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An exploratory study of experiences with conventional eating disorder treatment and ceremonial ayahuasca for the healing of eating disorders

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian medicine that is currently being researched for its potential in treating a variety of mental disorders. This article reports on exploratory qualitative research relating to participant experiences with ceremonial ayahuasca drinking and conventional treatment for eating disorders (EDs). It also explores the potential for ayahuasca as an adjunctive ED treatment.

Methods

Thirteen individuals previously diagnosed with an ED participated in a semi-structured interview contrasting their experiences with conventional ED treatment with experiences from ceremonial ayahuasca. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Participant reports were organized with key themes including that ayahuasca: led to rapid reductions in ED thoughts and symptoms; allowed for the healing of the perceived root of the ED; helped to process painful feelings and memories; supported the internalization of greater self-love and self-acceptance; and catalyzed spiritual elements of healing.

Conclusions

The results suggest that ayahuasca may have potential as a valuable therapeutic tool, and further research—including carefully controlled clinical trials—is warranted.

Level of evidence

Level V, qualitative descriptive study.

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Notes

  1. Analyses were first conducted separately according to diagnosis (anorexia nervosa vs bulimia nervosa); however, minimal differences emerged after the first round of analysis by three raters. As such, the analyses were completed with the total sample.

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Funding

This study was not funded.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada

    Marika Renelli & Adele Lafrance

  2. Mental Health Foundations, Ottawa, Canada

    Jenna Fletcher

  3. Director of Implementation and Partnerships, British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada

    Kenneth W. Tupper

  4. School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada

    Kenneth W. Tupper

  5. Mental Health Foundations, Vancouver, Canada

    Natasha Files

  6. National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

    Anya Loizaga-Velder

Authors
  1. Marika Renelli
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  2. Jenna Fletcher
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  5. Anya Loizaga-Velder
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adele Lafrance.

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Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Ethical approval of the study was granted by Laurentian University and the University of British Columbia.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Renelli, M., Fletcher, J., Tupper, K.W. et al. An exploratory study of experiences with conventional eating disorder treatment and ceremonial ayahuasca for the healing of eating disorders. Eat Weight Disord 25, 437–444 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0619-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0619-6

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