Plant based assisted therapy for the treatment of substance use disorders - part 1. The case of takiwasi center and other similar experiences

Several American treatment centers use traditional herbal medicines or their derivatives to address substance dependence. Psychoactive plants that induce modified states of consciousness—Ayahuasca, Coca, Wachuma, Tobacco, Psilocybe mushrooms, Salvia divinorum, and Peyote—are particularly relevant. Plant-based assisted therapy for substance use disorders is a promising research field, but clinical outcome validation needs improvement for most cases examined.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Objective. This article aims to give an overview of the major American centers using traditional herbal medicine or their derivatives in the treatment of substance dependence. Methodology. For the purpose of this article we have considered a small number of plants hailing from South, Central and North America. The research has been based on scientific literature, information exchange with treatment centers, internet searches and the personal experience of the authors. Results and discussion. Results show the relevance of certain psychoactive plants well known also for inducing modified states of consciousness (MSCs) including Ayahuasca, Coca, Wachuma, Tobacco, Psilocybe mushrooms, Salvia divinorum and Peyote. Conclusions. Plant based assisted therapy for the treatment of substance use disorders appear to be a promising field of research, although validation of the clinical outcomes need to be improved for the majority of the analyzed cases.