Tara Loader Wilkinson | South China Morning Post
- Long used by indigenous tribes for spiritual healing, psychedelic drugs have the potential to treat serious mental health conditions when other therapies fail
- Luxury retreats have psilocybin and ayahuasca courses, but there have been horror stories. Having a qualified coach, and support, can maximise drugs’ potential
It was the 1960s’ books of Carlos Castaneda, discovered on the shelves of her aunt’s library as a teenager, that first piqued Sarah’s (not her real name) curiosity about psychoactive plant medicine.
She was intrigued by the beautiful visions and spiritual healing Castaneda describes after taking peyote, a cactus with psychoactive properties, long used in tribal rituals.
Years later, an opportunity arose for her to try ayahuasca, a South American entheogenic – mind-altering, often in a spiritual or religious way – brew which, it is claimed, can reconnect you with the ‘locked’ parts of your subconscious.
As well as facilitating self-exploration, plant medicines such as psilocybin (magic mushrooms), San Pedro (cactus), and ayahuasca are also gaining credibility for their potential ability to improve mental well-being, ease suffering and heal past trauma.
To read Tara Loader Wilkinson‘s full article on South China Morning Post, click here.
