The Dangers of Antidepressant Drugs, and the Vital Therapeutic

Element of Ayahuasca in the Treatment of Depression

Natalie Besmehn

Psychology 3406 Intro to Counseling and Psychotherapy

Dr. Mitch Clark

Mount Royal University

November 29, 2014

A study conducted by the World Health Organization across 60

different countries ranked depression as the fourth most pervasive

burden of mental health, and discovered it to be the number one ranking

non-fatal burden of disease. Current well-known methods for coping with

depression are psychosocial interventions, better known as therapeutic

approaches, and anti-depressive medications such as Wellbutrin, Paxil,

Prozac and Zoloft (Palladino, 2009). However, further exploration of

psychedelic drugs have recently become more popular in the world of

modern science and have rendered positive results in their effects on

depression. Psychedelic can be defined as mind manifesting, or causing

effects on the mind that are conscious-expanding, including feelings of

understanding. The discovery that psychedelics are therapeutic is that

they elicit processes known to be therapeutically useful, such as

transference reactions and the resolution of them; enhanced symbolism

and imagery; increased suggestibility; increased contact between

emotions and ideations; and controlled regression (Palladino, 2009).

Many common modes of treatment for depression have fallen short of

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success over the years; this includes years of therapy from various

schools of thought, and the application of various antidepressant drugs.

Antidepressants, which are the most common treatment for depression,

have many downfalls that include dependencies on the drug and other

disturbing health risks; they are also known for creating numbness

within the patient, and an altered state of being that is unnatural and

‘shut down’ in a sense. Depression has become a disorder that is

marketed in a very real and clever way to convince the public that they

are suffering from a severe medical condition. Physicians are rare to

acknowledge other approaches in the treatment of this emotional state of

being. Many doctors and scientists believe that the underlying cause of

this disorder is the malfunctioning of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Many therapists struggle with deciding which methods and techniques are

the most useful and have the longest affects when applied to their

patients. In this paper we explore the effects of antidepressant drugs,

the therapeutic affect of ayahuasca on depression, and the reasons

behind how this medicine helps the patient. This paper explores two very

personal accounts of two different individuals suffering from

depression, and the different approaches each of them use in attempts to

deal with it.

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How are antidepressants intended to work on those suffering from

depression and anxiety? Very simply, they manipulate

neurotransmitters in the brain. These imperative chemicals are known

as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, which are important for

regulating mood and emotions. Quite basically, they work by

increasing the concentration of serotonin and norepinephrine in the

brain, while blocking the reuptake of serotonin. Some of the newest

and most popular antidepressants have been named SSRIs or selective

serotonin reuptake inhibitors. A few of these drugs in particular

are known as: Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Lexapro

(escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), and Celexa (citalopram),

(National Institute of Mental Health, 2014). Another antidepressant

that works more on dopamine levels is Wellbutrin (bupropion). All of

these prescription drugs have tremendous side effects, including:

nausea, headaches, jitters, dry mouth, dizziness, insomnia, weight

gain and lack of sexual desire. Wellbutrin, however, is less likely

to cause sexual side effects, but instead increases a person’s risk

for seizures, even if they have never experienced a seizure before

in their life. How did this potential risk become accepted as safe?

Earlier antidepressants are known as Tricyclics; these are not used

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today because of the seriousness of their side effects, in which

they have been known to negatively affect people with heart

conditions. (National Institute of Mental Health, 2014). Serotonin,

norepinephrine, and dopamine levels constantly fluxuate in the brain

throughout the course of a person’s life. These fluctuations can be

caused by a number of factors, including: exercise, spiritual

experiences, food, and other events and activities. Stress, poor

diet, neurotoxins, genetic predisposition, drugs (both prescription

and recreational), alcohol and caffeine usage can cause levels to

decrease. (Neurogistics, The Brain Wellness Program, 2014). These

neurotransmitters are absolutely imperative to the body’s Central

Nervous System because they are responsible for communicating

information throughout the brain and body. The Central Nervous

System consists of the brain and spinal cord; it controls our

actions, thoughts and emotions. All of these functions would not be

possible without neurotransmitters.

In the documentary ‘Numb: The Problem of Anti-Depressants,’ a 42

year old man, Phil Lawrence, videotapes his journey in his attempt

to get off of Paxil, an antianxiety, antidepressant drug he has been

taking for ten years to help him cope with his social anxiety and

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depressive symptoms. In the documentary, he states that: “I don’t

feel much of anything…I literally have no idea who I am.” This is a

devastating affect many people have experienced with the persistent

use of antidepressant drugs - an affect that has, in many cases, led

to an increased risk of suicide. Lawrence, in his research, comes

across various cases in which many people have followed through and

committed suicide within weeks of stopping various antidepressant

drugs. This demonstrates that in no way do antidepressant drugs

succeed in solving the root problem; depression still exists in the

person, laying low in a medicated sleep. In his documentary we watch

Phil Lawrence, a grown man with three children literally falls to

pieces as he tries to get used to the debilitating withdrawal

symptoms that consist of constant headaches, zapping sounds in his

head, low energy, and the powerful influx of emotions. He expressed

his fear of stopping the medication and had no idea how long the

withdrawal symptoms would persist. During his research, he uncovers

the unnerving truth that pushing these powerful drugs to the public

is a shared goal of doctors, psychiatrists, pharmaceutical

companies, and Government agencies. Pharmaceutical companies spend

more money on marketing these drugs then they do on the research for

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the safety and health risks of taking these drugs. Some doctors who

have experience with antidepressants and their effects warn against

taking them at all, due to their function of disrupting

neurotransmitters throughout the brain, and claim that these drugs

are in fact, a poison. The withdrawal symptoms experienced when the

drug is discontinued are due to nerve and brain damage, caused by

taking these drugs on a daily basis. Many doctors agree that

depression is not a medical condition and that it is not a chemical

imbalance within the brain. It is the pathalogizing of every day

life, done by the marketing of pharmaceutical companies in an

attempt to push drug sales through the roof. This documentary also

exposes criticisms of doctors and psychiatrists in the construction

of the DSM IV, in which mood and personality disorders are created

with the intention of validating the need for new pharmaceutical

drugs to be put on the market. In his journey to wean himself off

of Paxil, Phil Lawrence described what he was going through in an

emotional breakdown. Tearfully, he says: “Something in my head is

messing with me, and it won’t let go.” What’s chilling about this

film is that Lawrence was unsuccessful in his attempt to get off of

the medication. He could no longer deal with the pain of the

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withdrawal he was experiencing and felt as though his previous

depressive symptoms were becoming worse. He went back to a physician

who put him on 20mg of Prozac daily, and writes at the end of his

documentary that every day is still a struggle. These results are

dark and provide insight to an even greater need for alternative

methods. The problem with the way antidepressants function in

particular, is their manipulation of serotonin - an inhibitory

neurotransmitter that does not stimulate the brain, but rather is

responsible for stabilizing mood and balancing excessive excitatory

firing in the brain. Serotonin, being a stabilizing chemical and

not a stimulating chemical, could be the cause of a user’s zombie-

like feeling when under the influence of the drug. By increasing the

concentration of this chemical in the brain and blocking other

receptors, it inhibits the person from really feeling anything at

all. By messing with these chemicals in the brain the person no

longer feels any normal feelings of excitement, happiness, or

sadness, and their entire central nervous system is deadened.

Lawrence has brought to life the problem with the current system, in

which the DSM IV is successful in convincing people who are

struggling with every day human issues that they may have a disorder

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or a disease that is out of their control. This frames their

problems in a way that creates the belief that a drug will fix their

life, instead of looking to deeper root issues inside the self.

What’s even more disturbing is that these marketing companies have

taken basic human conditions and transformed them into diagnoses and

disorders, convincing thousands of people who are experiencing

everyday difficulties that there is something wrong with them. It

takes the responsibility off of the individual to work through their

problems and emotions, and discourages them from putting in the

effort needed to transform their own self in a natural and healthy

way. This is where alternative medicines, an opening to the

recognition of the spiritual self, and the therapeutic process can

help.

An alternative approach to treating depression involves the

ingestion of natural and medicinal plants found in the environment and

cultivated by ancient indigenous tribes. When specific plants are

combined, extracted, and mixed properly together, you are left with the

medicine known as Ayahuasca, which is classified in Western ideology as

a psychedelic drug. The use of Ayahuasca in ceremonies is an ancient

practice that is considered vital and sacred to the well being of a

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person’s spiritual self. In custom, it is administered with good

intentions and in the presence of a shaman, or Ayahuascero, who is

experienced in these practices. The visionary aspect of Ayahuasca is

critical to note, as it depends heavily on the environment and

expectations of the individual (Palladino, 2009). Sobiecki (2013) has

had his own personal experience with using Ayahuasca. After further

research and reflection of his experiences with the medicine, he writes:

This experience was unplanned and unexpected and resulted in a

profoundly transformative healing process. Based on my experience, I

describe Ayahuasca’s ingestion as having created a powerful mind-

body-spirit connection that resulted in what appeared and felt like

a profound reconfiguration of the bioelectrical energy system in my

body and a powerful anti-depressant action on my mind. These effects

were catalyzed by a strong intention to heal and trust in and take

responsibility for myself. (Sobiecki, 2013)

This medicinal plant has been used in indigenous shamanic practices for

cleansing, divination and curing illness and diseases by interacting

with the world of spirits in order to acquire wisdom and restore a

patient’s spirit (Sobiecki, 2013). Ayahuasca, also known as caapi or

yage, is a term meaning ‘vine of the souls.’ The main source of this

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medicine is the malpighiaceous jungle liana called Banisteriopsis caapi

and is made by boiling or soaking the bark and stems with various other

plants; the mixture is then known as Rubiaceous genus Psychotria, or

Psychotria viridis. The bark of B. caapi contains B- carboline

alkaloids, which are potent monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA) inhibitors. The

leaves of P. viridis and related species contain DMT

(dimethyltryptamine), which becomes orally active when ingested with an

MAO inhibitor (Sobiecki, 2013). Dimethyltrptamine is a prime component

in ayahuasca that is already present in the brain and is produced within

most plants. However, when synthetically made, it can be smoked or

injected on its own in order to produce an intense out-of-body, or

‘spiritual’ experience. DMT is a Substance One controlled drug that was

made illegal as a manufactured hallucinogen before it was known to exist

in natural form in the plants used to make Ayahuasca (Palladino, 2009).

DMT is a short-acting hallucinogenic agent and is a component of

Metatonin that is made in the human’s pineal gland, also known as the

‘third eye’. When released in the brain, DMT functions as a

neurotransmitter, and is a catalyst for producing the visions in dreams.

The pineal glands’ function is to secrete hormones in the brain that

modulate an individual’s state of consciousness. Serotonin is the

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hormone that stabilizes waking consciousness; the pineal gland stores a

high concentration of serotonin, which it then converts to melatonin,

the primary hormone that controls the sleeping state. The pineal gland

produces a higher octave, more complex form of melatonin, known as

Metatonin. The Metatonin messenger does not suppress waking self-

consciousness the same way melatonin does during sleep; instead it

modifies the borders of consciousness by temporarily reprogramming the

brain circuitry in a unique way, allowing self consciousness to separate

from body consciousness while remaining aware. This is the psychoactive

affect that Ayahuasca and DMT are known to have on the brain. (The

Pineal Gland and the Chemistry of Consciousness, 2014). DMT is

essentially non-toxic to body organs and does not cause physiological

dependence or addictive behaviours. Thus, its classification as a

dangerous drug is based primarily on socio-political reasons rather than

clinical-scientific evidence. (Jacob, Presti, 2005). Sobiecki, from his

various experiences with Ayahuasca concludes:

The medicine engages the individual's unique collective self:

(life-history, physical and mental disposition, beliefs and

intents) resulting in different outcomes for different

individuals. Thus, from my own and others' experience, I

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describe Ayahuasca as a spiritual medicine; one that promotes

enhanced awareness and deeper connection to one's core self, to

others and the greater universe, while facilitating the

manifestation of one's intentions and beliefs (2013).

This medicine creates a profound sense of self-awareness within a

person’s innermost self that years of therapy on its own have been

unable to reach, and that years of ingesting antidepressants can’t even

begin to touch. The reason for this, I believe, is that your mind is not

easily shifted and shaken from its compartmentalized state of

conditioning. These alternative medicines create a temporary alter-

reality for the individual that is Earth shattering, and in a way, too

much for the individual to handle, creating a small degree of trauma,

which results in a resolution that is life altering. In short, it blasts

the mind completely open, creating new connections in the brain that can

begin the process of restructuring old patterns and old negative beliefs

that no longer serve the self. Ayahuasca is also considered therapeutic

because it involves catharsis and abreaction. Psychodynamic theory

characterizes catharsis as the release by which relief from unexpressed

conflicts is brought to the patient. This is done on the physical level,

known as ‘purging’ - where the patient eliminates negativity, toxins,

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personal baggage and garbage that has collected throughout one’s

lifetime (Palladino, 2009). The belief behind this is that the body

holds onto traumas and stresses in different areas that the patient then

carries with them, mostly unaware of their presence and how much they

affect their every day functioning and emotional state of being.

Catharsis can be thought of as cleansing and detoxifying the spirit, and

centers on the holistic approach that mind, body, and spirit are

strongly connected with one another. Palladino’s research states:

Abreaction is a process of regression back to a specific situation

or source of trauma. This process allows the individual to relive

painful experiences to gain new understandings and insights that

enable resolution and closure. Ayahuasca users report that the

frequent result is liberation from guilt or fear or other psycho-

spiritual forces, which have been affecting the individual. The

process often results in candid re-evaluation of one's life course

with a strong tendency and resolution to pursue positive changes to

improve one's life with renewed purpose and mission (Palladino,

2009).

Journeys with Ayahuasca that can be described as rough or painful for

the patient can often be the most useful in helping the individual

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achieve the required self-awareness that changes their life. Over-

analyzing, and over thinking in attempts to change behavior and

attitude, which are often criticisms of traditional therapeutic methods,

could be seen in some instances as a futile effort, especially in the

case of a depressive state of mind, where the patient cannot simply

‘snap out of it’. The severity and pervasiveness of depressive symptoms

has led to the need for more intense treatments in the medical system

and to the popular belief that depression is a ‘disease’ or ‘mental

disorder’ that needs to be treated with more drastic measures. The

Government and media have demonized mind-altering substances because

they produce social change and imaginative thinking outside of the box

that has been socially constructed for us. People are searching for a

way out of that constructed ideological box that no longer feels right

for them. Antidepressants are a way to keep people inside this box.

Sobiecki’s final thoughts on Ayahuasca and the effect it had on his

state of depression are promising for those seeking to revolutionize the

typical clinical approach to treating depression. He states: “This

encounter with Ayahuasca provided me with a first-hand experience of

learning and healing from the medicine that culminated in an energetic

transformation that lifted my state of depression. It also provided

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lessons about my life and who I am.” (2013). This personal account is

much more encouraging and successful then Lawrence’s experience with

antidepressant drugs. Ayahuasca, when administered with the right

intentions, has the ability to help a person rediscover and reconnect

with their true self, which is what therapy has been created to do as

well. Through the use of visionary plant medicines the power is put back

into the hands of the individual, giving them the responsibility to work

through issues on their own, and to work through the various issues that

come up for them while they are on their journey. This medicine also

produces better results when accompanied by a specific goal or purpose

in mind, as is also a common practice in therapeutic methods where

clients are asked to produce their own goals to work towards throughout

the entire process.

Other, less traditional methods for not only treating depression,

but preventing it as well include: yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and a

healthy diet. These are methods of healing that a typical physician who

prescribes antidepressants for their client would most likely fail to

recommend. Antidepressants can take up to eight weeks to begin to have

an effect and typically become problematic with many side affects, and

most clients have a tendency to become completely dependent on them.

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Antidepressants are a “Band-Aid” solution to the root problem; even

accompanied by serious therapy it lacks a spiritual component, which is

necessary for all healing. A therapist who is educated in these less

traditional methods would be useful in coaching their client to achieve

states of mindfulness through the practice of meditation, while being a

support system to talk to about difficulties, emotional problems, as

well as helping them choose the right foods to best aid their body’s

happiness and healthfulness.

The Holistic approach, which is also explored in Existential

therapy and other models of therapy, is the idea that human

functioning is treated as a whole; where each component is

interrelated with one another, and this relates spiritual

functioning to physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Westgate

(1996) writes: “one cannot treat an illness or disturbance within

one component without understanding the balance and interaction

between all of the components.” This being said, the approach to

healing depression would involve addressing physical, affective,

cognitive, social, and spiritual dimensions, (Westgate, 1996), which

is where Ayahuasca makes it profound impact. The problem with

earlier schools of thought, such in the case of Freud, whose view of

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spirituality came in the theory that a person was in constant

conflict with the self in a desperate attempt to receive pleasure,

was that spirituality was merely an illusion that keeps humans from

confronting reality (Westgate, 1996). Other theorists, such as Jung

in particular, believed that “without an inner transcendent

experience, humans lack the resources to withstand the blandishments

of the world” (Jung, 1933). This expands on the idea that analyzing,

intellectualizing, and medicating an individual would not be

adequate care, but by developing a spiritual perspective is where a

client can begin to heal. Many theorists have identified the lack of

spirituality in human growth and various treatments, and attribute

this to the growing problems of mental health and depression.

Theorists agree: “There is a valid and vital role of spirituality in

human growth and actualization… a link exists between a lack of

spirituality and lower levels of mental health, including increased

feelings of hopelessness, meaninglessness, and depression.”

(Westgate, 1996). Many therapies seem to only go in so far as to

penetrate the individual, and Western psychology tends to treat the

individual in a compartmentalized way in which the mind, soul, and

body are separate from one another. Therapies that touch on the

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spiritual importance of finding meaning in life, understanding the

self, and the importance of community involvement would be most

efficient in accompanying Ayahuasca users. This would help them to

understand their personal spiritual evolution and development of the

self, while assisting them in making sense of their deeper, darker

emotions. The process of living through every day trials requires

dealing with emotions on many levels. When not properly felt or

processed, these feelings that an individual doesn’t understand

could put them at risk for depressive symptoms and a downward spiral

of victimization.

References:

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How Antidepressant and Antipsychotic Medications Work, Anthony Tung, BSc(Pharm) and

Ric M. Procyshyn, PharmD, PhD http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/medications-vol4/howantidepressantantipsychotic-medications-work

Jacob, M., Presti, D. (2004). Endogenous psychoactive tryptamines reconsidered: an anxiolytic

role for dimethyltrypatime. Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Metatonin Research, The pineal gland and the chemistry of consciousness, D. Beach Barrett

METAtonin. (n.d.). Retrieved December 8, 2014, from http://metatoninresearch.org

National Institute of Mental Health, Depression.(n.d.). Retrieved December 8, 2014, from

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml

Neurotransmitter Testing, The brain wellness program. (n.d.). Retrieved December 8, 2014, from

https://www.neurogistics.com

Numb: The Dangers of Antidepressants [Motion picture on DVD]. (2010). United States of

America.

Palladino, L. (2009). Vine of soul: A phenomenological study of ayahuasca and its effect on

depression. Pacifica Graduate Institute, 185 pages

Sobiecki, Jean-Francois. (2013). An account of healing depression using ayahuasca plant teacher

medicine in a Santo Daime ritual. Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology, 13(1), 1-10.

Retrieved December 06, 2014, from http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?

script=sci_arttext&pid=S1445-73772013000100007&lng=en&tlng=pt. 

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Westgate, C. E. (1996). Spiritual wellness and depression. Journal of Counseling and

Development : JCD, 75(1), 26-35. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/219019890?accountid=1343

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