About Heal
Let us help you use nature’s gift of plant medicine to help you tap deeper into your subconscious, promoting meaningful, lasting inner work.
“That felt like ten years of therapy,” is an often-heard sentiment after one’s first intentional journey with plant medicine. We live in the era of a psychedelic renaissance, where the scientific community, psychiatric and pharmaceutical industries, and the world at large are learning about the therapeutic potential of psychedelics and plant medicine.
We can help guide you to achieve the most effective, safe, and meaningful experience possible. Just like in traditional psychotherapy, the goal is that you need a guide’s help less and less over time.
What do we do?
Throughout decades of research, the time-tested way to effectively explore one’s subconscious is to be mindful of several factors during the journey process. At HEAL, we help curate this environment for you, taking care of every detail to ensure you are safe, comfortable, and that your experience is as profound as possible. We want you to expect long-term results.
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Think of “set” as your set of intentions for your journey. What do you intend to change or heal? Thoughtfully creating your set of intentions before a psychedelic trip is a powerful mechanism to guide your experience. It sets the tone for your journey, creating a framework for what you hope to explore or understand. By clarifying your goals, whether they involve personal growth or healing a deeper wound from your past, you establish a purposeful mindset that is vital for a productive experience. Clear intentions also act as a compass, enabling you to navigate the potentially overwhelming aspects of the experience with a clearer focus.
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A proper setting during a psychedelic trip is crucial. A supportive, safe environment reduces anxiety and regulates the nervous system, allowing for deeper exploration of mind and body. An experienced guide, the right music, and calming surroundings promote insights and emotional breakthroughs, maximizing the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.
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Proper dosage for a psychedelic trip is vital for safety as well as effectiveness of your experience. Effects vary significantly with dosage; lower doses lead to milder (but still meaningful) experiences, while higher doses can cause overwhelming reactions. Understanding personal tolerance and substance characteristics allows for a controlled environment that promotes deep introspection within manageable boundaries. When the proper dose is taken, and the other guidelines are followed, we believe that there is no such thing as a “bad” trip.
FAQs
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Plant medicine is any substance derived from natural sources to improve well-being. In the context of mental health, specific plants contain psychedelic compounds which can alter perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior. Medicinal plants have been used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times.
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Every plant containing psychedelic compounds has a different pharmacodynamic effect. Psilocybe cubensis (or “magic mushroom”) is a serotonin 5-HT2A agonist, meaning it activates the brain’s serotonin receptors. This enables the brain to process serotonin more efficiently, which can be extremely effective in improving mood.
Psilocybin also decreases activity in the brain’s default mode network, which enables the psyche to see situations differently, and change behavior more quickly and effectively. A carefully crafted experience with plant medicine enables an individual to gain insights into the subconscious mind. This provides the opportunity for deeper perspective shifts and long-term benefits.
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Physiologically, psilocybin is extremely safe and virtually impossible to overdose.
Psychologically, the only individuals discouraged from taking moderate and higher doses of psychedelic compounds are individuals with a history of psychosis.
Because psilocybin affects serotonin—not dopamine (which drugs like cocaine and heroine affect)—it is not addictive. On the contrary, research since the mid 20th century points to the anti-addictive properties of psilocybin—for example, in studies concerning smoking cessation and overconsumption of alcohol.
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Because psilocybin effectively improves mood and temporarily decreases activity in the brain’s default mode network, it can help individuals perceive life and situations in a new way. The brain is enabled to create new neural pathways to further improve mood and behavior long-term.
Research has pointed to its ability to significantly improve symptoms in individuals with major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorder. New research suggests these disorders may be associated with unresolved past traumatic experiences.
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Since the turn of the century, there has been a large influx of scientific research surrounding psychedelics and their therapeutic potential.
Academic research:
The Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research
The Imperial Centre for Psychedelic Research – Imperial College London
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
Media:
Psychedelic-assisted therapy – BBC News
You are in safe hands throughout the duration of your personal journey. Meet our guides.