Listening to Ayahuasca: New Hope for Depression, Addiction, PTSD, and Anxiety

In her first book, Harris, a psychotherapist and researcher in psychology, weaves together a fascinating and provocative compilation of riveting testimonies of individuals who experienced miraculous healing by drinking the psychedelic medicine ayahuasca. Inspired by her own amazing transformation, Harris was driven to research ayahuasca and document her findings. Readers will be inspired by the numerous accounts of how ayahuasca succeeded where Western medicine has failed many of the ailing people described here. Based on the study of 81 ayahuasca users, Harris claims that ayahuasca can lead to a spiritual awakening; cure depression, anxiety, and addictions; and improve self-esteem. Though the author endorses the therapeutic potential of this mysterious brew, she admits that positive results are not always guaranteed. Surprisingly, this is not a step-by-step instructional manual for how to get started using ayahuasca, but a case study of what the drug has accomplished for those who have undergone treatment. The book is divided into 10 chapters, each focusing on different aspects of the ayahuasca experience, such as how it works on the brain and its possible detrimental side effects. Though research on ayahuasca is still slim, the numerous life-changing revelations that Harris’s contributors describe will be illuminating for those curious about this mystical medicine. (Feb.)