A Brief History of Psychedelic Medicines

How have the events of the past, especially the more recent criminalization of psychedelic medicines, impacted research into the therapeutic benefits of these medicines?

Indigenous Use of Sacred Plant Medicines

Sacred plant medicines have been used by Indigenous Peoples in healing ceremonies and cultural practices since Time Immemorial, and those medicines with psychoactive properties have also been used among many different cultures for millennia by people around the world.

Video: The Traditional Context

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In this video, Deanna Rogers introduces the traditional context of sacred plant medicines and how Indigenous Peoples have been using and continue to use these medicines.

Sacred Plant Medicines

There are several traditional plant medicines that are used throughout the world. In the following videos, Deanna Rogers provides some information about each of the medicines and some important considerations for each.

Please ensure that you watch all items before proceeding by selecting each title.

Video: Traditional Use of Ayahuasca

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Deanna Rogers explains some key details about ayahuasca including the plants it is composed of and traditional uses.

Video: Traditional Use of Iboga

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Deanna continues her discussion of psychedelic medicines around the world with Iboga, used in parts of Africa.

Video: Traditional Use of Psilocybin

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Next, Deanna talks about psilocybin, the active ingredient in some species of mushrooms which was previously discussed in the context of psychedelic-assisted therapy on the previous page.

Video: Traditional Use of Peyote

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Finally, Deanna explains the traditional use of peyote and its current use today by Indigenous Peoples.

In summary, these plants exist within a larger cultural context with cultural practices and a worlview that surrounded them. These plant medicines often serve several purposes, and it is never just about the substance, rather the network of healers and cultural practices that are supporting them. Healers train for many years and have a deep intimacy with the plants they serve. Typically, they would start to prepare and be initiated into this as children. There are also so many other plant medicines that can be talked about such as tobacco, huachuma, buffo, and many more.

Reflection

After learning more about the important role of these psychedelic medicines in many Indigenous cultures around the world, you are invited to contemplate how you can participate in reciprocity with the traditional stewards. If you are engaging in this work, what does reciprocity mean to you and what could it look like?

As some examples, you could support organizations like the Indigenous Medicine Conservation Fund, explore personal decolonizing work, or learn more about accountability in the use of plant medicines.

Western-Scientific Advances in the Field of Psychedelic Medicine

Dr. Joe Flanders goes into further detail about the history of the primary psychedelic medicines which have gained recent popularity in the Western world for psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Video: The Psychedelic Renaissance

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Over the past 100 years, there has been an explosion of psychedelic research and Dr. Joe Flanders provides us with a high-level overview of some of the trends and topics that have gained popularity.

Please ensure that you watch all items before proceeding by selecting each title.

Video: LSD

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In this video, Dr. Joe Flanders provides a brief history of the discovery and origins of LSD.

Video: A Recent History of Psilocybin

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Dr. Joe Flanders continues his discussion on the recent history of psilocybin.

Video: A Recent History of MDMA

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MDMA is the topic of the next video. Dr. Joe Flanders walks us through how MDMA was discovered.

Video: A Recent History of Ketamine

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Finally, Dr. Joe Flanders shares the recent history of ketamine and how it entered into the psychedelic-assisted therapy space.

Prohibition

How and when did these psychedelic substances become illegal in the United States and Canada?

From 1962 to 1976, psychedelics go underground due to an era of prohibition initiated by President Nixon. Many of these substances began hitting the streets during this time which prompted the government to pay a closer eye.

1962

FDA starts regulating psychedelic research.

1963

LSD hits the streets.

1966

LSD is made illegal.

1970

The Controlled Substances Act is passed.

1976

Psychedelic research comes to a halt.

Learn More

For more information on the history of psychedelic medicines, visit Psychedelics 101.

Cultural Safety and Humility

The criminalization of "psychedelics" was a direct and intentional action of colonial violence against Indigenous Peoples in the United States and Canada, as another means to eradicate the Indigenous system of healthcare, cultural practices, ways of life, and further commit Genocide. Furthermore, it was illegal in Canada until 1951 and until 1978 in United States that Indigenous Peoples could gather (in groups more than three) and hold any kind of ceremonial practice.