Ketamine’s Role in Spirituality: How One Synthetic Drug Catalyzes a Natural Experience
January 1, 2021 Samiah Woods
Ketamine, an anesthetic, can produce spiritual experiences such as feelings of revelation and out-of-body experiences, similar to the psychedelic psilocybin. Many physicians feel unqualified to discuss these effects, which may harm patient health outcomes. This paper argues that recognizing the spiritual value of ketamine can improve physician-patient communication and promote holistic healthcare. It investigates how ketamine-induced non-ordinary experiences highlight the compatibility of spiritual and physical health, and compares the mechanisms and medical value of ketamine and psilocybin in catalyzing spiritual experiences.