When people search for information on ayahuasca, most sources focus on the immediate effects—the visions, the purging, the intensity of the ceremony. Yet the more important question is often overlooked: What are the long-term effects of ayahuasca on the body, mind, and spirit?
Drawing from guiding over 1,000 participants in ceremony, combined with insights from recent peer-reviewed studies, this article looks at both anecdotal experiences and scientific evidence to paint a clear picture of what lasting impact ayahuasca may have on your life.
Key takeaways
Healing goes beyond the ceremony – With proper integration, ayahuasca can spark lasting growth in mental health, relationships, and life purpose.
Emotional resilience increases – Many report long-term relief from anxiety, depression, and burnout, backed by scientific research from 2018 to 2025.
A deeper sense of self emerges – Ayahuasca helps uncover intuition, self-trust, and authenticity—leading to more aligned decisions.
Empathy and connection expand – Participants often feel more compassionate toward others, nature, and themselves, inspiring meaningful life shifts.
Lasting change depends on integration – Supportive community, spiritual practices, and conscious life choices are key to sustaining the benefits.
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Frequently Asked Questions (2025)
Many people who have taken ayahuasca report positive, long-term, life-altering changes. These often include greater emotional resilience, deeper empathy, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Science supports this: a 2020 study published in Scientific Reports found that long-term ayahuasca users scored lower on depression and higher on measures of life quality and self-transcendence compared to non-users (Jiménez-Garrido et al., 2020).
While the ceremony itself is temporary, the insights gained can stay with you for years — especially when supported by integration practices.
Yes. Research suggests that ayahuasca’s physical side effects are usually short-lived and minor (vomiting, nausea, dizziness). In fact, only about 2.3% of users require medical attention for physical effects.
The more significant long-term impact is on mental and emotional health. A 2018 study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology found that participants showed reduced depression and stress up to four weeks after ceremonies, along with increases in mindfulness and life satisfaction (Uthaug et al., 2018).
Scientific studies indicate that ritual ayahuasca use can lead to measurable personality shifts. In particular, long-term users often show:
- Increases in Openness (creativity, curiosity, flexibility)
- Growth in Self-Transcendence (a trait linked to purpose and meaning)
For example, a 2021 NIH-backed study reported that ayahuasca use was linked to higher Openness scores and greater self-transcendence after continuous practice (PMC8377499).
This doesn’t mean you become a different person — rather, ayahuasca often helps uncover parts of yourself that were dormant or suppressed.
Cross-sectional studies have found that long-term ayahuasca drinkers tend to:
- Score higher on well-being and life purpose
- Perform better on executive functioning tasks (decision-making, focus)
- Show lower levels of psychopathology compared to non-psychedelic users
A 2022 study in Frontiers in Pharmacology confirmed these findings, showing that long-term ayahuasca participants reported greater well-being, stronger life purpose, and lower psychopathology scores than non-users (Perkins et al., 2022).
These benefits align with thousands of personal accounts of people feeling more balanced, more connected, and more authentic after ayahuasca.
Many guests report reduced anxiety and depression symptoms, greater emotional resilience, and lasting improvements in self-awareness.
Scientific research supports these outcomes: a 2018 study found that ayahuasca participants showed reduced depression and stress up to four weeks later, with increases in mindfulness and life satisfaction (Uthaug et al., 2018).
However, outcomes depend on personal readiness, mental health history, and integration practices.
Studies suggest ayahuasca may influence neuroplasticity, emotional regulation, and memory. This means the brain may become more flexible in how it processes experiences and emotions, which can support growth and healing.
For example, a 2025 study showed that long-term ayahuasca users had preserved global cognition and improved memory function compared to non-users (Fonseca et al., 2025). Research is ongoing, but early results are promising.
If you’d like to learn more about how ayahuasca affects the brain, you can read our full article here.
Not always. While many people experience healing, insight, and personal growth, others may face challenging integration periods or the resurfacing of unresolved emotions.
The Global Ayahuasca Survey (2022) found that 55.9% of participants reported sub-acute or persistent mental health effects (positive or challenging). Most saw these as part of a beneficial integration process, though 12% sought professional support (Perkins et al., 2022).
Proper preparation and support are key for navigating these outcomes.
Some benefits — like increased mindfulness, reduced anxiety, or a deeper sense of purpose — can last for months or even years.
A 2020 study noted that long-term users continued to report higher life satisfaction and reduced depression compared to non-users (Jiménez-Garrido et al., 2020).
The most noticeable benefits are often experienced within the first 28 days after ceremony, but continued integration practices (meditation, journaling, therapy) help sustain them long-term.
It depends on the individual. When approached with intention and in a safe ceremonial setting, repeated work with ayahuasca can be deeply beneficial.
The key is giving yourself space between ceremonies so that insights can root into daily life. Drinking too often can lead to spiritual bypassing — using the medicine as an escape rather than integrating its lessons.
If you’re wondering about finding the right balance, see our full guide: How Many Ayahuasca Ceremonies Do You Need?
For most people, there are no physical long-term side effects from drinking ayahuasca. Common physical effects like nausea, vomiting, and dizziness are short-lived and usually pass during or shortly after the ceremony.
However, very frequent use may put strain on the liver due to the brew’s alkaloids. People with certain medical conditions or those taking specific medications should take extra precautions. Consulting a doctor before participating is essential.
It depends on the individual — their inner readiness, openness, and willingness to change.
One of the biggest differences is that ayahuasca involves a purging process, which helps release trauma and stored emotions from the body. This physical and energetic cleansing makes its long-term effects unique compared to other psychedelics.
While psilocybin and LSD can also create profound insights, ayahuasca stands out for combining visionary experiences with a deep somatic release, which many see as a catalyst for more embodied and lasting transformation.
Factors That Shape the Long-Term Effects of Ayahuasca.
The Seed and The Soil
So what truly determines whether ayahuasca will create lasting changes in your life? Think of the experience as planting a seed. The ceremony itself places that seed into the ground—but what happens next depends on the soil it’s been planted in and the care it receives.
The soil represents the inner condition you bring with you: your readiness to look within, your willingness to change, and your level of inner maturity. The seed itself is the retreat you attended—the quality of the space, the guidance of the facilitators, and whether you felt safe and supported during your journey. A healthy seed has much more potential to grow.
Then comes the care after the ceremony: do you nourish that seed with sunlight and water—by taking action, breaking old habits, having the difficult conversations, and releasing what no longer serves you? Or do you fall back into the same patterns, leaving the seed to wither?
Just like any seed, the potential for growth is there. But how deep the roots go, and how abundant the fruits become, depends largely on your own commitment to integration. The medicine can open the door, but you are the one who must walk through it.
Also, some of these changes will come to you more naturally than others. For some, you will have to put a lot of conscious effort in. You will need to fail, feel the pain and start changing your ways because deep down, you know that certain patterns keep you in suffering. And there will be other changes that will come to you more naturally.
Now, let’s explore some of the most common long-term changes we’ve observed in people after working with ayahuasca.
Observational Long-Term Effects (Anecdotal from 1000+ people)
Connecting with Your Intuition
One of the most profound long-term effects of ayahuasca is the way it reawakens your intuition. For many, this inner guidance system has been buried under years of noise, stress, and conditioning.
After ceremony, you may begin to notice:
- Subtle pulls toward certain people, places, or decisions
- A natural repelling from what no longer serves you
This isn’t random preference — it’s your inner compass returning online.
Before ayahuasca, phrases like “listen to your heart” might have sounded like vague spiritual clichés. Afterwards, they take on a vivid, embodied meaning. You start to recognize what feels aligned and authentic, versus what feels forced or false.
Ayahuasca also reminds us that the mind isn’t our only form of intelligence. Intuition, emotions, and the body’s wisdom can all guide us in ways logic alone cannot. Over time, learning to trust these signals helps you navigate life with more clarity, authenticity, and flow.
Letting Go of the Inner Critic
For many, the harshest voice they hear isn’t from others — it’s from within. Self-criticism, doubt, and judgment become a constant background hum. If another person spoke to us the way our inner critic does, we’d probably walk away.
Ayahuasca has a unique way of softening this inner battle. Through purging and emotional release, layers of self-blame begin to dissolve. The once-relentless chatter starts to quiet.
It doesn’t vanish overnight, but gradually you notice:
- More patience with yourself
More forgiveness for your mistakes - More kindness in your self-talk
In time, this long-term effect of ayahuasca can transform your relationship with yourself. Instead of being your worst enemy, you begin to become your own best friend — offering the same care and compassion you’d extend to someone you truly love.
Living a More Authentic Life
During the ceremony, a recurring question often arises: “What do I truly want in my life?” Not the desires imposed by family, society, or culture — but the quiet, persistent calling from within.
Sometimes the answer sparks big changes:
- Leaving a job
- Moving to a new city
- Committing to or ending a relationship
Other times, it shows up in smaller shifts:
- Finally taking that trip you’ve always postponed
Setting healthier boundaries - Returning to a creative passion you’ve ignored
Living authentically doesn’t necessarily mean tearing your life down. It means aligning with what feels genuine. Ayahuasca has a way of stripping away illusions and external expectations, leaving only what’s real. When you honor that truth, life begins to feel lighter, more meaningful, and deeply your own.
Healing Relationships with Family
Our families shape us in ways we don’t always see. From inherited patterns to the quiet weight of generational trauma, these dynamics form much of our emotional blueprint. Ayahuasca has a way of bringing these hidden layers to the surface, creating space for healing and reconnection.
After ceremony, many people feel called to open conversations with parents or siblings — often the conversations they’ve avoided for years. Sometimes the healing begins with you, and other times it unfolds naturally through subtle shifts in the family as a whole. What matters most is showing up with compassion, openness, and understanding.
Healing isn’t always linear. You may notice changes without knowing why. Ayahuasca reminds us that transformation is often a slow unfolding — guided by patience, vulnerability, and trust. Over time, resentments soften, bonds deepen, and a new sense of connection takes root — one of the most profound long-term effects of ayahuasca.
If you’re ready to explore this journey, our Ayahuasca Retreat in Colombia provides a safe space for deep healing and reconnection.
Prioritizing the Value of Relationships and Friendships
Modern culture often pushes us to value success, productivity, and achievement above all else. But over time, many realize that something essential is missing: connection.
Ayahuasca has a way of re-prioritizing what truly matters. Again and again, participants share that after ceremony they feel drawn to nurture authentic relationships — friendships built not on transaction, but on trust, love, and presence.
Cultivating these relationships takes effort:
- Showing up with empathy
- Listening deeply
- Offering support when it’s needed
Yet what you give often comes back in surprising and life-affirming ways. In the long term, valuing relationships creates a sense of community and belonging that no career milestone can replace.
If you’re curious about how ayahuasca can transform your relational patterns, you might enjoy this deeper exploration: How Ayahuasca Can Heal and Deepen Your Relationships, a companion blog that dives into the dynamics and transformative power of this medicine in connection with others.
Connecting with Your Body Intelligence
Another powerful long-term effect of ayahuasca is a heightened connection with your body’s intelligence. Many describe it as learning a new language — the subtle signals your body uses to communicate what it needs, what nourishes it, and what depletes it.
After ceremony, you may notice:
- Which foods energize you and which drain you
- A natural pull toward movement — yoga, running, stretching — that feels more like listening than forcing
- Improvements in coordination, vitality, or athletic ability
But this isn’t just about physical health. It’s about shifting your relationship with your body — seeing it not as just a vessel for the mind, but as a living partner in your healing journey. Honoring that partnership deepens self-trust and supports a more holistic sense of well-being — a wisdom that continues to grow long after the ceremony ends.
Wanting to Give Back
One of the most beautiful long-term effects of ayahuasca is the awakening of a genuine desire to give back. When you experience deep healing and personal fulfillment, it often creates a natural impulse to share that abundance with others.
This doesn’t always mean money. More often, it shows up as:
- Giving your time, presence, or energy
- Feeling called to volunteer, mentor, or support your community
- Simply showing up differently — listening more deeply, being more patient, or offering help where it’s needed
Ayahuasca reminds us that we are all interconnected. When we nurture the collective, we nurture ourselves. This sense of service — however small or large — can fuel a deeper purpose and enrich life far beyond the ceremony.
(Re-) Discovering Your Latent Talents
Each of us carries unique gifts, but many remain hidden under layers of conditioning, fear, or neglect. Some were obvious in childhood but pushed aside, while others have yet to be discovered.
Ayahuasca often acts as a catalyst for these gifts to re-emerge. After ceremony, you may feel drawn to:
- Creative expressions — painting, singing, writing, teaching
- Hands-on activities — working with nature, building, crafting
- Or simply new passions that feel deeply authentic
These nudges may not always make sense logically, but they resonate at the soul level. By following them, you rediscover talents that were always within you — a process that brings joy, fulfillment, and deeper alignment with who you really are.
Connecting with Your Purpose
Perhaps the most transformative ayahuasca effect long term is its ability to reconnect you with a deeper sense of purpose. Many of us move through life checking boxes — a stable job, financial security, a comfortable routine. Yet beneath that safety often lies a quiet dissatisfaction, a longing for something more meaningful.
Ayahuasca doesn’t hand you a ready-made purpose, but it sparks the search. It strips away illusions and reignites your inner yearning, pushing you to ask:
- What am I here for?
- What truly matters to me?
- How can I live in alignment with my soul rather than society’s expectations?
The path to purpose isn’t automatic. It requires courage, persistence, and the willingness to release fears and limitations. But ayahuasca can be the catalyst — the moment you stop settling for comfort and begin reaching for meaning. Once you touch that sense of direction, life feels more coherent, alive, and worth living.
If you’d like to dive deeper into this topic, take a look at our blog on Connecting with Your Purpose Through Ayahuasca, where we explore practical ways this medicine can help clarify your direction in life.”
Emotional Resilience & Burnout Recovery
One of the most valuable long-term effects of ayahuasca is the way it supports emotional resilience. For many professionals, the demands of modern life lead to chronic stress, exhaustion, and eventually burnout. Ayahuasca often acts as a reset — helping release built-up tension and offering a renewed sense of clarity.
In the months following ceremony, participants frequently report:
- Reduced stress and anxiety in daily life
Clearer decision-making, even under pressure - A renewed sense of direction when navigating major life changes or career transitions
In today’s fast-paced world, especially in 2025, this is more relevant than ever. Many people find that ayahuasca helps them step back, gain perspective, and reconnect with their inner strength. The result is not just temporary relief, but a more sustainable capacity to handle challenges without losing balance or purpose.
And this isn’t just anecdotal. A 2018 study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology found that participants showed significant reductions in depression and stress, both immediately after ayahuasca ceremonies and four weeks later (Uthaug et al., 2018). This research mirrors what many participants describe: a greater ability to face life’s difficulties with calm, clarity, and resilience.
Increase in Empathy
Another powerful long-term effect of ayahuasca is the awakening of a deeper sense of empathy. The medicine has a way of softening the ego, revealing the interconnectedness of all beings. It’s as if a layer is peeled back, uncovering a world that feels more vibrant and more compassionate than before.
After ceremony, many notice they:
- Feel others’ joys and sorrows more deeply
- Experience a stronger sense of unity with people, animals, and nature
- Recognize more clearly how their actions ripple out into the world
This empathy often extends beyond human relationships. Many participants describe becoming more mindful of the Earth itself — noticing the impact of daily choices and feeling motivated to live in ways that are gentler on the planet.
These changes can show up in simple yet meaningful ways:
- Choosing sustainable products
- Supporting or engaging in causes that protect the environment
In the long term, ayahuasca often plants the seed for a life lived with greater compassion, awareness, and responsibility — a way of being that continues to grow long after the ceremony ends.
From Observations to Science: What Research Says About Ayahuasca’s Long-Term Effects
So far, we’ve looked at observations from over 1,000 participants — the deeply personal, subjective shifts that ayahuasca can create in people’s lives. While these stories are powerful, you might be wondering: what does science have to say about all this?
The good news is that in recent years, ayahuasca has moved from being studied only in small anthropological circles to being the subject of rigorous scientific research. Peer-reviewed studies are beginning to confirm what many people report anecdotally: ayahuasca can have lasting positive effects on mental health, emotional well-being, cognition, and empathy.
Let’s look at what the research reveals:
Improvements in Mood, Stress, and Depression
- A 2018 study by Uthaug et al. found that participants showed significant reductions in depression and stress, not just immediately after ceremony but also four weeks later.
- Many participants also reported a greater sense of life satisfaction and mindfulness, pointing to measurable improvements in emotional health. Read the study here
Better Mental Health and Quality of Life
- A 2020 longitudinal study observed that long-term ayahuasca users had lower depression scores and higher quality of life measures compared to non-users.
- The same research highlighted increased self-transcendence — a psychological trait linked to resilience and purpose. Study on ayahuasca, mental health, and self-transcendence
Increase in Empathy and Emotional Recognition
- A 2021 Frontiers study found that ayahuasca enhances emotional empathy, helping participants better recognize both positive and negative emotions in others.
- This effect wasn’t fleeting — it persisted well after the ceremony, making empathy one of the most consistent long-term findings. Study on ayahuasca and empathy
Preserved Cognitive Function and Memory
- A 2025 study showed that ritual ayahuasca users had preserved overall cognitive health and even improved memory performance compared to non-users, despite years of use. Study on ayahuasca and cognition
Enhanced Well-Being and Executive Functioning
- A 2022 survey of ayahuasca users reported higher scores in life purpose, executive functioning, and overall well-being, along with lower levels of psychopathology compared to non-psychedelic users. Study on ayahuasca and well-being
Lasting Reductions in Anxiety and Negative Emotions
- A 2025 observational study noted that ayahuasca use was linked with long-term decreases in anxiety, depression, and negative emotions, while increasing self-acceptance and inner peace. Study on ayahuasca and anxiety/depression
The Bottom Line from Science
What science shows is remarkably consistent with what participants report: ayahuasca can lead to lasting positive changes in mood, empathy, purpose, and even cognitive function. While more research is still needed, especially long-term clinical trials, current studies confirm that these effects are not just temporary or placebo-driven — they are real, measurable, and significant.
Practices That Increase the Likelihood of Positive Ayahuasca Long-Term Effects
While ayahuasca can open the door to transformation, the lasting benefits depend largely on how you care for yourself afterwards. Integration is where the real work begins. These practices can greatly increase the chances that your insights become lasting change:
Professional and Safe Environment
The journey starts with the setting. A professional, safe, and supportive retreat environment can make all the difference. Skilled facilitators, proper medical screening, and a respectful ceremonial structure create the conditions for healing while minimizing risks.
Scientific support: The Global Ayahuasca Survey (2022) found that participants in traditional or structured ceremonial contexts reported fewer long-term difficulties than those in unsupervised or recreational settings. (Perkins et al., 2022)
Continued Spiritual Practice
Once you return home, the question becomes: how do I stay connected?
Maintaining practices like breathwork, yoga, meditation, journaling, or mindfulness helps to keep the channels open. These tools act as anchors, allowing the wisdom of the ceremony to filter into your daily life rather than fading into memory.
Scientific support: Research shows that mindfulness and meditation practices can prolong and deepen the positive effects of psychedelics by reinforcing emotional regulation and resilience. (Uthaug et al., 2018)
For more guidance, see our full blog on Ayahuasca Integration — with practical tools to help maintain the benefits long after ceremony.
Leaving Behind What No Longer Serves You
Ayahuasca often shines a light on the habits, environments, or relationships that are draining your energy. The next step is having the courage to let them go. This may mean:
- Releasing unhealthy habits like substance use
- Creating distance from toxic relationships
- Shifting away from environments that undermine your growth
Scientific support: Studies note that participants who made lifestyle changes post-ayahuasca (diet, relationships, substance use) reported more enduring mental health improvements than those who did not. (Jiménez-Garrido et al., 2020)
Community and Continued Support
Perhaps one of the most overlooked but crucial factors is community. Staying connected to others who understand your journey provides encouragement and accountability. This can take the form of:
- Ongoing integration circles
- Supportive friends or mentors
- A wider network of like-minded people walking a similar path
Scientific support: Research into psychedelics consistently highlights the importance of social support for long-term well-being. Ayahuasca participants with stronger community ties reported higher life satisfaction and empathy scores. (Kiraga et al., 2021)
In short: the ceremony plants the seed, but integration is the sunlight, water, and nourishment that allows it to grow.
Comparison to Other Plant Medicines
It’s natural for the mind to want to compare and categorize different medicines. We want to understand which one is “better” or “more effective.” But the truth is: each medicine works in its own unique way, and what unlocks transformation for one person may not have the same effect on another.
Ayahuasca and the Power of the Purge
One of the features that makes ayahuasca distinct is the purge — the process of releasing through vomiting, sweating, shaking, or crying. Far from being just a physical side effect, many participants describe it as a deep cleansing of trauma, emotions, and stored energy in the body. This embodied release is often seen as a crucial part of the long-term healing process.
Ancestral Plant Medicines
Ayahuasca belongs to a lineage of ancestral medicines, used in ceremonial contexts for centuries by Indigenous cultures. Other examples include:
- Peyote (mescaline cactus, Native North America)
- San Pedro / Huachuma (mescaline cactus, Andes)
- Psilocybin Mushrooms (sacred mushroom traditions worldwide)
- Bufo (5-MeO-DMT) (sacred toad secretion, used ritually in Mexico)
These medicines share a common thread: they are rooted in ceremony, community, and tradition, carrying not only chemical properties but also cultural and spiritual frameworks that guide their use.
Modern Psychedelics and Synthetics
Alongside ancestral medicines, there are more modern, lab-based substances such as:
- Ketamine
- MDMA
- Synthetic DMT
These medicines have shown promising results in clinical research, especially for treating depression, PTSD, and trauma. However, it’s important to remember that they’ve been in widespread use for only a shorter period of time compared to plant medicines with thousands of years of history. Their healing potential is real, but their context and cultural depth are different.
No “Best” Medicine — Only the Right One for You
Ultimately, it cannot be said that one medicine is better than another. Instead, certain individuals may find that one particular medicine helps them unlock deeper parts of themselves than others. The key is approaching each with respect, intention, and the right support.
If you’d like to explore these medicines in more detail, we’ve written dedicated blogs comparing ayahuasca with other plant and modern psychedelics:
- Ayahuasca vs. Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Ayahuasca vs. San Pedro
- Ayahuasca vs. Peyote
- Ayahuasca vs. Bufo (5-MeO-DMT)
- Ayahuasca vs. DMT
Each medicine has its own way of working. The important part is not deciding which is “best,” but finding the one that resonates with your own healing journey.
Final Thoughts on Ayahuasca’s Long-Term Effects
Ayahuasca is not just a ceremony you attend — it’s an experience that can echo through your life for months, years, and in some cases, a lifetime. From greater emotional resilience to deeper empathy, from healing family dynamics to living more authentically, the long-term effects of ayahuasca often reach far beyond what happens in the maloka.
Science is now confirming what countless people have shared for generations: ayahuasca has the potential to reduce depression and anxiety, enhance well-being, improve cognitive function, and increase empathy. At the same time, it’s important to remember that these outcomes depend on many factors — your inner readiness, the quality of the retreat, and the integration practices you carry into daily life.
Ayahuasca is not a shortcut or a magic pill. It’s a catalyst, a mirror, and a teacher. It opens the door, but it’s up to you to walk through it — to nurture the seed it plants with mindfulness, supportive relationships, and community.
In the end, the question is not whether ayahuasca will change you, but how you choose to integrate those changes into the way you live, love, and contribute to the world.
Originally written by Oliver on 2024.
Updated and medically reviewed by Dr. Kevin David Zapata in 2025.
Dr. Kevin David Zapata is a physician and researcher with deep roots in ancestral medicine. He earned his medical degree from the Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira in 2018 and now specializes in traditional plant-based practices including Ayahuasca, Kambo, Rapé, Mambe, and Ambil, guided by the Kamentsa Biyá Indigenous community of Colombia. With a background in rheumatology, cardiology, and nephrology, and a passion for holistic and spiritual healing, Dr. Zapata brings both scientific and ancestral wisdom to his work in ceremonial settings.
