Entheogenic Research Awareness (ERA)

What are entheogens?
The term entheogen literally means “to cultivate the divine within,” and is used to describe sacred medicines, whether of indigenous tradition or synthetic chemical, that catalyze spiritual and physical healing by facilitating altered states of consciousness. Examples include ayahuasca, cannabis, peyote, ibogaine, psilocybin-containing mushrooms, and MDMA. Some entheogens are believed to have been used for healing purposes for thousands of years, while others were synthesized in the last century. They share a powerful potential for healing when used responsibly in a therapeutic context.

A psychedelic renaissance :
According to a 2014 Scientific American article, "psychedelic drugs are poised to be the next major breakthrough in mental healthcare." In the United States, numerous Phase II trials have been completed for psilocybin and MDMA. Johns Hopkins has conducted research on psilocybin for tobacco cessation, in healthy experienced meditators, and in patients with depression and/or anxiety associated with a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. In their cancer research, an astounding 92% of participants demonstrated significant and sustained decreases in depressive symptoms after just two treatments, and about 50% of participants described it as the single most meaningful experience of their life. In another study funded by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), 83% of participants with chronic, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were no longer diagnosable with PTSD after just two MDMA-assisted psychotherapy sessions, and those results were sustained an years later. With Phase III trials now underway, both MDMA and psilocybin are anticipated to become medicinally legal by approximately 2021. We are truly in the midst of a psychedelic renaissance, and these medicines hold the potential to offer lasting healing to many people.

Entheogens and naturopathic medicine :
The team of medical students behind ERA recognize that demand for entheogenic medicine is already substantial and this field will only continue expanding. There will soon be a huge need for healthcare practitioners in this field. With the proper training, naturopathic physicians would be highly qualified to assist patients in entheogenic experiences. Naturopathic doctors are already trained to treat their patients as a whole person and they understand well the profound impact of mental and emotional wellness on physical health. Many people require deep mental-emotional healing in order for their physical symptoms to resolve. Entheogens facilitate a profound level of healing from which true, lasting healing may naturally arise.

What we do :
ERA envisions a new paradigm of healthcare which honors indigenous knowledge of psychoactive substances and their derivatives while upholding the highest standards of evidence-based medicine.

ERA’s mission is to maintain a conversation about therapeutic applications of entheogenic medicine and provide information about current medical research as well as traditional uses of these medicines in ritual and healing. Our lectures and educational resources are frequently free and available to the public because we believe that this information should be accessible to everyone.