Life

So, you want to take plant medicine?

The interest in alternative healing modalities is heightening, but with the craze and capitalization surrounding it, sometimes we forget to give it a balanced look.

I am by no means trying to fearmonger or dispute the healing properties of indigenous entheogens such as Ayahuasca or San Pedro. However, it is important to remember how powerful these substances can be and to make well-informed choices that do not lead to catastrophe down the road.

There is this strange idea that Ayahuasca, for one, can be taken as a sort of party drug. I would like to warn anyone who is thinking about traversing into this world with that frame of mind, Ayahuasca is a powerful medicine. It can be a beautiful experience, but it can also bring up your deepest fears, plunge you back into traumatic events and completely shatter your world view.

There is an argument that has been circulating concerning the fact that indigenous aboriginals used to use some kind of entheogen, similar to that of Ayahuasca, to have fun.

Even if this were true, we have to take into consideration that many of the past and current indigenous tribes are living in contexts far removed from Western reality. They have much more experience navigating entheogenic realms and live in a more connective state with nature.

Westerners, on the other hand, are so far removed from the realities and spaces that plant medicines can take you to, that it is almost ludicrous to think that they could ingest these powerful teachers for recreation.

Beyond this, it is incredibly important to find a shaman or facilitator you can trust. Unfortunately, with the rise in popularity, there are many plastic shamans claiming to be able to serve these medicines with no real training. There have also been reported cases of sexual abuse by so-called shamans whilst the partakers were under the influence.

I say all of this not to scare you, but rather, to remind you that you are dealing with something very potent, and whilst this means it can lead to profound healing, there is the possibility that without the correct guidance, it can lead to profound damage as well.

Dayna Remus