Didn´t read it yet. Seems interesting:

https://www.researchgate...Diseases_of_Civilization

Enjoy

Why link to researchgate when the original is open access?

http://journal.frontiersin.org/...89/fphar.2016.00035/full

The Therapeutic Potentials of Ayahuasca: Possible Effects against Various Diseases of Civilization
Ede Frecska, Petra Bokor and Michael Winkelman
Front. Pharmacol., 02 March 2016
doi: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00035

Abstract:
Ayahuasca is an Amazonian psychoactive brew of two main components. Its active agents are β-carboline and tryptamine derivatives. As a sacrament, ayahuasca is still a central element of many healing ceremonies in the Amazon Basin and its ritual consumption has become common among the mestizo populations of South America. Ayahuasca use amongst the indigenous people of the Amazon is a form of traditional medicine and cultural psychiatry. During the last two decades, the substance has become increasingly known among both scientists and laymen, and currently its use is spreading all over in the Western world. In the present paper we describe the chief characteristics of ayahuasca, discuss important questions raised about its use, and provide an overview of the scientific research supporting its potential therapeutic benefits. A growing number of studies indicate that the psychotherapeutic potential of ayahuasca is based mostly on the strong serotonergic effects, whereas the sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) agonist effect of its active ingredient dimethyltryptamine raises the possibility that the ethnomedical observations on the diversity of treated conditions can be scientifically verified. Moreover, in the right therapeutic or ritual setting with proper preparation and mindset of the user, followed by subsequent integration of the experience, ayahuasca has proven effective in the treatment of substance dependence. This article has two important take-home messages: (1) the therapeutic effects of ayahuasca are best understood from a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual model, and (2) on the biological level ayahuasca may act against chronic low grade inflammation and oxidative stress via the Sig-1R which can explain its widespread therapeutic indications.

True. Thanks for updating the link.

Interesting timing you sharing this (thanks for that), I just got an email off Ede Frecska concerning a new paper on DMT that has just been submitted for review.


Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) has protective effects under hypoxia in human primary iPSC-derived cortical neurons and microglia-like immune cells via the sigma-1 receptor.
Szabo, A., Kovacs, A., Riba, J., Rajnavolgyi, E. & Frecska, E.

Abstract
The sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) is an intracellular chaperon fulfilling an interface role between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. It ensures the correct transmission of ER stress into the nucleus resulting in the enhanced production of antistress and antioxidant proteins. Due to this function the activation of Sig-1R can mitigate the outcome of hypoxia or oxidative stress. In this paper we aimed to test the hypothesis that Sig-1R activation by its endogenous ligand dimethyltryptamine (DMT) can diminish hypoxic stress in in vitro cultured human cortical neurons (derived from induced pluripotent stem cells), monocyte-derived macrophages, and dendritic cells. Here we report for the first time that the endogenous tryptamine DMT can robustly increase the survival of these cell types in severe hypoxia (0.5% O2) through the Sig-1R. Furthermore, this phenomenon is associated with the decreased expression and function of the alpha subunit of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1) suggesting that DMT-mediated Sig-1R activation may alleviate hypoxia-induced cellular stress and increase survival in a HIF-1-independent manner. Our results reveal a novel and important role of DMT in human cellular physiology as well as point to the relevance of the therapeutic modulation of DMT-Sig-1R signaling in hypoxic/ischemic clinical pathologies, such as stroke, myocardial infarct or similar arterial occlusive disorders, cardiac arrest, and perinatal asphyxia.

Good share. Thank you all and thank you Ede.

Peace

Macre