As psychedelic medicine gains traction, discussions about plant medicines are increasing as well. Many people use the terms interchangeably, but are they truly the same? Understanding the differences between psychedelics and plant medicines can clarify their roles in healing, therapy, and personal transformation.
Let’s talk Psychedelics
Psychedelics are substances that induce altered states of consciousness, often characterized by profound perceptual, cognitive, and emotional shifts. These experiences can range from enhanced creativity to deep introspection and mystical insights. While the term “psychedelic” encompasses a broad spectrum of substances, they are often categorized based on their effects:
- Phenomenological Definition: Psychedelics elicit distinct experiences, including a sense of ineffability (difficulty putting the experience into words), altered perception of time and self, and profound insights or novel perspectives.
- Neurobiological Definition: Many psychedelics work by interacting with serotonin receptors, particularly the 5HT2A receptor, leading to increased connectivity in the brain and reduced activity in the default mode network (DMN), which governs the sense of self.
- Psychedelic Medicine: Some psychedelics, such as ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin, are gaining recognition as legitimate treatments for mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, and anxiety. These medicines are backed by clinical research and regulatory approvals in controlled settings.
What Are Plant Medicines?
Plant medicines refer to naturally occurring substances that have therapeutic properties. While some plant medicines are psychedelic, not all fall into this category. The key distinction is that plant medicines are derived from nature, often used in traditional or indigenous healing practices.
Common plant medicines include:
- Psychedelic plant medicines: Psilocybin-containing mushrooms, ayahuasca, and ibogaine
- Non-psychedelic plant medicines: Herbal teas, medicinal mushrooms like reishi or lion’s mane, and adaptogenic herbs used for wellness
Unlike synthetic psychedelics such as LSD or MDMA, plant medicines are consumed in their natural or minimally processed forms.
Key Differences Between Psychedelics and Plant Medicines
While there is significant overlap, several distinctions set psychedelics apart from plant medicines:
- Psychedelic Experience: All psychedelics induce a profound alteration in consciousness, but not all plant medicines do. For example, medicinal mushrooms like reishi do not cause psychedelic effects, while psilocybin mushrooms do.
- Natural vs. Synthetic: Plant medicines are derived from nature, whereas some psychedelics, like MDMA or LSD, require laboratory synthesis. However, certain psychedelics, such as psilocybin or mescaline, naturally occur in plants and fungi.
- Traditional Use vs. Clinical Research: Many plant medicines have been used for centuries in indigenous healing ceremonies, whereas some psychedelics, like ketamine and MDMA, are primarily studied in clinical research settings for mental health treatment.
The Overlap Between Psychedelics and Plant Medicines
Several substances fit both categories. For instance, psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca are both plant medicines and psychedelics, as they are naturally occurring and induce profound altered states of consciousness. On the other hand, ketamine is a psychedelic medicine but not a plant medicine, as it is synthesized in a lab.
Psychedelic Plant Medicines:
- Psilocybin-containing mushrooms
- Ayahuasca (DMT-containing brew)
- Iboga/Ibogaine
- Peyote (Mescaline-containing cactus)
- San Pedro (Mescaline-containing cactus)
- Yopo (DMT-containing seeds)
- Bufo Alvarius (5-MeO-DMT from toad secretion, sometimes considered plant medicine)
Non-Psychedelic Plant Medicines:
- Ashwagandha
- Rhodiola Rosea
- Lion’s Mane Mushroom
- Reishi Mushroom
- Chaga Mushroom
- Holy Basil (Tulsi)
- Turmeric
- Kava Kava
- Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs
- Ayurvedic medicinal plants
Synthetic or Naturally Derived Psychedelics
- Classical Psychedelics: (Act on serotonin 5HT2A receptors)
- LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide)
- Psilocybin (from mushrooms, also considered plant medicine)
- DMT (Dimethyltryptamine, found in plants but also synthesized)
- Mescaline (found in peyote and San Pedro, but can be synthesized)
- Empathogens and Dissociative Psychedelics:
- MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)
- Ketamine (Dissociative, also used in medicine)
- 5-MeO-DMT (from Bufo Alvarius toad secretion, also synthesized)
- DXM (Dextromethorphan, found in cough syrups but has dissociative effects)
- PCP (Phencyclidine, dissociative psychedelic)
Understanding the nuances between psychedelics and plant medicines is important as these substances become more mainstream. While all psychedelics offer altered states of consciousness, not all plant medicines do. Additionally, the distinction between natural and lab-synthesized compounds plays a role in how these substances are perceived and used.