So, what other treatments can help PTSD?

Charles Shaw examines the ways that Ayahuasca, an herbal concoction of rainforest plants, can help people get past their PTSD. Learn how—and try not to judge—while watching the video below.

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Do psychedelic experiences really benefit us? What if they could spur on a healthy lifelong meditation practice?

In his book “Ayahuasca Test Pilots”, author and explorer “Medicine Hunter” Chris Kilham goes into detail about his own personal experiences with ayahuasca—the potent South American psychedelic plant brew—as well as the scientific factors responsible for the confounding introspective journey the plants offer.

What we know about ayahuasca’s effects can be broken down into its parts: chemicals in the plants combined to make the brew, trigger a rush of DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine) into the brain that take us into other realms of consciousness, if not other planes of reality altogether, that we can’t normally experience without the assistance of the chemical. But it seems how the two plants that make up the mixture came to be used together will always be a mystery. Did ancient tribes experiment with thousands of plants, or like many shamans explain, did the plants “speak” to the people of the jungle and tell them of the benefits if brewed together? Either way, Kilham’s “test pilot” reference might be more accurate if described as “ayahuasca astronauts”—as journeyers of the medicine believe they’re not testing anything out, but rather exploring unchartered territories of the universe and the human mind.

Ayahuasa, Kilham writes in “Ayahuasca Test Pilots” can help us gain access to “multiple dimensions, and become suffused with absolute and complete love.”

For many Westerners, it may sound like little more than an excuse to “get high”–and while that’s flawed thinking, it’s also completely understandable. Since the Controlled Substances Act went into effect more than 40 years ago, we’ve been forced to transform our perception of plant medicines as little more than addictive, harmful products that can ruin your life, and possibly send you to jail for a long, long time. Nevermind the fact that “drugs” like ayahuasca can actually help people break their drug addiction (to substances like cocaine and heroin), or that MDMA—the active component in the popular party drug Ecstasy—is being used in clinical trials to help our soldiers recover from PTSD, or that psilocybin can be more effective than pharmaceutical anti-depressants.

The modern view of psychedelics is about as deranged and deluded as it gets—a somewhat ironic situation when we’re talking about plants that can make you think you’ve turned into a snake, or are being swallowed up by one. For the most part, our culture brushes off psychedelics as fodder for mental breakdowns, violence and hysteria, even though that’s not the case for most seekers.

Psychedelics, it turns out, may actually foster a deeply spiritual “awakening” that can encourage many positive life changes, including a healthy meditation practice, long after the hallucinogenic experience has subsided. And likewise, a strong meditation practice already in place, can help ground a seeker through the discomfort and challenges of a psychedelic journey, like an ayahuasca ceremony. “If a meditative practice can facilitate psychedelic exploration, it makes sense that the converse is also true,” Reset.Me reports on its website.

And why does this matter?

Because, if used properly, psychedelics like ayahuasca, San Pedro cactus, peyote, psilocybin mushrooms and MDMA can provide deep insights and healing opportunities. And let’s be real; who among us is not in need of healing? A meditation practice can continue that work, bringing balance and presence to the seeker long after the effects of the medicine have worn off. This matters in handling ongoing grief, stress, anxiety, depression and scores of other woes of the human spirit. Life is already quite a psychedelic journey—one that can be too much for many of us to handle without daily crutches like illegal or prescription drugs, alcohol and other not-so-good-for-us tools. So is it really all that surprising that psychedelics and meditation can offer us some healthy perspective on it all?

“You can approach ayahuasca from any angle,” writes Kilham. “You can meet it open-minded, skeptical, assure of its value, doubtful or in any state.”

That’s not to say you need to take psychedelics in order to start or maintain a strong meditation practice (nor do you need one to journey with psychedelic medicines). But what is becoming ever more clear is the link between the two, and the long-term benefits. We no longer need to fear psychedelic medicines as sinister substances destined to lead us to a life of crime, nor do we need to brush off meditation as a woo-woo New Agey gimmick or question its efficacy. In fact, studies show there are significant benefits to meditation, from aiding in the recovery of physical injuries to improved concentration and performance in students.

“Ayahuasca, if you drink a working dose, will often drive you right to the edge of what you can endure in terms of energy, healing and stripping away those aspects of your psyche that do not serve you well,” writes Kilham. “Ayahuasca acts as a psychic blowtorch, with the capacity to cut through and reduce to cinders what does not work.”

It seems if we know one thing for certain about both psychedelics and meditation, it’s that we’ve barely begun to scratch the surface on the benefits and opportunities both can provide us in not only navigating our own life experiences, but in assisting others as well.

[Note: Psychedelics are illegal in the U.S. and we do not encourage their use without the guidance of an experienced counselor or therapist in an approved controlled environment.]

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger and Instagram @jill_ettinger

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Lindsay Lohan drank ayahuasca. Irreversible collapse of Antarctic glaciers has begun. Is this the End Times?

Lindsay Lohan, the actress-turned-public-train-wreck recently revealed that in order to cope with a miscarriage, she drank ayahuasca, the South American tea known for its highly psychoactive effects.

The potent plant mixture is a no-joke concoction high in N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, which is a controlled substance here in the U.S. But in countries including Brazil, Peru and Colombia, it’s a revered shamanic medicine used to heal physical and emotional wounds and deliver spiritual insight.

In the last decade, ayahuasca has catapulted itself to Burning Man status—an indispensable rite of the “conscious community.” Ayahuasca users frequently fit the same stereotype: wide-eyed, lots of hugging, feather earrings, dreadlocks and goatees. But beyond the stereotypes, the medicine has irrefutable effects that when reduced by mainstream media, feels like an insult to the entire rainforest and the millions of healing plants (known and unknown) held within her canopy.

Today Health ran this sensational headline: “What is ayahuasca? Lindsay Lohan’s ‘cleanse’ is probably illegal, causes vomiting.” And it’s true. Sort of. Ayahuasca is illegal (but religious exemptions do allow some use in the U.S.). In my experience, it caused lots of vomiting. But I wouldn’t call it a cleanse—at least not in the sense of a lose-weight-fast gimmick. It is, for lack of a better term, a serious, hardcore spiritual experience. You don’t drink ayahuasca to lose a little weight before heading out to Coachella. And you certainly don’t drink it there to “enhance” your experience. It’s not the Master Cleanse. And it’s not a joint.

Many people think there’s not much to Lindsay Lohan these days besides the spectacle (and “Mean Girls”). But she may just be onto something with ayahausca. If it can belay her self-destructive behavior and heal some of her wounds (celebs cry too, you know), maybe it can also help other people. (That’s not to say you should hop on the next flight to the rainforest.) And now, if we’re not able to stop the impact melting glaciers is sure to have on our planet, perhaps we can at least experience a deeper clarity with the world around us (even if it’s only for a fleeting second before we’re all washed away). Of course, that doesn’t have to come by way of ayahuasca. But for many, it does.

Similar to LiLo’s reports, I also experienced what I can only compare to death while in an ayahuasca ceremony. I had to consciously say goodbye to everyone I loved. I had to let go. I had to accept the end of everything I knew and slip into everything I did not know. It was dark, confusing, and much bigger than the vocabulary describing my human experiences is limited to. It wasn’t scary as much as it was truly new. But that’s not where the real “healing” came from for me—at least, not the healing I can understand.

Shortly before my death-like experience, I saw something that is with me every day still. There, deep in the Colombian rainforest, I could see the forest as if it were inside of a X-ray machine that made everything neon rainbow striped. Colorful lines of energy connected each and every inch of the forest. From the earth up to the tree trunks to the tree leaves to the medicine men who stood guard over our sacred circle, I could see the inter-connectivity of all things. It radiated and pulsed and connected me to it all too. Perhaps this is what Lindsay experienced. Perhaps not. But it is that important reminder now as the media judges and mocks Lindsay, and as we struggle to make sense of what “irreversible collapse” to the Antarctic really means. Because we are connected to these things—in whichever way we choose to see this.

“Researchers had previously estimated that the cluster in the Amundsen Sea region of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet would last for thousands of years despite global climate change,” reports the Los Angeles Times. “But the new studies found that the loss is underway now as warming ocean water melts away the base of the ice shelf, and is occurring far more rapidly than scientists expected.” A sea level rise of 4 feet is expected to occur within the next 200 years; and if you think that isn’t going to have a significant impact in the next few years–including the death and displacement of millions of people–you’ve got another thing coming.

I’ve often wondered if the end of humanity will come swiftly once we universally understand our connection to, well, everything. What happens the moment after all religious devotees stop clamoring for the “most true” position amongst the rest of us and simply see that in no way does our connectivity impinge upon our individuality? This “knowledge”—this truly sober moment—may be closer than we think, melting and creeping towards us like Antarctic ice. And it can have only two possible outcomes: 1) It is the End Times. For real. We realize our connection to each and every thing, and then, of course, we become one with it all in eternity, or 2) It’s not the End Times but it’s the end of those times where we saw ourselves as so separate from each other and the earth that we felt it was appropriate to disengage from pressing issues and focus on, well, Lindsay Lohan, instead. But instead of that, we move into a new earth, a new planetary culture that’s not marginalized by TMZ and celeb-bashing. We rise to meet the challenge of rising sea levels and temperatures and make drastic, lasting changes to the ways we live and care for the earth. I know. The End of the World is the likelier scenario, right?

But all most some judgments aside… something’s got to give. We know we can’t continue to bury our head in our iPhones or “Game of Thrones” and pretend that things aren’t changing. We (at least, me) have children to think about. And if they don’t get to grow up in a world with rainforest medicines and Antarctic glaciers, they at least deserve to live in a world where their parents’ generation tried to save those things and make it a better place. Even if we fail. We can say we tried. Looks like even Lindsay’s going that route. Will you?

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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Has the War on Drugs got it all wrong? A new research study finds use of hallucinogens, including psychedelic “magic” mushrooms, mescaline, and LSD, doesn’t cause long-term psychological problems. In fact, use of psychedelics may even reduce the need for mental health treatments.

There’s a renaissance happening around hallucinogens. Westerners seeking physical and emotional healing are traveling deep into Amazon jungle territory to drink a potent plant brew called ayahuasca, rich in DMT, “the spirit molecule.” [Full disclosure: I recently traveled to the Colombian rainforest to drink ayahuasca under the supervision of shamans.] They’re also venturing into West Africa for iboga healings with the Bwiti tribe in order to cure themselves of addiction to drugs like heroine. Others are participating in studies, like those conducted by the  Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), which is proving the efficacy of MDMA (the active ingredient in the street drug Ecstasy) in treating PTSD and other serious psychological issues. LSD and psilocybin mushrooms are being used to ease the anxiety experienced by cancer patients. Go to any of the myriad music, art and culture festivals or gatherings cropping up around the globe (including those focused on the use of psychedelics), and you’ll find a wide variety of people using hallucinogens in all manners of exploration, from straight up dancing and partying to the ceremonial and healing applications.

Approximately one in six Americans between the ages of 21 and 64 has tried hallucinogens. Still, the substances are highly criminalized, and, perhaps even worse, stigmatized as doorways into madness and addiction. Use of hallucinogens is a practice deemed only slightly acceptable during those experimental college years where promiscuity and binge drinking are also sloughed off as young adult rites of passage. Speaking candidly about the use of hallucinogens is akin to coming out of the closet about being a lesbian or homosexual just a half century ago. Announcing an unconventional sexual orientation would often earn you pariah status; it wasn’t something to discuss with just anybody. And the same goes for the medicinal benefits of hallucinogens. (At the very least, you don’t inhale.) In most social circles in our Western culture, using psychedelics is formidable for anyone over age 21. It’s not casual dinner conversation. Antidepressants and prescription anxiety drugs? Well, they’re the new normal. You can talk about those all you like. But tell the wrong person that you participated in an experimental MDMA trial to deal with crippling PTSD? It’s likely to be almost as mood-altering as the drugs themselves.

But could we be all wrong about psychedelic medicine?

According to researchers out of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s Department of Neuroscience who published their findings in the recent issue of the journal PLOS One, there were no links that connected the use of psychedelic hallucinogens to a wide range of mental health problems including mood and anxiety disorders, psychosis and general psychological distress.

The research team reviewed survey data collected between 2001 and 2004 from more than 130,000 randomly selected Americans. More than 20,000 of the subjects admitted to using hallucinogens, and the findings were consistent among the individuals: “The lack of association between the use of psychedelics and indicators of mental health problems in this large population survey is consistent with clinical studies in which LSD or other psychedelics have been administered to healthy volunteers,” the researchers wrote.

NPR reports that the study does have some limitations, however: “It’s possible that healthier people are more likely to take psychedelics than those already struggling with mental illness, for instance.” And the study also didn’t consider dosages or quality of the drugs, nor did it look at family histories of mental health, “which could be an important factor.”

While still illegal in the U.S., the amount of research now being done to explore the potential benefits of psychedelics is increasing. Matthew W. Johnson, a psychologist in the psychiatry department at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine told NPR that there seems to be “no evidence of overall negative impact — and even some hints of benefit — associated with the use of psychedelics.” Johnson recently explored the effects of psychedelic mushrooms on cancer patients to help them deal with the anxiety and depression around their illness.

MAPS’ groundbreaking work on MDMA and PTSD has already shown that “MDMA in conjunction with psychotherapy can help people overcome PTSD, and possibly other disorders as well.” They note that MDMA is known for “increasing feelings of trust and compassion towards others, which could make an ideal adjunct to psychotherapy for PTSD.”

And while the Norwegian researchers acknowledge their study doesn’t allow conclusions about causality, the team found that there is a lack of evidence “that psychedelics cause lasting mental health problems.”

Mental health issues in the U.S. are skyrocketing, based on prescription drug sales for mood enhancers and antidepressants. As Americans struggle to handle their mental conditions, just as many struggle to get a grip on healthy eating habits, the pro-psychedelic community is hopeful that a return to more ‘natural’ treatments for mental and emotional issues may begin to become less stigmatized. And what researchers are finding supports the theories that there may not only be a reduced risk of harm from hallucinogens, but inherent mental health benefits to exploring those edge realms of consciousness as well.

Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, which require long-term usage, and can include numerous undesirable side-effects, a few “psychedelic sessions” can help individuals to acknowledge, confront and resolve certain issues, particularly those that are mental, psychological or emotional–which can often manifest as physical conditions. According to MAPS, “The deep personal and often spiritual experiences enabled by the careful use of psilocybin and LSD are well known.”

Timing of the research couldn’t be better for mood-altering substances, either. CNN’s chief medical expert, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, recently apologized for “misleading Americans” over the safety and benefits of medical marijuana. He’s released a documentary on the subject and said “sometimes marijuana is the only thing that works.” Perhaps he’ll explore LSD next.

Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

Image: doomz, kt lindsay

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The surge of Western interest in the potent South American psychedelic brew called ayahuasca is bringing great healing and controversy.

The healing path is an onerous one. Whether fighting off or recovering from a physical illness, or working through mental or emotional issues, healing is most often a long process, and a heavy one at that. For some, it can lead back to religion, or the guidance of spiritual teachers. Some may seek solace in yoga or meditation practices, art, hobbies, or traditional therapies, while others seek the help of a different kind: the South American jungle medicine called ayahuasca.

It’s difficult to describe the powerful encounter ayahuasca delivers, even to those who have experience with other psychedelics more common in the U.S. such as mushrooms or LSD. Ayahuasca contains DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine) and is considered the most potent hallucinogenic on the planet. But it’s more than that; it’s described often as “Grandmother”—as in a spirit who becomes present within you, guiding you through brutally raw self-reflection and healing. It is not a party drug, nor is it therapy in any traditional sense. But it is something unforgettable and often life-changing.

In recent years, ayahuasca has become quite popular with Americans, no doubt a result of our disconnected lifestyles, our back-and-forth states of physical and mental health. We oscillate between binging on junk foods, drinking too much alcohol, trading gym night for Game of Thrones. In retribution, we may switch to chugging down shots of wheatgrass, ditching empty calories, and being first in the yoga class queue. But neither of these lifestyles are the ideal; it’s a healthy balance we seek, one where playfulness, and sometimes even reckless behaviors, are brought into alignment with rigidity, discipline and a commitment to doing the right thing for our bodies and spirits. It’s no wonder we also have some of the highest anxiety and depression rates in the world.

Or, perhaps it’s a little bit of our First World boredom that sends us clamoring into buggy jungles in hopes of shamanic encounters and realignments on the ethereal plain. And there’s no question that a trip into the South American rainforest will be life-changing—psychedelic in its own right. But have we romanticized the culture and the medicine into dangerous territory?

A recent Men’s Journal article told the story of a young American seeker who went to Peru to drink ayahuasca after viewing a documentary film on the subject. What happened to Kyle Nolan is every parent’s worst nightmare: The 18-year-old reportedly died after an ayahuasca session and his body buried in the jungle by the shaman. It’s believed Nolan did not receive “pure” ayahuasca, and it was the inclusion of another powerful herb called toé that may have caused his death. And while ayahuasca-related deaths are in fact rare, the cases of faux shamans taking advantage of Westerners are becoming less so. Rapes, molestations, extortion and other behaviors we’d sooner attribute to unstable Americans are now commonplace in ayahuasca tourism regions. Westerners unable to handled the medicine or improperly guided by shamans during the ceremonies have inflicted wounds on themselves, become mentally deranged and even committed suicide in the aftermath of sessions. Should we be shocked?

One of the common (mis)conceptions about tribal cultures is their absolute purity and innocence—a belief that their simpler, shamanic ways of living somehow also equal immunity from greed and negligence. But it’s simply not true. Native Americans, for example, were slaughtering each other long before British settlers arrived and added to the bloodshed. And tribal wars have been common throughout history, all over the planet, including the beloved jungles of the Amazon. Still, we dub these cultures as quaint, which has erroneously come to mean infallible.

Do we travel to the jungles for healing because we must or, simply because we can? While our interest in ayahuasca is certainly an economic boon to low-income communities in countries including Peru, Colombia and Brazil, what do we really know about the long-term impact of the medicine on non-native people? Healing of any kind is a process. And when working with a potent psychedelic, the reverberations of a single session can be felt for months, even years after. It’s not exactly something that can be fully understood overnight. And it’s this desire to understand the experience that can send Westerners back to the jungle repeatedly to try and find the answers.

Granted, great healings do occur under the guidance of legitimate shamans. But they can also happen under less exotic setting, too. It is perhaps our reasons for seeking healing in the first place that will influence the experiences we ultimately receive. That’s not to say innocent people like Kevin Nolan deserve to die, but it can explain why we’re seeing a greater number of incidences like that occur; romantic impulses to venture thousands of miles into harsh environments for something that’s reportedly going to heal us, is not exactly the definition of responsible.

In our efforts to unAmericanize ourselves, we’re, in true American fashion, co-opting something that doesn’t really belong to us. Still, just like eating chocolate or drinking coffee isn’t necessarily a bad thing, despite our losing sight of  their exotic origins, ayahuasca clearly has benefits most of the time. But do we want that relationship to be like the exploitative practices and sugar-laden junk-filled candy the world’s top chocolate makers are known for? Or, can we adopt a Fair Trade, organic approach to shamanic medicine and usher in healthier connections? One thing is certain: no matter what your ultimate goal is, venturing into dark and dangerous jungles is always best approached with extreme caution.

Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

Image: Howard G. Charing

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