Interactions between cannabidiol and ayahuasca

By Sechat

The study titled "Interactive effects of ayahuasca and cannabidiol on social cognition in healthy volunteers: a pilot trial, proof of concept, feasibility, and randomized control" delves into the complex distinctions between the two substances with distinct psychoactive and medicinal properties. This pilot trial sought to understand if CBD could moderate and attenuate the effects of ayahuasca on social cognition, specifically in the recognition of emotions in facial expressions (REFE).

• - Methods:

The study involved seventeen healthy volunteers, subjected to a parallel-arm controlled trial, lasting one week with an 18-month follow-up. Participants were divided into two groups, one receiving placebo and the other 600 mg of oral CBD, followed by the administration of ayahuasca (1 mL/kg) after 90 minutes. Assessments included REFE and empathy tasks, performed at the beginning of the study and at different time points after the interventions, as well as secondary measures of subjective effects, tolerability, and biochemical evaluations.

• - Results:

The results revealed that both groups experienced significant reductions in reaction times in REFE tasks, with no differences between them. Additionally, both anxiety and sedation, cognitive impairment, and discomfort decreased significantly in both groups, with no notable differences between them. Ayahuasca, with or without the presence of CBD, was well tolerated, although it mainly caused nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort. No clinically significant effects were observed in cardiovascular measurements and liver enzymes.

• - Conclusions:

The results of this study indicate that there was no evidence of interactive effects between ayahuasca and CBD, suggesting that both compounds can be consumed separately and together safely. This finding is particularly relevant for clinical populations with anxiety disorders, indicating the possibility of applying these medications in therapeutic treatments.

Future clinical trials with larger samples can be conducted to confirm these promising results and open new perspectives in the search for more effective treatments. This study sheds light on the complex interaction between psychoactive substances and their potential benefits in mental health.