Using drugs to increase your self awareness

[Phoxinusphoxinus]

So my sister is into spiritual stuff and she has attended various retreats. On one of them the purpose of the retreat was to take a drug from the Amazon rainforest. It apparently helped her get enlightenment or gain self awareness. It also has a side effect of throwing up and hallucinations. I really struggle to understand how this can help anyone. So does anyone have experience of this? Can you explain how it helps?

Well, the name might help. There are many "drugs from the Amazon rainforest" that wealthy young English women use to "gain enlightenment", but chances are the retreat just gave them all spice :p

Chances are it was DMT, or ayahuasca, which is rather popular at the moment.

This might explain the experience of microdosing. Quite popular among the outdoors folks I know in NZ (MTB, ski and tramping types).
Microdosing

www.talktofrank.com/drug/dimethyltryptamine?a=DMT

It could be one of many things. Rape? (Ha-pay) or psilocybin?

Sananga can make you sick too

Sorry pressed post too soon!

They act to clear your mind and give you clarity. I've done it myself and found it to be a positive, although incredibly emotional) experience that helped me see a problem I was having in a totally new light

@Thadhiya I don't think she told me the name as it's illegal and she knows I'm a little cynical about the retreats. You have increased my cynicism further because you are right you would have no idea if the drug was the one advertised. That thought hadn't even crossed my mind.

@mstroutpout

Sorry pressed post too soon!

They act to clear your mind and give you clarity. I've done it myself and found it to be a positive, although incredibly emotional) experience that helped me see a problem I was having in a totally new light

Yes it was the clarity about issues she talked about.

For me I just wondered how the drug helped, particularly given the side effects.

Psychedelics plus talk therapy has great potential in mental health treatment www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/14/magic-mushroom-psilocybin-show-promise-treatment-depression-clinical-trial-finds

She should stick to shrooms to avoid cultural appropriation

@Phoxinusphoxinus the side effects are short lived at the start of the experience and not everyone has them. They call it "purging" and is considered to be a part of the cleanse itself