The role of psychedelics in modern medicine is undergoing a renaissance. Once relegated to the fringes of science and spirituality, substances like LSD, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), and ayahuasca are now being studied for their profound therapeutic potential. While much of the focus has been on mental health—treating conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety—emerging research suggests that these sacred medicines may also hold promise for chronic physical illnesses, including diabetes.
One of the most compelling discoveries centers around ayahuasca, the Amazonian brew traditionally used by Indigenous healers for spiritual and emotional healing. At the heart of this medicine lies a compound called harmine, which is now being explored for its ability to regenerate insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
The Science Behind the Brew
Ayahuasca is made by combining the Banisteriopsis caapi vine with other plants, often Psychotria viridis, which contains dimethyltryptamine (DMT)—a powerful psychedelic compound. While DMT is responsible for the visionary effects of the brew, harmine, found in the caapi vine, is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) that allows DMT to be orally active. But harmine may be more than just a facilitator of the psychedelic experience.
In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Medicine, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinaiscreened over 100,000 compounds to identify those that could stimulate the regeneration of pancreatic beta cells, which are responsible for producing insulin. Out of all the candidates, harmine was the only compound that showed a significant ability to promote beta cell replication.
Why This Matters for Diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys nearly all beta cells, leaving the body unable to produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, beta cell function is impaired, and insulin resistance develops. Both conditions result in dangerously unstable blood sugar levels.
Dr. Andrew Stewart, senior author of the study and director of Mount Sinai’s Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute, explained: > “Our results provide a large body of evidence demonstrating that the harmine drug class can make human beta cells proliferate at levels that may be relevant for diabetes treatment”.
In laboratory tests, harmine tripled the number of beta cells in diabetic mice and normalized their blood glucose levels. When combined with another drug, exenatide, the effect was even more dramatic—a sevenfold increase in beta cell mass.
Bridging Ancient Wisdom and Modern Medicine
This research is a powerful reminder that the plants revered by Indigenous cultures for centuries may hold keys to healing that modern science is only beginning to understand. While harmine in its natural form is psychoactive and not yet approved for clinical use, scientists are working to isolate its regenerative properties without triggering psychedelic effects.
Still, it’s important to approach this with reverence and caution. Ayahuasca is not a casual remedy. It is a potent spiritual medicine that can induce intense emotional and physical reactions, including purging, elevated heart rate, and psychological distress. Its ceremonial use is rooted in deep cultural traditions that emphasize preparation, intention, and integration.
A New Paradigm of Healing
As a maestra who has witnessed the transformative power of ayahuasca in countless ceremonies, I am heartened—but not surprised—by these findings. The medicine works on many levels: emotional, spiritual, and now, perhaps, cellular. It invites us to reimagine healing not as a battle against disease, but as a return to balance—within the body, the psyche, and the soul.
May this bridge between science and spirit continue to grow, guided by integrity, curiosity, and respect for the ancient wisdom that brought us here.
References
- Wang P, Alvarez-Perez JC, Felsenfeld D, et al. A high-throughput chemical screen reveals that harmine-mediated inhibition of DYRK1A increases human pancreatic beta cell replication. Nature Medicine. 2015.
- Mount Sinai’s 2025 update on harmine and beta cell regeneration
- Newsweek: Chemical in Ayahuasca Has Potential to Treat Diabetes
- Ayahuascah.com: Research findings on harmine and diabetes