Moments of Insight, Healing, and Transformation: A Cognitive Phenomenological Analysis

Shanon, Benny

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-40426-9_4

Cited by 17 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Participants in ayahuasca healing sessions report vomiting as an important part of the cleansing process and claim it helps them to emotionally heal [ 87 ]. Phenomenological studies proposed nausea and purging as crucial to direct attention to bodily states, to help confront challenges posed by bodily malaise and to learn how to overcome it [ 88 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute Biphasic Effects of Ayahuasca

et al. 2015

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Ritual use of ayahuasca, an amazonian Amerindian medicine turned sacrament in syncretic religions in Brazil, is rapidly growing around the world. Because of this internationalization, a comprehensive understanding of the pharmacological mechanisms of action of the brew and the neural correlates of the modified states of consciousness it induces is important. Employing a combination of electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings and quantification of ayahuasca's compounds and their metabolites in the systemic circulation we found ayahuasca to induce a biphasic effect in the brain. This effect was composed of reduced power in the alpha band (8–13 Hz) after 50 minutes from ingestion of the brew and increased slow- and fast-gamma power (30–50 and 50–100 Hz, respectively) between 75 and 125 minutes. Alpha power reductions were mostly located at left parieto-occipital cortex, slow-gamma power increase was observed at left centro-parieto-occipital, left fronto-temporal and right frontal cortices while fast-gamma increases were significant at left centro-parieto-occipital, left fronto-temporal, right frontal and right parieto-occipital cortices. These effects were significantly associated with circulating levels of ayahuasca’s chemical compounds, mostly N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine and some of their metabolites. An interpretation based on a cognitive and emotional framework relevant to the ritual use of ayahuasca, as well as it's potential therapeutic effects is offered.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute Biphasic Effects of Ayahuasca

et al. 2015

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“…The acute ayahuasca experience is characterised by strongly enhanced somatic and kinaesthetic awareness and interoception (Shanon 2002, Espinoza 2014, Kaufman 2015, with such effects present to a far greater degree than with other psychedelic substances. Somatic effects, both positive and negative, are often strongly associated with other psychotherapeutic processes, and are suggested by Shanon (2014, p.62) to be 'the most basic psychotherapeutic and healing aspect of the ayahuasca experience' (Shanon 2002, Espinoza 2014, Shanon 2014, Kaufman 2015.…”

Section: A Somatic Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Throughout the acute experience, drinkers typically have a sense of an altered bodily state, sometimes perceiving something 'foreign' having a grasp of their bodies and where physical effects can be of cognitive significance and be integrated with spiritual experiences (Shanon 2002, Breeksema, Niemeijer et al 2020. Proprioceptive senses are strongly enhanced and frequently include unusually fine degrees of sensitivity, control, or awareness of body parts, often connected with a sense of self-healing, or improved physical health (Shanon 2002, Shanon 2014.…”

Section: 'I Also Experienced [Ayahuasca] Remove a Range Of Emotional ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such vomiting is traditionally considered a positive effect and is often reported by ayahuasca drinkers to provide immense emotional and psychological relief, connection with usually inaccessible emotions, and feelings of joy and personal transformation, in some cases life-long (Shanon 2002, Shanon 2014, Gearin 2015, Lafrance, Loizaga-Velder et al 2017, Rush, Marcus et al 2021.…”

Section: 'I Was Shown My Lungs At a Microscopic Level And How They Wo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Psychotherapeutic and neurobiological processes associated with ayahuasca’s mental health and wellbeing outcomes: a proposed model and implications for therapeutic use

Perkins¹,

Ruffell²,

Day³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Ayahuasca is a psychoactive Amazonian plant brew. It is usually made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, which contains three primary harmala alkaloids, along with the leaves of Psychotria viridis in which the potent psychedelic dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is found. DMT-harmaloid concoctions have gained popularity in recent years, due to growing anecdotal and scientific reports of therapeutic benefits associated with their consumption. Ayahuasca is now ingested in a variety of different settings across the globe, from traditional ethnobotanical to so called “neo-shamanic” ceremonies. Furthermore, related preparations involving alternative sources of DMT and harmala alkaloids are becoming increasingly common as knowledge of ayahuasca continues to spread internationally. This paper reviews the existing literature and original qualitative data from the largest cross-sectional study of ayahuasca drinkers undertaken to date, the Global Ayahuasca Project, to proposes a model of psychotherapeutic processes associated with the consumption of ayahuasca. We assert that it is these processes, facilitated by a range of neurobiological effects, that lead to beneficial mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Our proposed model identifies five key psychotherapeutic processes inherent to the ayahuasca experience; somatic effects; introspection and emotional processing; increased Self-connection, value, and love; increased spiritual connection, and finally the gaining of insights and new perspectives. We note some important differences in these processes compared with other classic psychedelics as well as the implications of the model for the therapeutic use of ayahuasca. Improved understanding of the psychotherapeutic processes involved with the ayahuasca experience will better equip practitioners to work with this potentially transformative concoction and enable the optimisation of therapeutic treatment models for potential clinical use.

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“…spiritual/transcendental experiences, for example, sense of connection with nature, encounters with spirits, death-and-rebirth experiences; iv. emotional experiences, such as feelings of love, sadness, guilt, and happiness; v. corporal experiences, such as shakings, nausea, and vomiting (Apud 2015(Apud , 2019(Apud , 2020Argento, Capler, Thomas, Lucas, & Tupper, 2019;Fericgla, 2000;Fernández & Fábregas, 2014;Kjellgren, Eriksson, & Norlander, 2009;Loizaga-Velder & Loizaga Pazzi, 2014;Loizaga-Velder & Verres, 2014;Shanon, 2014;Trichter, Klimo, & Krippner, 2009;Thomas, Lucas, Capler, Tupper, & Martin, 2013;Wolff, Ruffell, Netzband, & Passie, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological effects and subjective experiences of ayahuasca rituals in participants of two neoshamanic centers of Uruguay

Apud

Scuro

Carrera

et al. 2022

JPS

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Background Ayahuasca's psychological and subjective effects were compared in rituals of two neoshamanic groups in Uruguay. Aims Compare, describe and analyze psychological effects and subjective experiences of ayahuasca ceremonies in two different groups: a psychospiritual holistic center, and a center specialized in substance use disorder's treatment. Methods A mixed qualitative-quantitative study was conducted, using the Hallucinogen Rating Scale for measuring psychological effects, and in-depth interviews for the description of ayahuasca subjective experiences. Data from both techniques were compared, analyzing convergences and differences. Results When comparing the two neoshamanic groups, significant differences with a medium-size effect were found in the psychological variables Affect (r = 0.47), Cognition (r = 0.36) and Perception (r = 0.36). The qualitative descriptions of ayahuasca experiences in the group with higher scores in those variables showed more frequent and complex experiences of emotional, cognitive, and perceptive content. Dissimilar results were found when comparing Intensity and Somaesthetic domains, with no significant results in the quantitative part, while in the qualitative part intensity was reported as “soft” in one group, and corporal experiences (e.g., purging effects) were especially manifested. Conclusions Stronger subjective experiences and higher psychological effects may be related to differences in the dosage and the setting of the centers. Emotional, cognitive, and perceptive psychological effects of ayahuasca rituals measured by the Hallucinogen Rating Scale, seem to be associated with more frequent and complex subjective experiences in the mentioned domains. Qualitative group differences in corporal alterations and the overall intensity of the experience differed from non-significant results of the quantitative part of the study.

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Moments of Insight, Healing, and Transformation: A Cognitive Phenomenological Analysis

Cited by 17 publications

References 10 publications

Acute Biphasic Effects of Ayahuasca

Acute Biphasic Effects of Ayahuasca

Psychotherapeutic and neurobiological processes associated with ayahuasca’s mental health and wellbeing outcomes: a proposed model and implications for therapeutic use

Psychological effects and subjective experiences of ayahuasca rituals in participants of two neoshamanic centers of Uruguay

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