The potential of ayahuasca assisted with psychotherapy in acute grief processes: a scientific and artistic exploration

This year, a pioneering study was published that offers preliminary evidence that ayahuasca, in a structured therapeutic context, can alleviate the symptoms of acute grief and foster post-traumatic growth.

Grieving the loss of a loved one is a universal process, but also one of the most complex and painful. In an increasingly individualistic and institutionalized culture such as ours, we have been leaving behind the practices and traditions that helped us structure the process and foster resilience in the community. Given this loss of customs, exploring new forms of support becomes essential. 

The research was led by Débora González, with the collaboration of Irene Pérez and Estefanía Moreno, all professionals at Clinica Synaptica. Part of the process was filmed in a recently released documentary, Just Our Heart, directed by filmmaker Maartje Nevejan.

The grieving process

We all fail in our attempt to live forever. However, when death comes, few are prepared to accept it. Confusion, anger, bitterness, emptiness, and feelings of injustice color the daily lives of those facing the loss of a loved one, seriously affecting their physical, psychological, social, and existential health.

Previous studies show that the mortality rate increases by almost 20% in people who have lost a family member, especially in the first six months after the loss. These deaths are associated with cardiovascular problems (such as broken heart syndrome), chronic stress, excessive alcohol consumption, and, in some cases, suicide.

Although it is known that pharmacotherapy alone does not resolve grief, its use has increased significantly, especially during the first months after the loss. Specialized psychological therapies, on the other hand, are not usually started until six months or a year after the loss, when Prolonged Grief Disorder can be diagnosed. This leaves many people without any support during the acute phase of grief, when the pain is most intense and people are most vulnerable. Added to this is the loneliness inherent in a secularized society that has lost its traditions and rituals for collectively sustaining the grieving process. 

Hence the importance of researching and disseminating new therapeutic resources that can accompany this process in a more humane and effective way.

What is ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is a traditional Amazonian drink whose name in Quechua means “the vine of the dead” or “the vine of souls.” It is made from two plants: Banisteriopsis caapi, a vine rich in monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and the leaves of Psychotria viridis, which contain dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a compound that generates altered states of consciousness when both plants are combined and consumed orally.

Its traditional use dates back to pre-colonization, and it still persists today among Amazonian peoples as an essential tool for promoting resilience, community cohesion, and spiritual connection. 

In recent decades, multiple studies have documented its antidepressant effect, its ability to promote neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, and its favorable safety profile, both in animals and in clinical trials with humans.

Ayahuasca and psychotherapy in grief: a scientific exploration

The study published this year evaluated the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca-assisted psychotherapy in acute grief processes. Eighty-four adults who had lost a first-degree relative in the previous 12 months participated and were divided into three groups:

1. Ayahuasca-assisted therapy: this program offered nine online psychotherapy sessions focused on rebuilding meaning, combined with two ayahuasca sessions throughout the process.
2. Therapy without ayahuasca: the same psychotherapeutic program, without the ayahuasca sessions.
3. Non-intervention group: where the natural evolution of grief over time was simply observed.

The results were clear: the most significant improvements were observed in the ayahuasca-assisted therapy group, which experienced notable reductions in the severity of grief and symptoms of prolonged grief, as well as improvements in post-traumatic growth and psychological quality of life. The differences found between the groups were so significant that there are no similar precedents in the scientific literature on psychotherapy and grief.

One particularly revealing finding was that ayahuasca reduced the sadness and pain associated with memories of the deceased. However, it increased the desire to connect with them, suggesting a deeper form of integration, where the deceased continues to be part of the bereaved person’s life without causing them to avoid memories or detach from them. This is consistent with data from cross-cultural psychology, which shows how maintaining, honoring, and nurturing the bond with those who are no longer with us (especially when the relationship was positive) can enrich the grieving process and bring meaning to the mourner’s life.

The relevance of ritual in grief: an artistic exploration

Part of the research process was filmed for the documentary Just Our Heart, by filmmaker Maartje Nevejan.

This work explores grief in its multiple dimensions—personal, ecological, colonial, and spiritual—proposing ritual as a form of resistance and transformation of the most difficult processes we must face.

Featuring visionary ecologist Dr. Monica Gagliano and Zen master Roshi Joan Halifax, Just Our Heart invites us to stay with the open wound and ask ourselves:

“What if our hearts are not broken, but opening?”

An encounter between science, art, and humanity, reminding us that grief can also be a path of openness, connection, and meaning.

The role of Clinica Synaptica

Clinica Synaptica is positioned as a pioneer in the responsible use of psychedelics to accompany the human crises that arise simply from living and facing the complexity of existence. Its approach combines rigorous research, specialized therapeutic support, and the development of intervention models and mutual support networks that expand and challenge our understanding of emotional and existential processes.

In addition, the clinic fosters a community of professionals committed to projects that explore new forms of accompaniment, learning, and growth in the field of mental health and well-being. Through this approach, Clinica Synaptica contributes to building bridges between science, clinical practice, spirituality, and human experience, offering innovative resources that support processes of personal and collective transformation. Its commitment is to integrate tools such as psychedelics into the field of health as they are regulated by the EMA, ensuring safe, ethical, and evidence-based use.

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