A Brief History of Psychedelic 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.

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

These topics will be explored in detail in the following set of videos.

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

Video: The Ancient Use of Psychedelics

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In this video, Dr. Stephen Thayer review the use of psychedelics in the ancient world and evidence of their use.

Video: Psychedelic Medicine in the 1900s

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In this video, Dr. Stephen Thayer continues the history of psychedelic medicines by talking about some of the more recent psychedelic medicines, like LSD, which were discovered in the 1900s. This video also covers the criminalization of psychedelic medicines and the cessation of research.

Video: The Psychedelic Renaissance and the Future of Mental Health

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Dr. Stephen Thayer concludes the history of psychedelic medicines by discussing the progress that has been made over the last few decades as attempts to continue research on psychedelic medicines in the context of psychedelic-assisted therapy has continued around the world.

Learn More

For more information on research in the 20th century, consider referring to Phelps (2017).

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.