Does the ceremonial use of ayahuasca hold the key to improving well-being in Westerners? A recent study suggests that the psychoactive brew may help to boost spiritual well-being, happiness, quality of life.
The Western world presents a paradox. The majority of citizens in developed nations have everything they need to survive given to them on a plate — water flows out of taps and calories line supermarket shelves. Western culture also satisfies the hedonistic impulses of the human being. We have access to the drama and gossip of reality television, an endless supply of alcohol and stimulants, and more porn than a person could watch in a lifetime.
With our needs for survival and pleasure met, we still find ourselves in a mental health crisis. Materialism and consumerism lead many of us to work our lives away to purchase items that bring only temporary fulfilment — the empty promise of salvation through ownership.
In between pulses of material pleasure, many of us experience a void of dissatisfaction, desperation, and absolute disconnection from the mystery and beauty of reality. Within the United States alone, 40 million adults are anxious, and 16 million are depressed.
Fortunately, many people find spiritual fulfilment in a broad range of beliefs and experiences that free them from this emptiness. For some, the ancient Amazonian practice of drinking ayahuasca renews their sense of spirituality, well-being, and gratitude for being alive.
Research published in the journal Ethnopharmacology put this practice to the test. After engaging in the Shipibo ceremonial use of ayahuasca, 200 individuals underwent psychological evaluations up to six months after the experience. The collected data displayed significant increases in spiritual well-being, psychological well-being, subjective well-being, and quality of life.
Doctors found a golf ball sized tumor (non cancerous) in my brain when I was 23. The main neurosurgeon did 4 surgeries to try to remove it. I was given 3 or 4 months to live. In the meantime I was seeing another doctor just trying to keep me alive. (My memory is not great so bear with me) Anyway my Nuro oncologist was able to get me into a drug study for a new medicine for cancer and tumors it’s been a long time so forgive me because I can’t remember the name of it. But if shrank the tumor 3cm giving me my left side back that was Paralyzed. I got my life back. Or so I thought I’ve since had 3 strokes and am back were I started but I’m not young anymore. My body hurts I’m not able to walk, speak understandable, can’t remember anything, have trouble eating and drinking. And can’t help but think WHY HAS ALL OF THIS HAPPENED TO ME?!! I don’t mean to sound ungrateful but why haven’t I died, passed on, ect. I’m tired of living and not contributing ANYTHING. I’m not religious but spiritual. I feel so alone because my friends I had got to be somewhat normal. Most have children and got to live a somewhat normal life. I know people have issues (everyday normal things good or bad.) I just had to gripe.