E-Course
E-Course on Integration and Crisis Support. The use of plants and fungi that were once limited to their traditional territories are now spreading globally. In order for health professionals to provide proper support to people who decide to have such experiences, it is vital to have a full understanding of these practices, contexts of use, pharmacology, effects, potential risks and benefits, and strategies for crisis intervention.
In this course, Ben de Loenen, Marc Aixalà and José Carlos Bouso will share insights into different aspects of the use of psychoactive ethnobotanical tools including contexts of use, historical aspects, scientific knowledge, and mental health implications.
Integration and Crisis Support. 1 of 3
Video 1: Introducing: Ben de Loenen, MA. ▶️
Ben de Loenen is the Executive Director and Founder of ICEERS.
Video 2: Understanding Cultural Context ▶️
In this video we go into the cultural/historic context these ethnobotanicals come from, how they have been integrated into indigenous communities for millennia, to then more recently have moved beyond the indigenous territories, leading to the categorization of these ancestral psychoactive substances as ’novel psychoactive substances’.
Video 3: Different Contexts of Use ▶️
E-Course on Integration and Crisis Support. In this section we go into the different contexts of use of these substances; from indigenous ceremonial settings, religious practice, to therapeutic, medical research and ‘psychonautic’ contexts of use.
Integration and Crisis Support. 2 of 3
Video 1: Introducing: Marc Aixalà, MSc. ▶️
Marc Aixalà is the Director of Integration and Support Services at ICEERS.
Video 2: Ancient Psychoactive Substances: How and why? ▶️
In this video we will explore why and how these substances are used. What does people try to obtain by using them? What different kind of uses we find in Western society? What different intentions do people have when approaching these substances? The phenomenon of newly used traditional psychoactive substances is complex and diverse.
Video 3: Psychēplants Project: Psychoactive substances and Mental Health ▶️
The need for integration of the psychedelic experience has become more relevant in the last years. In this video we explore some of the main problems that people can encounter in the integration period, as well as the implications for clinicians who are faced with these not so common requests. We explore the need for a common language to better support people facing challenges after the use of psychoactive substances.
Video 4: Survey on the use of Psychoactive Substances: Results ▶️
During the development of the Psychēplants project we conducted an online survey about the use of certain Ancient Psychoactive Substances. We asked about types of substances used, contexts and patterns of use, general mental health and perception of the consequences of their use. More than 400 people answered the survey. In this video we present some results.
Integration and Crisis Support. 3 of 3
Video 1: Introducing: José Carlos Bouso, PhD. ▶️
José Carlos Bouso is the Scientific Director of ICEERS.
Video 2: Basic pharmacology of Plant Based APS ▶️
In this first part, the concept of APS is introduced, its specificity is questioned, as well as its poor explanatory value. The basic pharmacology of the most consumed APS in non-indigenous contexts is also described.
Video 3: Pharmacology and therapeutic effects of psychedelic APS ▶️
In this video the neuropharmacology of plants with psychedelic effects is described, The main studies in which therapeutic or beneficial effects have been found are also reviewed.
Video 4: Challenges in Mental Health and Research ▶️
In this last part, the crisis of psychopharmacology in the field of the treatment of mental and neurological diseases is discussed. Some evidences of the benefits of psychedelic plants for mental health are presented and the future challenges in the research are described, in order to respect and integrate ancient systems of traditional knowledge.
Other links of interest
Kahpi – The Essential Ayahuasca Guide For the Modern World
Chacruna.net – The Psychedelic Plant Medicine Experts