Survey of 203 ayahuasca ceremony attenders in Portugal reports better self-rated health

The question

How do people in Portugal who attend ayahuasca ceremonies describe their health, lifestyle and well-being, and how does that compare with national population figures?

What they did

Researchers ran a cross-sectional online survey, meaning a single snapshot in time, with 203 Portuguese adults who had taken part in ayahuasca ceremonies. Participants filled in validated questionnaires on general health, mental health, coping strategies and social support. Their answers were then compared with data from national health surveys.

What they found

Respondents generally rated their health as good or very good, and reported lower rates of long-term illness and obesity than the general population. They also reported more physical activity, less alcohol use and better psychological well-being. A substantial share said their ayahuasca experiences had led to positive lifestyle changes, reduced substance use and less reliance on prescription medication. The abstract does not give specific percentages or scores for any of these findings.

The fine print

This was a survey of people who chose to attend ayahuasca ceremonies and chose to respond, so they may already be healthier or more health-focused than average. All outcomes were self-reported, with no clinical verification, no comparison group recruited by the researchers and no follow-up over time. The abstract reports no numbers beyond the sample size, and this summary is based on the abstract alone.

What it means

Ayahuasca ceremony attenders in Portugal describe themselves as healthier than the wider population, but a snapshot survey of volunteers cannot tell us whether ayahuasca played any role in that difference.

Evidence grade: Low. A one-time online survey of self-selected ceremony attenders using self-reported outcomes compared with national averages, which cannot show cause and effect.

This summary is based on the study’s published abstract.