Sacred Medicines: Entheogens/Plant Medicines
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. This information is not for diagnosis or a substitute for seeking a medical doctor. I am sharing this information based on my personal experience of healing. Please seek medical attention for all issues related to your physical and mental health as needed.
Entheogen
An entheogen is a psychoactive substance that induces alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior for the purposes of engendering spiritual development in sacred contexts. (Wikipedia)
There are several entheogenic plants and substances that assist with healing such as ayahuasca, psilocybin mushrooms, san pedro, salvia, peyote, iboga, DMT (dimethyltryptamine), and Bufo (5-MEo-DMT).
Plant medicines have been instrumental in my personal healing and many people who I’ve guided to experience the medicines. They each provide unique experiences as each medicine guides you in a specific way to obtain healing. Below is my opinion of the uses of each medicine as an overview of how it may assist you in your healing.
While many have taken or experienced entheogens alone, I HIGHLY recommend experiencing entheogens with a facilitator or curandero (medicine man/woman) for guidance and support.
I’ve not yet experienced iboga or peyote and will supply additional info when I do.
Ayahuasca is a combination of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and a DMT containing plant such as chacruna or mimosa hostilis. This combination allows the body to process the DMT, for Mother Ayahuasca to appear and guide you on an extended journey to help you address and heal issues from this reality. As you journey, you may experience psychedelic visuals, visit other worlds or realities, speak with the deceased, have spiritual surgery, heal physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. The journey is usually 3-6 hours.
San Pedro cactus, the grandfather medicine’s active ingredient is mescaline. San Pedro, in my opinion, is one of the gentler medicines. The beauty of it is that it allows you to decide if you want to journey (connect with the san pedro spirit) or be present as if you are not experiencing a medicine at all. It is a conversation with a wise spirit that allows you to appreciate existence while learning about yourself. It is best experienced outside as it is a “walking medicine.” The journey is usually twelve hours.
Psilocybin mushroom’s active ingredient is psilocybin. Mushrooms impart a very interesting experience. Your mood can impact your journey and it is good to take it when you are in a good space or willing to sit through whatever this medicine brings you because you cannot escape it. It is touted as being great for microdosing to alleviate depression and anxiety. As you journey, you may experience visuals, highs and lows, and gain insight. The journey is usually six hours. Be careful about dosage. Two grams is a good introduction and you can build from there. Be cautious of any administrators who do not consider your sensitivity to entheogens and attempts to give you a high dosage on a first encounter. The dosage that I’ve heard being given without consideration to sensitivity is 5 grams. In my personal experience, 2 grams was more than enough for my six hour journey.
Salvia is from the sage family and is traditionally used by Oaxaca medicine people to diagnose patients and gain insight. Salvia is a unique experience and should NOT be taken alone unless you are well experienced in your ability to navigate this medicine. I call the salvia world, the place of remembering. Salvia is not shy, and she has integrity as she promises to tell you the truth. You can experience many worlds and they feel like memories. You become whatever you see in the journey. If you see a gear, you become the gear and become animated; actually attempting to move your physical body as such. Therefore, this should not be taken alone unless you are well experienced in using it. The journey lasts 7-20 minutes and depends on sensitivity and the amount taken.
DMT naturally occurs in hundreds of plants and is naturally produced in human bodies and is stored in the lungs. It has been said to be the active component that helps us to dream. It will connect you to the spirit world. DMT can be experienced in combination with plant medicines such as Ayahuasca or extracted and smoked. The journey can consist of fractals, other worlds, communing with beings, channeling, etc. In my experience, it is great for connecting to the spirit world. Great care is necessary when doing DMT because the fractals are DMT world beings who are curious about you. Some will attach and pull your energy, provide pleasure as examples. Always have an intention and surround yourself with protection. Also remember that you can dismiss energies that you don’t want to experience. The journey is 7-20 minutes depending on dosage and sensitivity.
Cannabis is widely used and abused by many who do not understand her power. Cannabis is a flowering plant and the most known species are sativa (stimulating), indica (grounding), and ruderalis (high in CBD content.) Cannabis has many strains and many hybrids have been created as well. There are many medicinal properties of the medicine. Spiritually, Cannabis is an amazing guide to delve deep into self analysis. What I’ve experienced with her is that she is is the medicine for prophecy. Time is always delayed. I can go forward or backwards in this medicine. She gives the ability to travel when you acknowledge and harness her energy. She is a heart opener and allows for deeper communication with oneself and others. Though many don’t have a full-fledged psychedelic journey, I do; having vivid and colorful experiences as I travel, learn, and visit with other beings and worlds.
Bufo aka 5MeO is found in plants but is often extracted from the bufo alvarius frog of the Sonoran Desert. The venom is extracted from the frog and dried. It is smoked and the journey returns you to Source. It is great to remember who you are; a spirit being having a human experience. It gives an appreciation for the earthly experience. It can provide insights. It is a powerful medicine and should be used with care. You should definitely seek a facilitator who provides aftercare as the journey is 7-20 minutes but the after effect can last months. In my opinion, it is an amazing experience but is not a substitute for Ayahuasca. Some tend to try the fast route for healing but Ayahuasca is the end all be all, in my opinion, for healing from your earthly experiences. Dosage is important as to not receive too much. Too high a dose can produce and experience called “white out” where you see all white and don’t remember the experience. Be sure to tell your facilitator if you are sensitive to entheogens.
Rapès are a variety of snuffs that are for energetic balancing, clearing, and healing. They are traditionally used in the Amazon for energetic work, visionary work, to increase hunting skills and more. Most of them have a tabacco (mapacho) base with other plants mixed in. The plants are teachers and can be communicated with while it is working in your system. It is blown into the nose with a tepi which is a long wooden pipe. The fine powder shoots up the nostrils and you immediately feel a burning sensation as the energy move through your head and possibly the rest of your body. Often it settles in particular energy centers as it works to heal that area of the body. Rapès can be highly addictive because of the nicotine content. There are many varieties and some of my favorites target the heart chakra, sacral chakra, the energetic body, and removal of mucus. The experience can last for minutes up to hours depending on dosage and purpose.
Sananga is an eye drop that has amazing health benefits that impact the spirit body, emotional body, and physical body. Sananga has spiritual properties to clear blocked energies, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Amazonian tribes have long used the plant to increase their long-range vision and sharpen their senses before going out on a hunt.
Sananga’s benefits include Antimicrobial, Antifungal, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Anti-cancer properties.
Physical benefits
- Prevents and treats diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness
- Helps with detoxing the body from bad energies and toxins
- Opens the third eye and improve spiritual vision
- Increases visual perception and enhances colors
- Clears blocked emotions and memories
- Resets energetic field
- Helps clear the sinuses
Kampuc is the secretion of the Phyllomedusa bicolor frog of South America. It is referred to as either Sapo or Kambo depending on the method it is administered. It is called Sapo when mixed with the facilitator’s saliva. This is done to activate the enzymes which increase the potency of the medicine. It is called Kambo when it is mixed with water and administered. This medicine is used as an immune system reset. It has been used to heal many conditions. The experience is not pleasant for most as the body heats up, heart rate increases and there is purging. The recipients sometimes end up with “frog face” from the body swelling and storing the released toxins in fat cells because the liver is overloaded with processing. Many say it feels like their insides have been given a bath. The process can last an hour and the body will continue processing afterwards.
Sacred Medicine Referrals
If you are seeking a referral for ayahuasca, bufo, salvia, or san pedro, you cannot be on medications, on drugs, have heart conditions, high blood pressure, or mental illness. Medications and drugs can negatively interact with the entheogens and can result in death so please take this seriously. Medications are addressed on a case by case basis to determine how long you will have to wait to attend a ceremony to allow the medicine to clear from your system.
Heart conditions are of concern because some entheogens can increase blood pressure which can have a negative impact on the kidneys and cause renal failure. Mental illness; many people suffer from PTSD, mild depression, and anxiety. These issues won’t necessarily prevent you from attending a ceremony. Please be honest about any health concerns when requesting a referral. Click here to request referral.
Reintegration Coaching
Experiencing entheogens can be life changing and shocking to your reality. It is important that you choose facilitators who offer aftercare and reintegration support to guide you with integrating your experience into your life. If you have not received proper support and are struggling, please reach out for guidance and reintegration coaching.