Peyote Pilgrimage of the Wixárika
The Wixárika, also known as Huichol, are an indigenous people that inhabit certain regions of the Western Sierra Madre in central Mexico. Admired around the world for their superb artisanry, the Wixárika are also known because of the strong cultural and spiritual traditions that they maintain, including the annual pilgrimage to their spiritual homeland of […]
Should We Really Be Decriminalizing Peyote?
Amidst the occasional but rare arrest, there have been renewed efforts to decriminalize mescaline-cacti at the local or state level in recent years. While these efforts have no tangible impact on Federal drug laws, they can be seen as a symbolic move toward a very different approach to public health. But such symbolism impacts the […]
Strange Strains: The Many Types of Magic Mushrooms
You may recall hearing your parents tell you never to eat wild mushrooms because they could be poisonous or fatal. And while this is a true statement, it is also an overstatement. The reality is that many people in the United States have an underlying level of fear about mushrooms, both magical and culinary. If […]
Somatics and Psychedelic Therapy in the Treatment of PTSD
Medical Editors: Dr. David Cox, PhD, ABPP and Hilary Morris, MA, LPC What is somatic psychotherapy? Somatic practices raise awareness in the body, central nervous system, and the relationship between how certain thoughts, feelings, and events link to sensations in the body. Somatic work teaches individuals to connect with what they notice in their body. […]
What’s the Difference Between Ayahuasca and Yagé?
The Amazonian hallucinogenic brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine is most commonly known as ayahuasca, which in Quechua means “vine of the soul.” However, if you take a trip to parts of the Colombian Amazon, the word “ayahuasca” will mean little to many of the region’s indigenous communities who have been ritualistically brewing the […]
Levitation Fest And The Psychedelic Rock Revival
As the self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital Of The World,” Austin, Texas has hosted some of the most notable music festivals that draw an international crowd year after year. Events such as SXSW (South by Southwest), ACL (Austin City Limits Festival), Fun Fun Fun Fest, and many other seemingly endless popular productions host some of the […]
Nature’s Pharmacy: Meet Some More Plant Medicines
All of us are here today thanks to our ancestors’ knowledge of medicinal plants and fungi. Without awareness of the pharmacopeia of the land, people would have had a much harder time surviving before the development of modern medicine. When we think of psychoactive herbal medicines, ayahuasca, cannabis or magic mushrooms might come to mind. […]
Ibogaine Analogs: What Are They And What Can They Do?
Medical Editor: Dr. Lynn Marie Morski, MD, Esq Ibogaine Analog Research Ibogaine is known to be a powerful medicine for treating people who experience substance dependencies. But for patients with certain pre-existing conditions, ibogaine can be dangerous and possibly fatal. Ibogaine research was halted in the United States last century but continued elsewhere as an […]
Is Ibogaine Illegal? Worldwide Legal Status of Ibogaine
Ibogaine is a powerful alkaloid extracted from the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga. The Pygmy people of Western Africa and the Bwiti people of Gabon have been using iboga for centuries for spiritual awakenings, visions, celebrations, and initiation rites, as well as for practical reasons such as hunting and staving off hunger, thirst, and fatigue. […]
Autism and Psychedelics – An Interview with Aaron Orsini
Aaron Paul Orsini is the author of Autism On Acid: How LSD Helped Me Understand, Navigate, Alter & Appreciate My Autistic Perceptions. He is also the co-founder of the Autistic Psychedelic Community, a peer support group for neurodivergent individuals interested in discussing psychedelics and building connection with others with similar experiences in terms of personal […]
