Eastern Medicine and Psychedelics

Psychedelics have a history that extends far beyond the dizzy heights of '60s counterculture. For millennia, indigenous communities and Eastern traditions have explored the hallucinogenic properties of plants as tools for spiritual discovery and exploration.

The rituals and philosophies behind their use are rooted in an understanding of the natural order of the universe. 

In this article, let's trace back the use of psychedelics across cultures and centuries, revealing their unique role in Eastern traditions and indigenous rituals.

We’ll uncover the forgotten wisdom of these ancient practices and examine how modern research is rekindling the interest. From traditional Chinese medicine and Daoist alchemy to Native American peyote ceremonies, the boundaries are being dissolved to shape our perception of grounding, spirituality and consciousness in the modern era.

Love it or hate it, the psychedelic wave appears to be back under the limelight, partially due to recent headlines about substances like psilocybin and LSD being trialled as antidepressants. Then there is the global exponential rise of music festival popularity and associated recreational drug use being added to the conversation.

I recently attended a lecture by Dr Sam Gandy, an ecological scientist collaborating with Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research to find out more on where this resurgence might lead us to.

One mention of LSD and, for most of us, we might immediately conjure up images of Sergeant Pepper in electrifying hues of yellow and pink. However, long before they became a symbol of rebellion in the 1960s, substances like psilocybin and mescaline were integral to Eastern and indigenous rituals.

Ancient Daoist practitioners believed that certain herbs could help transcend our normal consciousness. Meanwhile, the Aztecs revered their "wondrous mushrooms," and Native Americans used the peyote cactus for spiritual connection.

The symbol of rebellion?

Fast forward to the early 20th century and the Western world really began to take notice. By the mid-century, psychedelics became desperately entangled in a storm of scientific fascination, of counterculture rebellion, and of serious political backlash.

Now, after decades and decades of tarnish and taboo, researchers are once again exploring what these substances can truly offer to our mental state and even, perhaps, to strengthen our connection to the natural world.

What makes psychedelics so unique? Dr Gandy explained in his lecture, that it’s not just about trippy visuals or mystical experiences. It goes deeper than you might think. Much deeper. These compounds interact with the brain in very surprising ways, by giving rigid neural networks a shake-up, and, in so doing, allowing exciting connections to emerge.

Here’s a (brief) introduction to some well known psychedelics in modern times, as revealed by Dr Gandy:

• Psilocybin : This compound appears naturally in over 1,200 species of mushrooms. It changes how our brain’s networks communicate, dissolving strict barriers and creating a "mind-wide web" of connectivity.

• Ayahuasca : Known as the "spirit vine," this Amazonian brew combines DMT with an enzyme-inhibiting vine, prolonging its effects. The result is a powerful, vision-inducing experience that has shown promise in treating deep depression (in very early trial stages).

• LSD : First synthesised by Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman during World War II, LSD turns the brain’s default modes upside down. Interpretations guided by past experiences are disregarded on LSD, as brain scans reveal unprecedented connectivity between regions that usually operate independently, just like an improvised jazz session happening in your brain.

While much of the psychedelic narrative focuses on Western rediscovery, such as the Mazatec and Zapotec indigenous tribes, for example, Eastern cultures also have their own long-standing traditions and also contribute massively to our modern view of psychedelics today.

Shamans and spirits

Ancient Chinese shamans played a role as mediators between the physical and the spiritual. Hallucinogenic plants were their tools for entering states which allowed them to embark on such spiritual journeys. Certain ancient texts describe herbs that could induce visions or connect the practitioners to otherworldly realms.

Daoist transcendence

Then, as shamanic practices declined, much of their hallucinogenic knowledge was absorbed by Daoist practitioners. Such alchemists believed certain plants and mushrooms could help them transcend the boundaries of everyday consciousness, and set about aiming for enlightenment or even immortality. Daoist texts such as Ge Hong’s Master Who Embraces Simplicity describe mushrooms like lingzhi (spirit mushrooms) and others with hallucinogenic properties.

Suppression and survival

By the Song Dynasty, shamanic practices and hallucinogen use faced suppression from Confucian critics and official bans. However, elements of these traditions persisted among ethnic minorities in southwestern China, preserving the rich fragments of this fascinating history.

Just as ancient Chinese shamans and Daoists used hallucinogens for healing and spiritual discovery, today’s researchers are exploring their potential to treat mental health conditions.

It’s a truly remarkable reminder that the human desire to explore consciousness transcends both time and culture.

Some researchers are excited by this prospect, hinting that it could be an eye-opening experience for someone who has spent many years on SSRIs, like someone turning the colour back on a broken TV set.

A perhaps unexpected benefit of psychedelics is their ability to enable a stronger connection to nature, at a time when such interests are disappearing rapidly.

Many users describe feeling a profound sense of unity with the environment during their experiences, a sensation that often resonates long after the trip itself ends. Whether used in a clinical setting or a place of natural beauty, or even a ceremonial ritual, psychedelics can hold a mirror up to the mind and reflect back at us the vast complexities and interconnectedness of life itself.

Just as Eastern philosophies, especially Daoism, have long emphasised the importance of going with the natural flow of life, rather than fighting against it, this concept now resonates with many modern psychedelic experiences. Users often describe a sense of surrendering to the moment.

The risks:

While the potential benefits seen in the research are exciting, psychedelics themselves are not without risk.

Adverse reactions, particularly at higher doses, can include intense anxiety or traumatic experiences. There’s also the rare but documented risk of Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), where visual distortions continue long after the psychedelic effects should have worn off. Individuals with a family history of schizophrenia or psychosis are particularly cautioned against psychedelic use.

The research field is moving quickly, with new trials examining everything from DMT’s potential for treating depression (often described as a "mind reset" due to its short yet intense effects) to psilocybin’s impact on migraines and ADHD. Meanwhile, ‘Extended-state DMT’, which prolongs the experience beyond its typical short duration, is being explored for its capacity to unlock further insights into human consciousness.

But to move forward with integrity, we must also look back. Psychedelics pull us back to something primal — something ancient. Dr Sam Gandy reflects on how they blur the line between the ‘self’ and nature:

At its very core, the renewed interest in psychedelics isn’t just about the compounds themselves. Perhaps it’s why, despite decades of prohibition and stigma, the human curiosity towards these ancient substances has never waned. And, the journey of discovery isn’t over yet. In many ways, it feels like it’s only just beginning.

A special acknoledgement to Dr Sam Gandy for providing a deeply insightful and intriguing lecture which inspired this article to be written.

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