Listening to Ayahuasca: New Hope for Depression, Addiction, PTSD, and Anxiety

Initially, this book was recommended by a friend ... so as someone who has been experimenting with "the medicine," I ordered it from Amazon. Ten days later, another copy came to me in the mail from the publisher with a press kit to promote the idea of me having Dr. Harris as a guest on my Pathways Radio program and podcast. This was too much of a synchronicity, so I immediately asked my producer to book the interview and began reading the book. Far from just another reading assignment to prepare for an interview program, I was taken in by the readability of the book, considering the author’s formidable credentials as a scientist. I became fascinated by the author's unique research study, which revealed healing effects that Ayahuasca would produce over time, long after the cathartic ceremony itself. And many of the author's psychotherapy clients described the internal experiences I had been noticing in myself during the 6 month period when I had tried it a few times. I’ve read a few books on Ayahuasca, but this one was not only academically interesting, it deepened the impacts of my own personal experience. The book strikes an eloquent balance between the scientific and the personal, including the author's own experiences, which were graciously but non-pretentiously shared. I highly recommend this book (as well as my Pathways interview -- free download). --Paulo P.S. I have since bought another five copies of the book for friends and a counselor! :-)

This is a very thoughtful and well written book on Ayahuasca that came recommended to me by a shaman friend. As someone who has never tried Ayahuasca, this book gave me a better understanding of what to prepare for should I decide to partake in a ceremony and build a relationship with this plant teacher. For one, I know that it would be important for me to plan ahead regarding integrating the experience even prior to planning the other logistics of participating in a ceremony. The author did a great job of not pushing her beliefs in the need to have a therapist to integrate the experience, however, I'm definitely persuaded to have this type of support lined up as part of my journey. I appreciated learning about the research she has done and the data that was presented in addition to learning about the risks, and who might not benefit from Ayahuasca. Overall, I enjoyed the honest voice of the author and how she was able to present material in a manner that felt level-headed. I've read a couple of books on Ayahuasca so far and this one has been the best.

Really enjoyed this book. I’ve done 3 ayahuasca retreats over the last 2 years and this was insightful and well written including research information. I’d recommend for someone new to Aya before their first experience and also people who have experienced Aya. Makes a lot of things click for me in hindsight.

Great research on how people's lives change after ayahuasca. Looks at health, relationships, happiness. It was very interesting to learn that 3/4 of people felt they maintained an ongoing relationship with the spirit Mother Ayahuasca even years after a ceremony.

Excellent honest read on the author's private journey and her research on an how Ayahuasca journey can help, how to prepare, and what to expect. I really enjoyed reading this. It really helped me integrate after my own Ayahuasca journey. I highly recommend this book.

Regardless of whether you are already listening to Ayahuasca, have plans to tune in, or are simply interested in an alternative medicine that is cloaked in mysticism, you will find this book captivating. Dr. Harris presents the results of her groundbreaking study in a manner equally accessible to academicians and the lay person. But this book is much more than the presentation of unusual research findings. Beautifully written, it is a story of people wanting, and frequently finding, their way to a better life. It is the spiritual journey of a woman whose honesty, caring and intelligence shines through every page.

Rachel Harris approaches her book in an organized and open minded way toward the much needed understanding of the healing benefits of Ayahuasca. I believe she has made a great contribution that will appeal to medical professionals and laypersons alike. She acknowledges her inability to draw from double blind studies, but otherwise presents the ancestral medicine from the Amazon in a way only a psychologist can. A worthwhile read if you are curious about Ayahuasca.

So far I like this book.. I am 70 pages in and will update when finished. The only issue I have with it is the author. She mentioned how she told someone not to go to Peru because people get raped by shamans there.. I thought that was quite a big accusation and that annoyed me. There are reputable places in Peru, you just have to do your research. I also don’t like how much the author likes therapy. It feels kind of gross how much she recommends it, especially after using ayahuasca. It feels like she’s trying to promote her field of work too much in my opinion. I wish this book was written by someone with an open mind / growth mindset. I am not getting that vibe from the author at all.

I loved reading this book. As someone who is about to go on their first ayahuasca retreat, I've been reading everything I can about this plant medicine. This is by far the most helpful and informative one I've read.

Um livro para mudar sua vida, se você ler em inglês este é O livro que vai curar sua depressão de uma vez por todas e te fazer dar uma volta de 180° em sua vida. Não se trata de uma religião ou muito menos droga, mas é uma nova esperança para milhares de pessoas. Após 5 anos de depressão considerada alta, conhecer a Ayahuasca por este prisma me fizeram trocar 12 comprimidos diários para o chá/vinho de duas plantas da Amazônia

J aime avoir des regards croisés sur les etudes que j entreprends. Livre tres interessant et simple. Vraiment, cette liane est une connexion a l adn humain, j en reste convaincue. A lire egalement, le serpent cosmique 😉

I found the book of great value before going to my first ayahuasca ceremony. I found very interesting what the author describes about her ontological crisis in regard to going from strict rationality to the world of spirituality, I think it takes courage to do that. Personally, I come from a science background and I think that ayahuasca can open up the doors of the unseen and basically change your point of view about what you previously believe or unbelieve. Although, more and more often I'm more confortable with the perspective of the shamans, I'm still interested in science and I think that ayahuasca might potentially open what Julian Jaynes called the bicameral mind, which is a whole new way to perceive and navigate in the world, which doesn't involve the prison of the rational thought.

The research shed light on the integration part of plant medicine, from a western psychological perspective. A good entry to these unknown realms.