I grew up in a small town in the cornfields of Ohio. Psychedelics and “plant medicine” were demonized growing up. The DARE program's intention was to scare us the hell away from anything of this nature.

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And I bought into the propaganda!! I didn’t know any better. I was terrified of these substances! All I knew was that I didn’t wanna lose my mind & end up living under a bridge one day. So I stayed away!!

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You may be in that same boat right now. Thinking to yourself that a “plant medicine retreat” (psychedelic is interchangeable for plant medicine) where you work with a powerful substance such as Ayahuasca may be a bit too “risky” or scary. I can completely understand where you’re coming from as we’ve all been brainwashed!!

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I lived with this skewed idea of what psychedelics were until I found the Joe Rogan podcast back in 2010.. It completely changed my perspective on “drugs” and my life as a whole.

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Listening to brilliant minds on his show share their personal experiences with psychedelics really began to open my mind & expand my perspective beyond what I had received in small town Ohio. Very successful individuals talking about how things like DMT, Ayahuasca & Magic Mushrooms had positively impacted their lives.

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In addition to high level researchers who had dedicated their lives to studying these substances & eradicating the propaganda filled misinformation that had been spread across the world for many years.

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Eventually I began experimenting myself and had extraordinary experiences. My plant medicine experiences over the past many years now have been pivotal in my growth as a man. They’ve really helped me heal through a lot of past traumas. Alleviating quite a bit of anxiety & depression. You can read more about my journey in other blogs that I've written.

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It’s now the year 2021 (almost 2022!!) and the science is backing up exactly what myself and so many others have experienced. Psychedelics have incredible healing potential that can be leveraged for many medicinal uses!!

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In this blog I'm going to share some of those incredible findings with you to help give you a deeper understanding of the true potential that lies within these medicines.

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From Science Now:

‍Along with a handful of other studies, that research suggests that when coupled with psychotherapy, mind-altering drugs bring some people immediate, powerful and durable relief.

Those studies, and the intense media coverage they received, have helped launch psychedelic medicine into the public conversation in the United States, England and elsewhere. Academic groups devoted to studying psychedelics have sprung up at Johns Hopkins, Yale, New York University Langone Health, the University of California, San Francisco and other research institutions. ‍

Private investors have ponied up millions of dollars for research on psychedelic drugs. The state of Oregon has started the process of legalizing therapeutic psilocybin, the key chemical in hallucinogenic mushrooms; lawmakers in other states and cities are considering the same move.

New ways to help people with PTSD, depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders are desperately needed. An estimated 30 percent of people with depression, for instance, don’t get relief from current treatments. Psychedelics, some researchers and clinicians believe, may help.

“The promise is incredible,” says Monnica Williams, a psychologist at the University of Ottawa, who ran the clinical trial Caplash participated in at UConn Health in Farmington. “Psychedelics have the potential to really completely revolutionize mental health and change everything.”

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From The Guardian (UK):

In May 2021, Nature Medicine published the results of the most advanced trial of psychedelic therapy to date. In our Phase 3 trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, 88% of participants who received MDMA in conjunction with trauma-focused therapy experienced a clinically significant reduction in symptoms; 67% of participants no longer met criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. Many participants reported MDMA-assisted therapy helped them address the root cause of their trauma for the first time.

An exploratory study suggests a role for MDMA in couples therapy. MAPS has combined its MDMA-assisted therapy protocol with Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (CBCT) for PTSD, in which both the person with PTSD and their partner are administered MDMA. Results demonstrated dramatic reductions in PTSD symptoms and partner accommodation, improving the quality of relationships for six couples.

Ketamine studies have shown promise for chronic suicidal tendencies, PTSD symptoms and depression. Legal ketamine clinics which pair therapy with the drug can play a key role in maximizing the benefits and reducing the risks of the psychedelic experience. Psilocybin-assisted therapy is a breakthrough therapy for depression. Ibogaine may be an effective treatment for opioid use disorder.

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Psychedelics cured PTSD in 67% of patients--incredible results like this are why plant-based medicine is quickly becoming mainstream.

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CBS News has an incredible feature on how Scott Ostrom, a former Marine who suffered from horrific combat PTSD  didn’t find any relief in traditional methods, but was was cured through psychedelics:

"I watched my friend burn alive inside of a Humvee, and the fire was too hot and I couldn't get to him, so I felt like I needed to be punished for that," Ostrom said.

Rachel Yehuda, of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, has spent 30 years working with veterans and other victims of PTSD. "You're being haunted by a memory of something that happened to you," she said. "The standard treatment for PTSD has been psychotherapy, and there are two medications that are FDA-approved for the treatment of PTSD, both of which are anti-depressants."

"How effective is the treatment?" Martin asked.

"These treatments tend not to really solve the problem for most people, but they are better than nothing," she replied.

Desperate for relief, Ostrom answered a Facebook ad seeking volunteers for an FDA-approved trial using a psychedelic drug called MDMA – better known by its street name, ecstasy.

"It really did change my life in a short period of time – six months," he said.

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Conclusion:

Even after reading some of these incredible findings you may still be a little nervous about diving head first into plant medicine work. I completely understand!! That’s completely normal to feel some fear arise around this type of stuff.

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Prior to my first trip down into the jungle of Costa Rica to attend an Ayahuasca retreat in December of 2019 I was absolutely terrified. Despite knowing deep in my heart that I was meant to be  going on this journey..

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So I know how you’re feeling right now! I lead Ayahuasca retreats in Costa Rica and many of the men/women who join me on this journey are initially a bit afraid of making the leap. Up until they arrive here in the jungle & begin the work. The nerves are quickly replaced with an underlying feeling of peace & love.

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By the time the retreat is coming to an end they often come to me and share something of this nature.. “I can’t believe how afraid I was leading into this retreat. It wasn’t anything like I had imagined in my mind. I’m so glad I trusted my gut & made the leap of faith!!”

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All of that being said, it may not be the right time yet for you to enter into the plant medicine space. Here’s what I tell everyone.. “You’ll know deep in your heart when it’s the right time. It will be a feeling. The universe will make it very clear. Don’t force it. But when you feel the call, don’t let fear hold you back. Full send it & you will be rewarded by the universe.”

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If you have any questions about psychedelics & plant medicine feel free to reach out to me by email (Primalpurpose@protonmail.com) or on Twitter (@ Jay_Azeltine).

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Much love,

-Jay