Here’s a, probably incomplete, list of things psychedelics are being said to address, help or cure…

Psychedelics, what don’t they cure? 
May 31, 2024 | Community, Emotional Healing, Personal Growth, Plant Medicine, Spiritual Development




1. Depression

2. Anxiety

3. PTSD

4. Substance Use Disorders (including alchoholism)

5. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

6. End-of-Life Distress

7. Eating Disorders

8. Chronic Pain

9. Cluster Headaches

10. Personality Disorders

11. Spiritual and Existential Exploration

12. Creativity and Problem-Solving

13. Autism Spectrum Disorders

14. Toxic Relationships

15. Bipolar Disorder

16. ADHD

17. Traumatic Brain Injury

18. Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

19. Suicidality

20. Psychosomatic Disorders

21. Inflammatory Conditions

22. Migraine

23. Pain Management in Cancer

24. Improving Neuroplasticity

25. Enhancing Mindfulness and Meditation Practices

26. Psychological Resilience

27. Sexual Dysfunction

28. Fibromyalgia

29. Postpartum Depression

30. Body Dysmorphic Disorder

31. Death and taxes



Well, probably not the last.



The truth is, plant medicine cannot “cure” all or perhaps any of the above–but what if the above are symptoms? Symptoms of deeper issues?



What is emerging through an ever-increasing number of studies in therapeutic journeys is that they can lead to rapid reductions in self-destructive thoughts and trauma; which allows for the healing of what may be at the root of our pain, illnesses, and wounds. By helping us process difficult feelings and memories; therapeutic psychedelic journeys can support things like: greater self-acceptance, feelings of connectedness and a sense of purpose; which turns out to be really, really powerful. And yet…



No ceremony, no plant, no drug can ever be “The Answer.”



As a culture we are very susceptible to seeing The Answer in a substance, which can be and usually is then commodified. This “cure” (keep in mind that western medicine currently has only one class of drugs that can cure—penicillin) can be advertised as a substance that is going to change our lives—this is what we see in pharmaceutical ads, this is what we are beginning to hear about psychedelics, especially microdosing (which currently has no studies, yet, that show its efficacy).



Basically, the American way is we want to be changed, without having to change.



One danger with this commodifying of plant medicines is it strips away the spirituality. Afterall, the ego will destroy what it does not understand, and deny what threatens it. The ego cannot understand the truly spiritual.



Plant medicines are not a magical answer, separate from our participation. We are susceptible to wanting to externalize our “cure.” There’s no getting away from having to work with ourselves. And our ancestors did this thru community, connection, support and a veneration to the mystical.

Content provided by Women Belong member Beth Taska-Kromer