Ayahuasca ceremony as therapy
Ayahuasca is known as a strong hallucinogenic. This is mainly because ayahuasca is often ineffective or very strong. It is therefore difficult to make an intermediate dose of the ayahuasca brew. The strong effect also has its advantages because you can be completely immersed in the psychedelic experience without inhibition. This can be an unpleasant but perhaps necessary experience, an unpleasant experience or a very beautiful journey. Because of the stories of previous ayahuasca travelers, more people are seeking ayahuasca therapy. Can ayahuasca actually be used as therapy?
In the Netherlands, ayahuasca is illegal
In the Netherlands, ayahuasca is illegal and its illegal status in 2019 has once again been confirmed by a Supreme Court ruling.
The Supreme Court has ruled that importing and possessing Ayahuasca is illegal in the Netherlands. This ruling was to be expected due to negative news reports regarding a number of fatalities during or after various ayahuasca ceremonies.
See here the opinion of the Supreme Court
No ayahuasca therapy for now
Because of the court rulings, ayahuasca therapy will not be possible in the near future. Of course, various providers will continue to offer illegal and underground ayahuasca retreats. Another reason ayahuasca is not going to be seen as medicine or therapeutic support is the added danger of complications or fatalities compared to psychedelics with similar effects. In the legislature's eye, it makes more sense to allow the safer alternatives.
The legal and safer alternatives
Psychedelic therapy in a safer and legal way can be done with, for example psilocybin, psiloflora, LSD or MDMA. Psilocybin and psiloflora are the most similar of this list. Compared to ayahuasca, psiloflora comes closest to the experience ayahuasca gives while being much safer and also legal. Some other advantages of psiloflora are the absence of severe physical discomfort such as vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating and psiloflora gives more rest. Want to read more about the differences? Then go through the article below.
MDMA therapy as an alternative
Although MDMA is an illegal substance, you can do an MDMA session through Trip Therapy. MDMA sessions use a similar substance that is legal and also better suited for a therapeutic session. An MDMA session is typically used as an aid to trauma and PTSD.
Read more here MDMA therapy
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