AYAHUASCA-BASED PRODUCT IN THE SUBSTITUTION OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS

Currently the excessive use of chemical antidepressants in Ecuador has increased in recent years, over time the abuse of antidepressants, blocks the action of the neurotransmitter that is responsible for maintaining in balance the mood (serotonin), causing high levels of depression and anxiety in people, strokes or brain damage, memory loss and can even lead to death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) every year 1200 million people die due to the excessive use of chemical antidepressants, where it has been shown that young people are the most likely to suffer mental health problems (depression, anxiety and sadness) due to poor diet (obesity), bullying at school or at work and the consumption of alcohol and drugs. Developing the proposal to develop a natural product with ayahuausca (Banisteriopsis caapi) to replace synthetic antidepressants, will avoid dependence in patients. It was developed through the analysis of people suffering from depression and anxiety, because it prevents the breakdown of serotonin; due to the alkaloids (harmine and tetrahydroharmine).