By Katie Pickard, Director of Education
Our recent study sheds light on the potential therapeutic benefits of ceremonial ayahuasca use for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) immigrants and refugees. Conducted by Unlimited Sciences, the study is one of the first to explore how ayahuasca might impact the psychological well-being of individuals from this historically underrepresented demographic, many of whom have faced significant trauma related to migration, war, and persecution.
“There are over 27 million refugees, and no one is stopping to see if these people are healing. We have a community that is abused from different sides, but no one is actually providing these people with ways to heal in processing their trauma. Instead, they are asked to share their trauma to advance political agendas. It was really important to study this retreat because we want to have more informed decisions in the future of how to serve the broader community.”
-Malek Asfeer
Sacred Medicine, New Beginnings: Improved Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being
The study followed 15 participants, primarily female (73.3%), over several months, tracking changes in their mental health before and after participating in an ayahuasca ceremony. Results demonstrated significant improvements in several key areas:
- Depression: Before the ceremony, 71.4% of participants met the criteria for some form of depression. 2-4 weeks after ayahuasca use, this number dropped to just 7.7%. However, by the 3-4-month follow-up, depression rates had risen slightly to 38.5%, suggesting that while ayahuasca provided short-term relief, additional support might be needed for sustained benefits.
- Anxiety: At baseline, 76.9% of participants had high-risk trait anxiety, and 69.2% had high-risk state anxiety. 2-4 weeks post-ceremony, these numbers dropped dramatically to 22.2% for both categories. However, by 3-4 months, state anxiety increased to 36.4%, and trait anxiety to 45.5%, indicating that while improvements persisted, the strongest benefits were seen in the short term.
- Self-Compassion and Shame: Participants showed increases in self-compassion scores from 3.2 (moderate) at baseline to 3.6 (high) at 3-4 months post-ceremony. Additionally, feelings of shame decreased significantly over time, from a score of 13.4 to 9.4, indicating an overall reduction in self-critical thought patterns.
Going Beyond Survival: Behavioral Changes and Personal Growth
Beyond measurable psychological changes, the study also found notable shifts in participants’ behaviors and personal outlooks:
- 85.7% of participants reported positive behavioral changes within two to four weeks, and 86.7% sustained these changes at three to four months.
- Improved relationships were noted by 64.3% at two to four weeks and 46.7% at three to four months.
- Diet and nutrition improvements were reported by 57.1% early on and 46.7% at the later follow-up.
- Career and work-life improvements were cited by 57.1% initially, though this number dropped to 26.7% over time.
- Substance use reductions: 42.9% reduced or stopped using other drugs within the first month, though only 13.3% maintained this change at 3-4 months. Similarly, 21.4% reduced alcohol cravings early on, rising to 33.3% later.
Safety and Adverse Effects
While ayahuasca is often considered relatively safe in ceremonial settings, some participants did experience short-term adverse effects.
Although these acute effects are dubbed “adverse” because they can be unpleasant, they are expected and should be considered part of the experience, not necessarily an undesirable side effect.
During the ceremony, 66.7% experienced nausea and vomiting, while 46.7% reported restlessness and 33.3% had hallucinations. A small percentage (7.1%) reported persisting hallucinations within the first month, but none reported them by the 3-4-month follow-up. The most commonly reported persisting negative effects at three to four months were loneliness (20%) and depressive notions (13.3%).
The Bigger Picture: Ayahuasca as a Healing Tool for MENA Refugees
MENA immigrants and refugees often face a complex web of stressors, including cultural displacement, economic hardship, and the psychological burden of past trauma. Traditional mental health resources are frequently inaccessible, making alternative therapies like ayahuasca an area of growing interest. This study suggests that ayahuasca may offer substantial short-term relief from anxiety, depression, and shame, along with fostering personal growth and healthier behaviors. However, long-term effects remain less conclusive, pointing to the need for additional support and integration practices.
While more research is needed to understand the full spectrum of ayahuasca’s impact on trauma-exposed populations, this study offers a promising glimpse into its potential as a healing modality. For MENA individuals struggling with the aftermath of migration and displacement, ayahuasca may serve as a powerful tool for transformation—one that warrants further exploration within the fields of psychology and psychedelic research.
Download our Study Infographic
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