Medical Uses For Hallucinogens

Are Hallucinogens Used Medically?

Although the use of hallucinogens in medicine may seem very much like an almost “pseudoscience”, in many cultures for thousands of years and still today it has been seen as common reasonable practice. There are a variety of reasons as to why in individual, medical practitioner, medicine man, shaman or culture would see medicinal benefit in the employment of hallucinogens. Some of these reasons may have actual factual basis which argue their authenticity of providing positive, contributions to the diagnosis or curing of a patient. Yet, some of these reasons are accompanied by only religious belief systems, albeit these reasons can be very convincing and considerably flourishing in cultural significance.

Some hallucinogens have been used differently in medicine throughout history. Depending upon the region, religious beliefs of the employing users, and a number of other factors, some hallucinogens may be used differently even in the same time period.  Many hallucinogens were only once employed in a medicinal fashion, only to be used for recreational purpose today (or not at all). It has also been suggested that some hallucinogens which were once widely available and regularly utilized in society or religion for whatever reason, are extinct today. Many people have speculated that some hallucinogens could be used medicinally, only they have yet to be properly researched or their medicinal value yet to be discovered.  Regardless of the probable plethora of potential hallucinogens with medical uses which have yet to be discovered, there are many which have already been employed for thousands of years and/or are still used today.

How Are Hallucinogens Used Medically?

There are many hallucinogens which have been used for medical purposes. This is a list of the ways hallucinogens have been used in medicine.

Altering States of Consciousness

Probably one of the most obvious reasons for ever employing a hallucinogen is the general effect of altered state of consciousness. This effect has been used on both parties in various cultures (the medicine man/shaman diagnosing the ailment, or the patient themselves). Many hallucinogens are said to provide clarity, and the ability to better diagnose medical ailment. Some of these plants have been used in cultures since before Christ. There are a lot of trance or vision inducing hallucinogens that have heavy history being used in medicine to diagnose.

Looking for Imbalance

The chemical composition of hallucinogens could suggest that they are rich plumes of special substances, overloading the brain and creating an imbalance that can be literally seen and experienced via hallucination. For some people, the imbalance is more noticeable than others. Some people barely notice the effects of a strong hallucinogen, which would suggest many things that could potentially help arrive at a medical diagnosis.  If a patient responds strongly to one type of hallucinogen and not another, it may help the shaman better narrow an ailment or problem.

Mental and Spiritual Cleansing

There are some cultures on nearly every continent which employee hallucinogens as a way of cleansing ones soul, mind, or body. One of the most famous cleansing tonics, has also been used for a variety of other reasons (both medicinal and non-medicinal): Ayahuasca. Ayahuasca is a concoction made of many different ingredients, a large number of them containing hallucinogen (or similar analog) DMT. The drink is said to put one into a state of deep trance, inducing visions and even dreamlike experiences. Ancient Indians throughout Mexico (and all regions South of Mexico) employed ayahuasca as a way of almost resetting one’s chakra.

Divine Communication

A lot of hallucinogens have been employed by shaman in order to open communication with ancestors, gods, the deceased, or other spirits for the purpose of treating or diagnosing an ailment. There has been strong beliefs in many cultures around the world that the spirit world can be responsible for medical complications and ailments. This has been especially true when it comes to diseases and widespread epidemics (such as the plague). There have been elaborate folklore surrounding some of the plants which are used as hallucinogens in medical and ceremonial purposes, which involve the spirit world, or gods of some sort.  Many cultures still use hallucinogens in medical diagnosis and treatment practices in order to “fight demons” which may be causing illness. Many shaman around the world still ingest or otherwise consume hallucinogens to communicate with their gods when someone in their tribe is sick.  It is common for shaman to ingest a hallucinogen to receive special healing powers or to ask the gods for healing help.

A Cure for Insanity

While it is true that some hallucinogens can actually induce permanent insanity, it is also true that there are hallucinogens used to treat insanity and actually cure it.  There have been many cultures which use hallucinogens to treat delirium, schizophrenia, psychosis, and a variety of other “insane” behaviors. Very little research exists as far as how successful these cultures have been with these medical practices, however, admittedly this is probably in part due to the preconceived notion that hallucinogens are evil and should be outlawed. Hallucinogens were heavily associated with witchcraft throughout the Old World, and documented as “evil” by the Spanish (upon arriving in the Americas during their conquest).  Should people have had a more open mind, the research for curing insanity using hallucinogens may be much further today.

Treatment for Addiction (Alcoholism and Narcotic Addictions)

Some hallucinogens in themselves are labeled as narcotics. Still, there are some hallucinogens which have been used throughout history and still today to treat addiction. There are hallucinogens which induce certain states of consciousness, alter certain chemical balances in the body and brain, and flat out cause such a hangover from hell that one sometimes never needs to trip again. There are hallucinogens which have been used to be alcoholism in specific. Some hallucinogens have cultural use for battling opioids. And there are some psychedelics out there which can help beat nicotine addictions (despite the fact that nicotine is most dominantly produced in a plant that is a member of the nightshade family).

Treatment for Depression

Although it has been said that depression points to either a situational cause or a chronic chemical imbalance of some kind, it has also been suggested that certain types of depression can be cured in an instant via a single life altering experience. Some cultures and Indian tribes have been well-known to employ hallucinogens as a way of treating depression in some patients. Many doctors and scientists alike have suggested that breaking the habitual experience of life can create life-changing effects for certain patients.

Past Memory Regression

There are a lot of hallucinogens employed in many tribes around the world specifically for their capability of memory recall.  Some medicine men see therapeutic value in helping patients retrieve past memories. Hallucinogens have been used for thousands of years by shaman for a variety of past memory regressive therapy techniques (whether on themselves or on their patients). In fact some psychotherapy and psychoanalyst experts have suggested that some hallucinogens (such as LSD) are capable of shortening the need for treatment greatly by unlocking traumatic experiences the mind has long locked away. It has been suggested that the easy nature of the hallucinogen reintroducing the experience in a way that can be so easily overcome, allows patients of trauma or tragedy to heal faster.

Pain “Reliever”

In some cultures around the world, shaman and medicine men administer hallucinogens (such as LSD) as a way of reducing or completely eliminating a patient’s pain. Technically, the pain is not eliminated…however, the hallucinogen alters the users perception of reality to no longer include the pain. Interestingly enough, a super notable case of Western medicine using LSD experimentally for pain relief exists. The United States has been documented administering LSD to cancer patients who had no longer any responses to traditional pain relief medicines. The use of hallucinogens on cancer patients as a pain reliever is a strongly touchy topic and the medical community is morally divided.

Anxiety Relief for Dying Patients

In some instances, some of which even include within the United States, LSD and other hallucinogens have been administered to patients whom are dying of disease or a painful ailment. Usually, the drug is administered for anxiety relief and to help the patient cope with the situation of their situation.  In many cases it has been reported that dying patients on hallucinogens experience a peaceful, satisfying end that leaves them fully understanding life.

Last Notes on Hallucinogens Used in Medicine

One of the things that history has taught us, is that healing and medicine can rely heavily upon one’s belief system.  Some cultures only rely upon divine intervention to cure and nothing else. Some cultures employ technology, using present-day medical techniques to diagnose and treat ailments.  And there are still cultures which rely on more primitive medical diagnostics, treatment plans, and medicines. And while some of these more primitive remedies and traditions have been used for thousands of years, the use of hallucinogens in medicine is probably among the more obscure and eccentric practices. Due to the primitive nature of using delirium-inducing drugs in the treatment of ailment, a lot of negative stigma has been associated with the medical practices of these types of cultures. Still, many of the medical practices surrounding use of hallucinogens are performed with good intentions.