Natural Guardians of the Balkans: Entheogens in Indigenous Practices and Their Implications for Well-Being and Therapy
Psychoactives June 25, 2025 Lucija Vejmelka, Damir Gašpar
Psychedelic plants and fungi have long been used in traditional rituals and medicine, including within Slavic cultural heritage, but knowledge of their use on the Balkan Peninsula is largely undocumented due to oral transmission. This review describes the ethnobotanical uses of native Balkan entheogens, outlines the pharmacological mechanisms of their active compounds, and discusses their impacts on social behavior, mental health, and well-being. It examines therapeutic potential and risks, aiming to bridge indigenous knowledge with contemporary psychedelic-assisted therapy and advocate for culturally respectful research practices.