The Importance of Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge into Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Psychedelic compounds have historically held significance in cultures and civilizations worldwide. Indigenous communities and ancient societies have traditionally integrated psychedelics into their spiritual, religious, and healing rituals. While indigenous teaching may vary by tribe, a consistent theme is the belief that well-being is attained through balancing the mind, body, and spirit. ?

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In North America, Native Americans in the United States and the Huichol people of Mexico traditionally included mescaline in their rituals. Mescaline, a compound extracted from the peyote cactus, is utilized for spiritual introspection. The Aztecs integrated the psilocybin-containing magic mushroom teonanacatl ("Flesh of God") into their ceremonies, followed by what contemporary professionals refer to as group therapy.

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In South America Amazonian, indigenous tribes prepared ayahuasca using a blend of plants with dimethyltryptamine (DMT) for shamanic ceremonies. Ayahuasca is revered as a sacred medicine, aiding in profound spiritual experiences and healing.

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In Africa, the San Bushmen have a history of using an ibogaine-containing plant known as "dagger poison" in their ceremonial traditions. The plant is believed to enable contact with the spiritual realm and has been used for divination and healing purposes.

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In India, the traditional religious and spiritual practices of Hinduism and Buddhism have involved the use of psychedelics. The Soma plant was used in Vedic and Buddhist rituals and meditation practices.

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The ancient Greeks employed a mixture known as "kykeon," believed to include ergot, a fungus containing psychoactive compounds, during the Eleusinian Mysteries festival, facilitating profound spiritual and transformative experiences for participants. Additionally, Druid folklore alludes to “magic mushroom” use, including the belief that the?mycelium (underground portion) of a? fungus holds an?ancestral and universal knowledge that is gained by consuming its fruit.?Sweat houses?found all over the Irish countryside, are thought to have been used by Druids to enhance the psychedelic experience.

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These early practices underscore the cultural and spiritual significance associated with psychedelic compounds throughout history. They provide alternative perspectives on these substances beyond the medical and therapeutic focus of a modern lens. Acknowledging the profound connection between psychedelics and various indigenous cultures enriches our comprehension of the human intrigue with altered consciousness and their substantial influence on personal and communal experiences, enhancing insights into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.

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Beyond acknowledging the historical significance of indigenous knowledge and the benefits it can provide to contemporary psychedelic-assisted therapy, it is essential that indigenous people be directly involved in conversations and decision-making. However, a recent study found that indigenous leadership is significantly underrepresented at psychedelic research centers with 92% of leadership positions held by white individuals and only 0.02% of top leadership roles occupied by Indigenous people. ?

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In addition to incorporating indigenous perspectives at psychedelic research centers, integrating them into public health institutions could provide valuable insights from their deep ancestral connections with psychedelics. However, a recent study found that only 20-25% of public health programs/schools include indigeneity in their psychedelic-related efforts, such as through land acknowledgment.

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The boom in psychedelic tourism poses a threat to sacred land and rites of indigenous peoples. The growing demand for peyote in Mexico has led to indiscriminate methods of harvesting and poaching, resulting in a 40% decline in peyote areas frequented by tourists. The globalization of ayahuasca consumption in the Amazon, is threatening the sustainability of the plants used for its brew. Some scientists believe that the increased extraction combined with deforestation is approaching a point of no return.

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Amidst the current "psychedelic renaissance," the exclusion of indigenous voices and leadership, paired with insufficient recognition of the sacred value attributed to these substances, is a detriment to our understanding of how these agents can help to lead to transformative experiences for individuals and for our society. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure indigenous voices have representation and collaboratively explore how their perspectives can be better integrated into research, policy, and education.