Drinking a psychedelic Amazonian brew could improve your sense of wellbeing and fight away depression, a new study has concluded.
Ayahuasca, which contains dimethyltryptamine (DMT) – illegal in the UK and US, may also offer a way of tackling alcoholism.
The shamanic drink, subject to controversy in recent years, has been blamed for the deaths of several young tourists flocking to South America.
But adults who consumed the beverage, which has reportedly been used for 5,000 years, were found to have a higher sense of wellbeing.
While British scientists also discovered the potent jungle tea was more effective in reducing alcohol intake for those who are reliant on the bottle.
The research, led by a team from Exeter University and University College London, is believed to be the biggest yet to look into the effects of ayahuasca.
It was based on data from around 96,000 people across the world who took part in the Global Drug Survey – regarded as the world’s most in-depth drug report.
