Psychedelic Herbal Medicines: Exploring the Renaissance of a Therapeutic Frontier
International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine July 21, 2025 Gaurav Mude, Shantilal Singune, Raghvendra Dubey
A renewed scientific interest in psychedelic plant remedies—such as psilocybe mushrooms, ayahuasca, iboga, and salvia divinorum—is transforming contemporary therapeutic paradigms. Clinical research indicates these substances hold promise for treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction by promoting neuroplasticity, emotional resilience, and profound psychological healing under careful supervision. Advances in ethnobotany, neurology, and psychopharmacology reveal their mechanisms, particularly through serotonergic pathway regulation and enhancement of introspective experiences. Regulatory environments are cautiously evolving toward integrating these traditional medicines into modern care, though challenges remain in standardizing botanical formulations, ensuring patient safety, and overcoming social stigma. The work examines historical origins, molecular foundations, therapeutic uses, and future developments, calling for multidisciplinary collaboration to advance this field.