From an early age, I was drawn to Native Americans. At fourteen, when I began to learn about the traditional Native American doctors (medicine men and women), their visionary experiences, and the kinds of power they possessed, I decided that this was what I would do with my life if ever given the opportunity. By the time I was seventeen, while still in high school, I had saved enough money to buy a car with the intention of heading to Arizona to enroll in one of the native boarding schools. However, my car only made it to Oklahoma, where I found myself living among a community of predominantly Kiowa Indians.
Resonating deeply with the culture, I “went native.” One of my young friends said to the elderly man who had taken him in to raise, “Hey dad, Ben wants to go into the peyote meetings.” The Kiowa usually didn't allow non-native people to attend their peyote meetings, but for some reason, Jack made an exception for me. When some of the other Kiowa elders expressed their concerns, saying, “He's not one of us, don't let him in the meetings,” Jack pushed back, saying, “This one is different. Let him come in.” Jack was highly respected among his Kiowa people, and the others deferred to his judgment. As I spent more time and got to know some of the other elders, they, too, warmed up to me.
In the earliest records, the Kiowa people lived in what is now eastern Washington before migrating eastward. Along the way, they befriended the Crow, or Apsáalooke, people in Montana. The Kiowa continued their migration into the Dakotas. With the expansion of the United States and the influx of European settlers, the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes were pushed onto the plains by the Ojibwe. Vastly outnumbered by the Sioux and Cheyenne, most of the Kiowa decided to head south, except for one band that chose to stay and fight, and they were ultimately wiped out.
The Kiowa, a nomadic people, lived freely on the plains of southwestern Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. They were first given a reservation in the late 1860s, but the “hostiles” continued to raid alongside the Comanches until the mid-1870s. Legend has it that Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, while traveling near the Texas-Mexico border, was introduced to peyote by members of local tribes, possibly the Lipan Apaches, who had been using it for centuries. The Comanches, long-standing allies of the Kiowa, then introduced peyote to them.
Peyote meetings among the Kiowa were typically held in tipis, beginning at sunset and continuing through the night until sunrise. In the center of the tipi, behind a fire, was a crescent moon altar made from red clay. Participants sat on cushions around the outer perimeter. One man, holding a staff, gourd rattle, and feathers, would sing peyote songs while another man rapidly beat a peyote drum—a black kettle filled with water and charcoal, covered with elk hide stretched over the top. After a while, they would switch roles, with the man who had been drumming now singing, and the man who initially sang now drumming. Once they finished, the drum and staff were passed to the next pair, and then the next, continuing around the tipi. At midnight, there was a break to drink water and say prayers, and then the drum would go around again, repeating until daybreak, when prayers were said, followed by breakfast.
Initially, the peyote meetings were quite difficult for me—sitting cross-legged on a cushion all night with no back support. My back ached and my butt hurt, and I found it hard to stay awake. Eating enough peyote would keep me awake, but my stomach is very sensitive, so I would often get nauseous and throw up. Some of those folks would even talk about how I would get sick and throw up during their meetings. Intuitively, I figured out that I needed to start ingesting peyote early in the afternoon before the meeting to give my body time to acclimate. Once I did this, I was able to stay wide awake through the night, feeling comfortable in my body, and the experience felt very profound.
Among the Kiowa, as with so many other tribes, alcoholism has taken an enormous toll. Much of this is due to the fact that native people, who did not have alcohol for centuries, are more susceptible to developing an addiction. Adding to this is the individual and collective trauma, passed down through generations—traumas such as the verbal, physical, and even sexual abuse suffered by many native children in the government- and church-run boarding schools.
In the peyote meetings, I spent nights sitting up with elders who still followed the traditional practices. Jack, who first took me into these meetings, was exceptionally intelligent, had an audacious sense of humor, and embodied the character of the Kiowa people that had been passed down through the ages. I would sit for hours with Jack, listening as he shared stories of the traditional doctors, chiefs, and warriors of the past. As I got to know other Kiowa elders during these peyote meetings, some impressed me with their intelligence, kindness, and depth of knowledge. However, in some individuals, I sensed a small-mindedness, pettiness, and even dishonesty—their dysfunction was readily apparent. I worked hard to toe the line to be a part of that community, yet one older man yelled at me during a meeting, accusing me of being a pothead, even though I didn't smoke pot. Ironically, at one point, I saw this same man passed out drunk in the park.
There was, at times, an extraordinary presence—a power—in the peyote meetings. Jack had once told me that when this power comes into the tipi, one can hear the voice of a woman singing in Kiowa. Then one night, during a meeting in the dead of winter, with the wind blowing fiercely from the north and the air bitterly cold, I began to hear the voice of a woman singing in Kiowa. That night, there were only two women sitting in the tipi. One of them, a Navajo, certainly could not have sung in Kiowa, and the other, who was quite elderly, couldn’t possibly have sung like that. Yet the Kiowa words were enunciated so clearly, and her voice sounded so beautiful, that I looked around, wondering, “Where is this voice coming from?” And then I remembered what Jack had said to me.
The peyote meetings were also prayer meetings. Those attending would sometimes gain valuable insights, and healing and other miracles occasionally occurred. I, too, had a vision one night while looking into the fire, a vision I will keep to myself, because, as native elders have said on many occasions, “Power told is power lost.” And yet, while the “peyote men” often possessed depth and had grown in many ways, they did not have the extraordinary powers—commonly referred to as “medicine”—that were prevalent among the Kiowa and other native people in generations past who had gone through intensive practices such as the Sundance and vision quest, which involved fasting for four days and nights without food or water.
It was during the peyote meetings that I first met my mentor, Horace Daukei. Horace, the last of the extraordinarily powerful doctors among the Kiowa Tribe, who possessed paranormal abilities, transmitted portions of his own medicine to me. He then had me go on the vision quest to earn the right to work with these gifts of healing. Since that time, I've gone through numerous vision quests. Working in the context of the native doctors, I serve as a conduit, allowing an extraordinarily powerful presence to work through me to facilitate healing within people's bodies and minds.
The Benefits of Plant Medicines and Other Psychoactive Substances
Psilocybin mushrooms have been around for quite some time, naturally growing out of cow manure. In the past few decades, a wide range of plant medicines and other psychoactive substances have become more readily available. While I believe these substances offer significant benefits, I also have concerns about their use.
Ayahuasca, along with other psychoactive plant medicines, has been used for centuries by indigenous cultures for its spiritual, psychological, and physical benefits. In recent years, these substances have gained recognition from many in the mental health profession for their potential therapeutic applications.
Ayahuasca and other psychoactive substances, like psilocybin mushrooms, are said to help process grief and loss, reframe and integrate traumatic events, and alleviate depression and anxiety, especially for those whom traditional treatments have not been effective. Many people report a reduction in feelings of isolation and a growing sense of connectedness to themselves, others, the Earth, and the universe.
The temporary dissolution of an entrenched sense of self or identity helps them move beyond the “stuckness” of one’s habitual patterns. Many people report gaining profound insights into their emotions, actions, and relationships, and to feel more empathy and compassion toward themselves and others. It also helps some to tap into their creative and problem-solving abilities, enabling them to discover workable solutions to challenges in their personal and professional lives.
With that being said, I do have a number of concerns based upon what I'm observing in individuals making use of ayahuasca and other plant medicines and psychoactive substances.
The Risks of Trauma and Distressing Emotions Surfacing with Psychoactive Substances
Most people never learn to work effectively with their own emotions. Whatever stresses, upsets, hurts, angers, or makes them fearful or anxious in life remains trapped within their bodies if they can't process these feelings. Because they are unable to “digest” their lived experiences and the emotional responses that follow, distressing emotions accumulate over time. Traumatic events, even those that go all the way back to the very beginning—even from the time they were still in the womb—leave sensory impressions and emotions trapped in the body. The neglect, verbal, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse experienced in childhood or adolescence, as well as traumas from adult life, such as sexual assault or combat-related trauma for those who served in wars like Iraq and Afghanistan, remain embedded within the body. The devastation from a bad breakup, a divorce, being ghosted by someone you really liked and felt a connection with, or being emotionally strung along by someone who tormented you in a relationship—these experiences can live on in your body indefinitely. In fact, many of us will carry the impressions and emotions from these deeply wounding experiences to our graves unless we learn and consistently work with practices and therapeutic interventions that enable us to fully digest our experiences and their cognitive and emotional responses.
We all form defensive structures that store the impressions and emotions associated with distressing life events that we haven’t been willing or able to address and thoroughly digest. When people use ayahuasca, psilocybin, and other psychoactive substances, our defense mechanisms temporarily come down. In some cases, the defense mechanisms that have been built up over the course of our lives are unable to reestablish themselves. When our defenses come down, we may find ourselves flooded with impressions of past and present traumas and the backlog of highly charged emotions attached to them. This can leave us feeling not only overwhelmed but also struggling to cope. Some of us will manage to work through these distressing emotions and regain our footing, while others will not.
When people are unable to work through the flood of traumatic memories and emotions that surface during experiences with ayahuasca and other psychoactive substances, they can face several serious psychological and emotional challenges. Without the proper support and integration following these experiences, they may find themselves feeling even more vulnerable and destabilized than before. The sudden release of deeply buried memories and emotions can overwhelm their ability to cope, leading to intense anxiety, panic attacks, or depression.
For some, this overwhelming experience can exacerbate underlying mental health issues or trigger new symptoms, such as paranoia, dissociation, or even psychotic episodes, especially in individuals who have a predisposition to conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other psychiatric disorders. These intense and uncontrolled emotional responses can create a state of emotional and mental disarray, making it difficult for the individual to distinguish between past traumas and their current reality. This can result in a prolonged state of distress, where they struggle to return to their normal functioning and may experience ongoing confusion, fear, and emotional instability.
In the absence of adequate support, such as a skilled therapist or a supportive community, the person may feel isolated and unable to process what has surfaced, leading to a deepened sense of hopelessness or despair. This state can also increase the risk of self-harm or suicidal ideation if the individual feels they have no escape from their emotional pain. Therefore, it is crucial for anyone using these substances to have access to experienced facilitators and a supportive environment to help them safely navigate and integrate the powerful experiences that can arise.
My friend Todd and his girlfriend had broken up around the time I graduated from college. While still in an emotionally vulnerable space after the breakup, Todd took psilocybin mushrooms, which had an incredibly disorienting and destabilizing effect on him. While he was “tripping,” he found himself overwhelmed by grief and other painful emotions over the loss of his former girlfriend. At that time, I was just beginning my practice. Not knowing if I could help, I offered to work with Todd to see if it would make a difference. The session we did enabled Todd to process the grief and other painful emotions, helping him reestablish his equilibrium and ability to function. He was definitely feeling a lot better afterward.
Since that time, I've worked with many individuals who have experienced similar difficulties after using plant medicines and other psychoactive substances, including heroin and other opioids, crystal meth, and other recreational drugs. A number of these individuals have suffered serious cognitive and emotional impairments, which have impeded their ability to function in their daily lives. It really saddens me to witness the damage caused by their use of these substances, including damage to the brain itself.
Again, I trained for years with a traditional Native American doctor (medicine man) and have further developed my abilities by having gone through so many vision quests. As a result, I am able to work as a conduit, allowing an extraordinarily powerful presence to work through me to facilitate healing of the body and mind. In many instances, these individual sessions have facilitated the healing and the restoration of critical faculties and the ability to function. This is partly due to the brain's neuroplasticity. However, sometimes the damage is so severe that it cannot be fully repaired, and essential functions cannot be restored. This is why I strongly encourage people to exercise caution when using plant medicines and other psychoactive substances.
This is also one of the reasons I strongly emphasize foundation building, which involves teaching the people I work with practices that help them digest their lived experiences and work effectively with their emotions. By learning to work with your emotions, you facilitate the healing of the deep emotional wounds. You develop greater resilience and self-love, learn to truly care for yourself, and develop a “common sense” that prevents you from taking actions that could harm you, such as using substances that put you at serious risk or lead to self-harm.
Added Concern for Those with Pre-Existing Mental Health Issues
Psychoactive substances, such as ayahuasca, can have profound effects on people, especially those with mental health conditions like bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorders, or psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. While some people may seek out these substances in hopes of achieving healing or spiritual insights, it's important to recognize the risks involved, particularly for those with pre-existing mental health vulnerabilities.
Psychoactive substances like ayahuasca can, in some instances, trigger or worsen psychotic episodes, such as hallucinations and delusions. These episodes can persist long after the substance has worn off, leaving an individual in a prolonged state of disorientation. For those who already struggle with mental health disorders—whether it’s bipolar, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorders, or even those on the autism spectrum—there's often a fragile equilibrium that keeps them functioning day-to-day. They walk a fine line, maintaining a delicate balance that, in some cases, they're barely holding onto.
Introducing powerful psychoactive substances into this mix can easily disrupt that fragile stability, causing a person to “decompensate.” For these individuals, their already precarious state can unravel further, exacerbating any psychotic tendencies they might have. They emerge on the other side more disoriented, with both their body and mind struggling to regain the fragile semblance of balance they once had. After using these substances, they find themselves unable to function as well, feeling disoriented with their bio-electrical system scrambled and their brain and body's “operating system” struggling to process life experiences, emotions, and thoughts.
People who struggle with mental health issues such as bipolar disorder, tendencies toward psychosis, or those on the autism spectrum often have difficulty coping with everyday life and their emotional responses to it. This could be in areas like dating, relating to people, working with colleagues, or cultivating and maintaining friendships. The introduction of psychoactive substances can often exacerbate these existing issues, making them considerably worse. I've witnessed numerous individuals experiencing serious psychiatric issues after using acid, mushrooms, and other psychoactive substances. Some of them end up on psychotropic medications to control their symptoms, but these medications can often leave them feeling “zombified,” dulling their capacity to process and digest their lived experiences and emotional responses.
This is why I feel it's crucial for anyone struggling with such mental health issues to seriously consider the potential consequences before using powerful psychoactive substances. In my work, I've seen firsthand the destabilization that can occur, but I've also worked extensively with these individuals after they’ve been destabilized, helping to restore their mental and emotional stability.
Having spent years training with a traditional Native American doctor, I serve as a conduit, allowing powerful forces or beings to work through me to facilitate healing in the bodies and minds of others. The changes that occur in these sessions are profound, often restoring an individual’s ability to process their experiences and emotional responses while building a stronger foundation for a healthier relationship with themselves, other people, and the world around them. It’s challenging to fully convey in words, but those who experience this work often find a renewed sense of stability and a greater ability to be fully engaged in their lives.
Potential Harmful Effects of Psychoactive Plant Medicines
Psychoactive plant medicines such as ayahuasca, psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, and others like San Pedro, iboga, and kambo, have been used for centuries in various cultural and spiritual contexts for their healing and transformative properties. However, while these substances can offer profound psychological and spiritual experiences, they also carry significant risks, particularly when used outside of a traditional or well-supported context.
Ayahuasca, a brew containing DMT, is known for inducing intense visions and emotional experiences. However, it can also lead to severe psychological distress, including fear, paranoia, and overwhelming anxiety, especially for individuals with a predisposition to mental health disorders. The physical effects, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, pose risks for those with cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, combining ayahuasca with certain medications can lead to dangerous interactions, such as serotonin syndrome, which can be life-threatening.
Psilocybin mushrooms can cause significant alterations in perception, mood, and cognition. While many users report mystical or insightful experiences, others may experience intense anxiety, paranoia, or even panic attacks. Psilocybin can also exacerbate underlying mental health issues, leading to psychotic episodes or severe emotional distress, especially in those predisposed to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The effects can sometimes be disorienting, leading to risky behavior or accidents.
Peyote and San Pedro, both containing mescaline, can also cause intense psychological experiences. While often used for spiritual insight, they can lead to nausea, vomiting, and hallucinations that may become distressing. Individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions are at risk of exacerbating these conditions, potentially leading to long-lasting psychological issues. Peyote’s impact on the heart rate and blood pressure can also be dangerous for those with cardiovascular issues.
Iboga, known for its use in addiction treatment, particularly in African spiritual traditions, has powerful psychoactive properties that can lead to intense, prolonged hallucinations and physical side effects, such as ataxia and severe nausea. Iboga use carries significant risks, including the potential for fatal heart complications, making it particularly dangerous for individuals with heart conditions or those taking certain medications.
Kambo, although not traditionally psychoactive in the same sense as the others, involves the use of secretions from the giant monkey frog and can lead to intense purging, increased heart rate, and blood pressure changes. While some seek kambo for detoxification and emotional cleansing, it can pose severe risks, especially for individuals with cardiovascular problems, those on certain medications, or those with compromised health.
While psychoactive plant medicines can offer profound experiences, they carry potential psychological and physical risks, particularly for individuals with pre-existing health conditions or those using these substances outside of a controlled, traditional, or supportive environment. The lack of regulation and proper guidance in some settings can further increase these risks, highlighting the importance of thorough preparation, appropriate screening, and a safe, supportive context for use.
You Haven't Worked for It
There's a superficiality to the modern world we're living in. You go to an ayahuasca or other plant medicine ceremony, and you have these supposedly profound realizations, gaining new perspectives on your life. But all you've done is take a powerful psychoactive substance—you haven't truly worked for it. Then, you return to your mundane life, get caught up in the day-to-day, and those insights begin to fade.
While your perspective may be slightly broader, you haven't necessarily grown or evolved. On the other hand, in ancient spiritual traditions around the world, it's fairly common to do hours of intensive daily practice. Throughout history, many individuals who have committed to such practices have attained varying degrees of mastery, with some even possessing extraordinary powers and paranormal abilities.
Plant medicines can be a helpful aid, but it's not wise to become dependent on them. If you do, you’re not likely to get very far. It's critically important to be doing some form of intensive daily practice to develop both your body and mind and deepen your connection with the core of your being and the higher power. This could involve practices such as Chi Gong, Pranayama, and the meditation practices that I teach. Equally important is utilizing the most effective therapeutic interventions—deep tissue bodywork, sessions with gifted healers, or even going on a vision quest.
The Exorbitant Cost of Spiritual Tourism
Everyone, unless they're independently wealthy and are freely offering what they do as a service to others, needs to be compensated for their work, travel expenses, accommodations, etc. Yet, I'm sometimes taken aback when I hear about the exorbitant amounts of money people are paying for ayahuasca and other plant medicine ceremonies.
In countries like Peru, Colombia, and Brazil, the cost to participate in an ayahuasca ceremony can range between $60 and $150 USD per night for a single ceremony. Retreats that span several days and include multiple ceremonies, accommodations, meals, and additional services like yoga and meditation can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000 USD or more. In the United States or Europe, the cost is usually considerably higher. For instance, a single ceremony might range from $150 to $400 USD or more. Multi-day retreats can cost $1,000 to $3,000 USD or more, depending on the location, facilitator, and included amenities. High-end ayahuasca retreats, which offer more comfortable accommodations and individual attention, can range from $3,000 to $10,000 USD or more for a multi-day retreat. The number of participants could range from a few people to forty or more. With all those people attending, someone is seriously raking in the dough!
If I needed the help of a traditional Native American doctor or another indigenous healer, I would compensate them generously, because I'm receiving their individual attention. I'm also cognizant of the fact that they're working really hard on my behalf, and I'm also getting a healing of much greater value. When it comes to plant medicine ceremonies, I often helped out with the peyote meetings—gathering wood for the fire, setting up the tipi, etc. I sometimes contributed food, but I never had to pay money to attend.
The Importance of Maintaining Protective Boundaries
Whenever you're under the influence of substances—whether it's alcohol, weed, ayahuasca, or other psychoactive substances—you don't have the same natural protective boundaries that you do in your normal waking consciousness. This means your field is wide open to whoever is nearby and whatever toxicity they might be carrying. Many people I've spoken with who have participated in ayahuasca and other plant medicine ceremonies often complain about the limited space and having to share it with random people who just happen to show up. They sometimes feel crowded or “packed in” during these ceremonies, and some have expressed feeling uncomfortable or even grossed out by the close proximity to others in such an intimate setting.
In these situations, you might find yourself around people struggling with addictions to alcohol and other recreational drugs, sex, gambling, or those dealing with various mental health issues, or even people who have done—and may continue to do—really horrible things. When you're in that altered state, it makes you more receptive to taking on their toxicity.
Having trained as a conduit by a traditional Native American doctor (medicine man) and doing extensive chi gong, meditation, and vision quests, I've become much more empathic. In other words, I'm highly sensitive to what other people are carrying. Even if you're not consciously aware of it, the toxicity others carry can still adversely affect you. Shifu Li Tai Liang, the Chinese Master I've trained with for years, also confirmed what I was feeling, saying how it's important to be careful about who you allow into your space. If I were doing these plant medicines, I wouldn't want people carrying a lot of garbage in my immediate proximity. I absolutely insist on having a buffer of space around me. It's nonnegotiable.
Understanding the Limitations of Plant Medicines
One of the results of doing years of intensive daily meditation practice and going through so many vision quests is that I've developed the ability to sense into people's bodies, seeing and feeling the various processes taking place within them. I can see and feel past traumas, emotional states, the issues they're struggling with, as well as the resources they possess, their deficits, and any health-related issues.
There's no one practice or modality that can address all of our needs, which is why I have, for many years, encouraged people to be open to exploring, testing out different practices and healing modalities, and combining those that are most effective. When people tell me about the practices and modalities they're working with, I often say, “Can I check this out?” If they're receptive, I'll observe what's taking place in their bodies and minds. I do this partly to get a better sense of the effectiveness of various practices and healing modalities, as I often recommend those I find most effective when I feel it's to someone's benefit.
Although I do feel the use of plant medicines such as ayahuasca is helpful in many ways, I also have my concerns, which are based largely on my observations. Many of the people that have shown up in my classes and worked with me individually have done ayahuasca and other plant medicines. Despite the fact that these individuals had participated in numerous ayahuasca ceremonies and, in some instances, made use of other plant medicines, I could see that some were still very much dissociated. In other words, they weren't all that present in their bodies. The scarring of past traumas was also still very much evident when I looked into their bodies and minds. It was quite clear to me that the ayahuasca and other plant medicines were not actually healing the trauma or helping those who had become dissociated become more embodied.
Beyond Plant Medicines: A Deeper and More Powerful Aspect of Indigenous Healing Traditions
While plant medicines can be a valuable part of the healing journey for many, they do have their limitations. For instance, the “peyote men” I mentioned earlier in this article, with few notable exceptions, lacked the powerful medicine of their forebearers who participated in the Sundance and vision quests.
Having suffered a great deal of trauma during my own childhood and adolescence, I know firsthand how critically important it is for us to heal deep emotional wounds and become more firmly rooted in our bodies. As I've gone through the vision quest, there have been times when it felt like a near-death experience, with parts of my life flashing before my eyes. In these moments, I could feel extraordinarily powerful forces or beings descending into my body, helping me to transform past traumas and all the highly charged emotions so they could be thoroughly “digested.” I found myself becoming much more embodied, gaining access to a wealth of additional resources, and becoming far more highly functional. It's during these vision quests that I also received what native people often refer to as “medicine”—gifts of healing.
Having trained with a traditional Native American doctor and gone through numerous vision quests, I work as a conduit, allowing the same kinds of forces or beings that work with me on the mountain to flow through me and facilitate healing within people's bodies and minds. Those who have the opportunity to work with me experience the healing of their own traumatic wounds, becoming more fully embodied and highly resourceful.
It's All In Your Head
In May of this year, a woman I’ve worked with wanted me to scan her body to see what I might notice. Although I'm usually quite perceptive, I wasn’t noting anything of great significance, which I told her. She then shared with me that the night before, she had done MDMA, a psychoactive substance also known as ecstasy or molly, which is known for its ability to increase feelings of empathy, closeness, and emotional connection.
It's been a while, so I don't remember all the specifics, but the woman I was working with mentioned that she felt she had a real breakthrough and had gained some profound realizations. However, as I mentioned, I couldn't see any meaningful change or transformation occurring within her body. It’s important to understand that these psychoactive substances elicit powerful biochemical reactions within the brain, which, yet it often doesn't go much further than that, and their effects are, in many instances, only momentary. It’s really not that much different from all the folks dropping acid a few decades ago. Yes, some had seemingly profound realizations, but it didn’t really get them anywhere. Taking acid can result in serious cognitive impairment, and many have suffered major psychiatric issues as a result.
Synthetic Psychoactive Substances: Their Benefits and Risks
While this article primarily focuses on plant medicines like ayahuasca, psilocybin, and peyote, it's important to also address synthetic psychoactive drugs, such as ketamine and MDMA, that have grown in popularity in recent years. These substances, although not derived from plants, have significant effects on the mind and body and are increasingly used both therapeutically and recreationally.
Ketamine and MDMA have shown promising therapeutic benefits in recent years, particularly in the fields of mental health and psychiatry. Ketamine has been increasingly used to treat treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD due to its rapid-acting antidepressant effects and ability to alleviate severe depressive symptoms, often within hours. MDMA, on the other hand, has demonstrated significant potential in psychotherapy for PTSD, helping patients process traumatic memories by reducing fear and enhancing feelings of emotional safety and connection. Both substances, when used in controlled, clinical settings, offer new avenues for healing and transformation for individuals who have not responded to traditional therapies.
Despite the therapeutic benefits of ketamine and MDMA, many people are using these synthetic psychoactive substances recreationally, often without understanding the potential risks involved. While both drugs have been shown to help with mental health conditions like depression and PTSD in controlled clinical settings, using them recreationally can pose significant dangers. These include psychological distress, cognitive impairment, addiction, and severe physical health issues, making it crucial to approach their use with caution and awareness.
The Risks of Ketamine Use
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used both medically and recreationally. While it has therapeutic applications, particularly in the treatment of depression and chronic pain, ketamine can also have several harmful side effects, especially when used improperly or recreationally.
Ketamine can cause dissociative experiences, including feelings of detachment from the body or reality, commonly referred to as the “K-hole.” These effects can be disturbing and lead to intense hallucinations, confusion, or paranoia. Prolonged or heavy use of ketamine can impair memory, concentration, and overall cognitive function, with frequent use increasing the risk of long-term cognitive deficits. Some users may experience anxiety, agitation, or depression following ketamine use, and there is potential for ketamine to worsen symptoms of pre-existing mental health conditions, such as anxiety or bipolar disorder.
One of the more severe physical side effects of chronic ketamine use is ketamine-induced cystitis or “ketamine bladder syndrome,” which can cause severe pain, frequent urination, blood in the urine, and even bladder damage or reduced bladder capacity. In some cases, surgical intervention may be required.
Ketamine can also elevate heart rate and blood pressure, which can be dangerous for individuals with cardiovascular conditions or those prone to hypertension. At high doses, ketamine can depress breathing, which can be life-threatening, especially if combined with other depressants such as alcohol or benzodiazepines. Ketamine use, particularly at higher doses, can cause nausea and vomiting, which is especially common when ketamine is used as an anesthetic or in medical settings.
Ketamine has the potential to cause psychological dependence. Some people may begin to rely on the drug for its dissociative effects or to escape from emotional or psychological distress, resulting in frequent use and addiction. Repeated users develop a tolerance to ketamine, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effects, which can increase the risk of side effects and overdose.
The Risks of MDMA Use
MDMA has shown therapeutic value, particularly in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy can help individuals process traumatic memories more effectively by reducing fear and increasing trust between patients and therapists. However, MDMA also carries several risks, especially when used recreationally. Short-term risks include dehydration, hyperthermia, and electrolyte imbalances, which can lead to serious health complications, particularly in hot environments like clubs or festivals. The drug can cause anxiety, paranoia, and intense emotional fluctuations due to its impact on serotonin levels in the brain. With frequent or high-dose use, MDMA may lead to neurotoxicity, potentially resulting in lasting damage to serotonin-producing neurons. This can impair cognitive functions such as memory and decision-making and exacerbate mood disorders like depression and anxiety. In some cases, users may experience heightened anxiety, paranoia, and, in rare instances, psychosis. Additionally, MDMA's effects can be unpredictable, especially when mixed with other substances, increasing the risk of harmful or even life-threatening reactions.
Cultural Context in the Use of Plant Medicines
Some of us, despite growing up in the modern world, have a natural intuitive sense or understanding of various plant medicines, similar to that of indigenous peoples. However, many people lack the cultural context and guidance of traditional practices, often feeling empty, emotionally numb, and disconnected from their authentic core self and are devoid of any real spiritual connection. They carry the scars of past traumas and struggle to navigate their present-day lives, unsure of how to work effectively with their own emotional responses. Understandably, they're searching—uncertain of exactly what they’re looking for, yet longing for growth, a way to heal the wounded parts of themselves, and to live a more meaningful life. There are also many who use these plant medicines like any other recreational drug.
Indigenous people have long understood the sacredness of the various plant medicines, with a context for working with them that dates back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. These practices have been an integral part of their culture, and their traditional doctors possess a deep understanding of these medicines. These healers knew how to listen to and interact with the spirit of the plants—something that most people in our modern world don't know how to do or may not even be capable of doing. Traditional doctors also understood when someone might be at risk due to physical or mental health issues and would only encourage the use of these plant medicines when they were confident that the individual could safely and effectively benefit from them.
Parting Thoughts
Plant medicines undeniably have therapeutic value, as evidenced by their use for thousands of years by indigenous peoples who have relied on their healing properties. These substances can facilitate profound emotional and psychological healing when used with respect and understanding. However, it is essential to approach their use with caution. Without the proper guidance, support, and environment, the powerful experiences they can evoke may lead to unexpected challenges or harm. It's crucial to honor both the potential benefits and risks, ensuring these sacred medicines are used responsibly and thoughtfully.
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1. Click here to grab your free copy of my eBook – The Essentials Of Getting Over Your Breakup And Moving On
2. Watch the master class Three Reasons Your Relationships Are Not Working …And What You Can Do About It.
3. Work with me individually: Are you experiencing chronic health issues that no one has been able to help you with? Are you dealing with persistent emotions that are taking you out of the game of life? Are you in the midst of a breakup, struggling with patterns of abandonment or unrequited love, or facing challenges in your current relationship? Ready to break through existing limitations and unearth the inner resources you need to overcome challenges and realize your true potential? If any of these resonate with you and you're seeking personalized guidance and support, and would like to work directly with me, email me at ben@benoofana.com. For a faster response, call me at (332) 333-5155.
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