Are depression and anxiety the most expensive illnesses in the Western world? Why not because mental health epidemics, including post-traumatic stress disorder and the opioid addiction crisis, even call into question the survival of our species? You’re not the only one wondering this. But there is one area that is gaining increasing interest from mental health professionals, neuroscientists, and others. It’s psychedelic.
Clinical studies from John Hopkins University and Imperial College, as well as other research institutions, have shown strong results using psilocybin to combat these mental health issues. Bufo, ibogaine And ayahuasca. These drugs are inexpensive, less toxic, and, perhaps most importantly, provide a spiritual experience that can reframe a person’s perspective and put them on the path to healing, especially when guided by a professional. It seems to be inducing.
The past decade has seen the emergence of a wealth of retreat centers and clinics in Mexico. There is a history of indigenous healing rituals and rituals, including: Psilocybin or “magic” mushroomsTravelers seeking psychedelic relief are flocking to Mexico, a phenomenon now known as psychedelic tourism.
PTSD is one of the most difficult medical conditions to treat. “We’re trying to understand how we can truly change these mental states,” Sarah Oppenheim, a trauma-informed psychoanalyst from New York, told me. “While I do not professionally endorse the use of psychedelics, I have witnessed miraculous transformations in clients who have been working to treat mental disorders.” Some of her clients have turned to ayahuasca rituals for healing. She traveled to Mexico to participate, which piqued her interest in Mexico as a powerful healing place.
“I’ve always been interested in Maria Sabina, the Mazatec shaman responsible for introducing psilocybin mushrooms to the West,” Oppenheim said. “As a psychology student, I remember Freud’s irony about PTSD. I think he only treated one veteran with PTSD, and he diagnosed him as cowardly, weak, and effeminate. We have come a long way through compassion and a willingness to think outside the box and help people heal from traumas that once seemed intractable. The country has been healing its people and communities for so long that Freud’s limitations now seem almost laughable.”
Why go to Mexico for an ayahuasca retreat?
There has been an explosion of psychedelic tourists, in this case foreigners traveling to Mexico and South America to consume ayahuasca. The internet is full of ads promoting retreats in Mexico, from the simplest two-day retreats along the beach to upscale full-package clinics and retreat centers. These are drawing medical professionals in the direction of alternative and holistic medicine. There are many questions in the social media space regarding the trustworthiness and trustworthiness of guides and shamans, as well as cultural appropriation of ancient indigenous practices. Ayahuasca ceremonies have become a lucrative business in Mexico. By highlighting this in the mainstream media, Compelling results from clinical trials In combination with psychedelics like ayahuasca, more and more people are choosing this alternative treatment for PTSD, addiction recovery, and deep personal healing.
There are many retreat centers in the U.S., but participants I’ve talked to who have traveled to Mexico for treatment say they’ve had a better experience anywhere. In the US he can attend a two-day retreat for less than 1,800 USD. For example, Soul His Quest Ayahuasca in Orlando, Florida. However, in addition to signing a waiver, Soul Quest Church of Mother Earth Inc. requires mandatory membership registration and a 10% registration fee. Weekend retreats range in cost from $2,000 to $5,000, and week-long retreats range from $4,000 to $8,000, said Philippe, who trained with the Shipibo people in Peru and now performs ceremonies throughout the United States. .
Marianne, who traveled to an ayahuasca retreat in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, told me about the differences between her experiences in Mexico and the United States. It was too crowded and chaotic, I felt unsafe and I could hear the traffic,” Marianne said.
“We paid $1,200 for the weekend and we all slept on the floor and heard more traffic. This should have been a good price. Although there were some worthwhile moments in this experience… , something didn’t feel right. I wanted to travel to a place where working with plant medicines like ayahuasca was part of the culture, but also in a natural, comfortable and inviting environment. I had heard about shamans from Mexico or who travel to Mexico. When I finished the ceremony in New York, I felt like I was called to Mexico.”
Mexico’s proximity to the United States has become a retreat mecca for indigenous shamans from Peru and Costa Rica due to its affordability, beautiful location, and easy travel, especially in the areas around Tulum and Cancun. Some ceremonies are much more affordable than in the United States. Retreat prices may be the same as in the US, but the settings are much more appealing, and additional treatments such as temascales, massages, crystal therapy, and shamanic energy healing are often on the menu.
Marianne chooses to attend Aloee Wellness You can attend a one-night ceremony in Puerto Morelos for $450, which includes bed, meals, and post-wedding customer support. “My experience was completely different,” she said. “I trusted the shaman because the environment changed everything. The environment, the time spent discussing my medical background including a history of depression and CPTSD (Complex PTSD) before the retreat, and the time spent after the retreat. The whole experience leading up to the care was one of great care.I think Mexicans are naturally more nurturing as a culture and their pace of life is less hectic.Also, the delicious food served after the ceremony The amount of fresh fruit and organic food was also amazing. In New York, there were only a few small snacks available. It felt like we were on a conveyor belt, waiting for the next 50 people to be brought into the loft. I felt like that.”
If you would like a longer four-day experience, Behold Retreat will host your ceremony in Valle de Bravo, Mexico state. We also offer traditional Mexican healing practices such as: Temascares Then take a hot spring bath.
For those more passionate about personal growth, Arcana International Spiritual Center in Izamal, Yucatan is also popular, hosting a seven-day retreat that includes three ayahuasca ceremonies, a psilocybin mushroom ceremony, and a temazcal session. Prices for this experience start at just under USD 4,000, and prices for a two-week retreat are just over USD 7,000. Arcana frequently hosts retreats with Heroic Hearts, a nonprofit organization that helps treat PTSD for U.S. veterans. Ayahuasca.
Can ayahuasca cure PTSD?
To answer that question, let me tell you a personal story that happened in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, my second home for 14 years. In 2018, the Public Library and Cultural Center’s Santa Hisana Theater screened special pre-release productions. “From shock to awe”A documentary co-produced by former San Miguel resident and psychologist Janine Saggart. PhD A deeply moving and intimate film about healing through ayahuasca. It raised fundamental questions about PTSD, mental health, the pharmaceutical industry, and the effects of war. The film won a film award in New York the following year.
Matt Karl and Mike Cooley served in the Iraq War as members of the U.S. military.of The film beautifully documents their journey to recovery from PTSD through an ayahuasca ritual. If they drink ayahuasca many times over the weekend, images of combat seem to eat away at their minds. They then receive profound revelations and gain a new perspective on their lives. Theater audiences were visibly and severely affected.
What also interested me was the passionate conversation that ensued among the audience, who admitted to knowing little about the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. “I still thought of them as a hedonistic drug used by irresponsible ‘hippies’ who simply wanted to push the boundaries of consciousness,” confessed San Miguel resident writer Herbert Moreau. “I grew up in the 60’s. But wow, times have changed. If these two men can transform from their human shells and reunite families that have been torn apart, this treatment could be the future.” I believe it has incredible potential for the ayahuasca ritual itself.” Further conversations in the theater encourage honest truth-telling about past trauma and encourage the audience to participate in the ayahuasca ritual itself. There was a lot of enthusiastic and excited interest.
Matt Carl and Janine were also in attendance and hosted a lively Q&A session after the screening. Later that week, I took Matt and his wife Amy out to look for land and old homesteads around San Miguel de Allende. They had a dream of establishing a retreat center in Mexico that would host ayahuasca ceremonies for veterans and civilians with PTSD.
Tragically, Matt recently passed away, but I will always remember his joy, kindness, and determination to bring psychedelic medicine to the masses. Amy continues to honor her own vision by running a retreat in Colorado. She still dreams of taking her children to Mexico and finding that hacienda.
I have fond memories of conversations in the car as we bowled down the dusty road toward La Huerta, a canyon outside of San Miguel where the indigenous people live. Clandross They have lived for centuries, on a bright sunny day in October.
“I could never join the military again. It seems so crazy now,” Matt commented. “I think psychedelics like ayahuasca will play a huge role in the future of human health.” And with today’s exciting scientific advances in this field, Mexico has better trained retreat practitioners and an abundance of Retreats are now available and who knows where psychedelic therapy will take us.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. The author and Mexico News Daily assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. Individuals should always consult a qualified professional regarding the use of ibogaine or any other substance for medical purposes and should consider the applicable laws and regulations of their jurisdiction.
Henrietta Weeks is a writer, editor, actor, and narrator. She divides her time between San Miguel de Allende, New York and Oxford, England.
