ABSTRACT
Anecdotal reports have indicated that some individuals with Eating disorders (ED) have explored the use of the traditional Amazonian plant medicine ayahuasca with positive results. A growing body of research points to promise of its utility in the healing of various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Researchers from around the globe are working to understand the therapeutic mechanisms of ayahuasca. Preliminary results suggest that ayahuasca works in a holistic manner, including the physical, psychological and spiritual. Inclusion criteria included participants that had been previously diagnosed with an ED by a medical or mental health professional and who had participated in ayahuasca in a ceremonial context at some point in their adult lives. The interview schedule was developed based on the methodology of Anja Loizaga-Velder and R. Verres and the Ayahuasca Treatment and Outcome Project. The interview was semi-structured and included questions relating to participants' subjective evaluations of ayahuasca's therapeutic potential.
