entheogen that is a “rich source of serotonergic agonists and reuptake inhibitors” (de Araujo et al., 2012). Consuming the brew will provide a rapid increase in Occipital; Temporal; and Frontal areas of the brain. The experiences bring about changes in sensory perception and self-awareness. Visual imagery is internally generated without the need for additional stimuli.
Ayahuasca affects brain areas responsible for psychopathological hallucinations and those activated during normal and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Studies have shown that cortical areas involved in memory retrieval and context increase in connectivity as a result of ingesting the substance (de Araujo et al., 2012). It is also responsible for the engagement of brain functions which allow the integration of memories and context to provide a whole scene of imagery to the user. “Seeing with the eyes shut” stems from the activation of several brain areas working together to produce “visions, memory, and intentions” (de Araujo et al., 2012).
Potential therapeutic uses for ayahuasca include disorders such as Addiction; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; and Regulation of Sleep are few and dependent on admixtures that can be used for a variety of treatment-resistant illnesses. Studies examined through the use of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) have given a glimpse of the neural basis of this inner perception of the world (de Araujo et al., 2012).
Terms such as hallucinogens; psychedelics; entheogens; or psychotomimetics have been problematic because of the societal connotations that stigmatize specific titles. Researchers must take into account the safeguards to be maintained for their subjects in order for human hallucinogen research to continue in the future. Hallucinogens are not deemed “drugs of dependence” (Johnson et al., 2008).
The low physiological toxicity; absence of illicit drug-seeking behavior; and not contributing to any known withdrawal syndromes, make hallucinogens little risk for dependency among their users (Johnson et al., 2008). Factors to keep in mind are the psychological risks brought on by anxiety; paranoia; fear; dysphoria; and panic in humans and can potentially produce behaviors in subjects that could be a danger to themselves or others (Johnson et al., 2008).
Guidelines for safety include
1. Selection of Volunteers.
2. Study Personnel.
3. Physical Environment.
4. Preparation of Volunteers.
5. Conduct of Hallucinogen Administration Sessions.
6. Post-Session Procedures (Johnson et al., 2008).
Trauma is individual to the person. With regard to the U.S. Military Veteran Community, mitigating potential risks would be an overall benefit to the researcher and user alike simply because no trauma is identical to the other, even within the same community.
Two veterans could go into the same battle and walk away with completely different experiences; thus, no approach to trauma and the application of plant medicine should be the same.
A personalized approach to each and every human subject must be emphasized and taking appropriate measures to safeguard human subjects will ensure the safety and well-being of research participants and allow scientific research of hallucinogens to continue.
