Psychedelic Science, Contemplative Practices, and Indigenous and Other Traditional Knowledge Systems: Towards Integrative Community-Based Approaches in Global Health.
Julian Urrutia, Brian T Anderson, Sean J Belouin, Ann Berger, Roland R. Griffiths, Charles S. Grob, Jack E Henningfield, Beatriz C. Labate, Larissa J. Maier, M Catherine Maternowska, Frank Weichold, David B. Yaden, Veronica Magar
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2023 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2023.2258367 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Indigenous Psychedelic science Community-based Contemplative practices Global public health Health systems Self-transcendent experiences Traditional knowledge systems |
| Citations | 21 |
| Key findings | Combining psychedelic science, contemplative practices, and Indigenous and other traditional knowledge systems in community-based integrative care models could be transformative for global health. |
Abstract
As individuals and communities around the world confront mounting physical, psychological, and social threats, three complimentary mind-body-spirit pathways toward health, wellbeing, and human flourishing remain underappreciated within conventional practice among the biomedical, public health, and policy communities. This paper reviews literature on psychedelic science, contemplative practices, and Indigenous and other traditional knowledge systems to make the case that combining them in integrative models of care delivered through community-based approaches backed by strong and accountable health systems could prove transformative for global health. Both contemplative practices and certain psychedelic substances reliably induce self-transcendent experiences that can generate positive effects on health, well-being, and prosocial behavior, and combining them appears to have synergistic effects. Traditional knowledge systems can be rich sources of ethnobotanical expertise and repertoires of time-tested practices. A decolonized agenda for psychedelic research and practice involves engaging with the stewards of such traditional knowledges in collaborative ways to codevelop evidence-based models of integrative care accessible to the members of these very same communities. Going forward, health systems could consider Indigenous and other traditional healers or spiritual guides as stakeholders in the design, implementation, and evaluation of community-based approaches for safely scaling up access to effective psychedelic treatments.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 18
- A lexicon for psychedelic research and treatment Drug Science, Policy and Law September 1, 2025
- Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies for Psychosocial Symptoms in Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Current Oncology June 30, 2025
- Community-based psychedelic integration and social efficacy: An ethnographic study in the Southeastern United States Journal of Psychedelic Studies May 27, 2024
- Navigating the mainstreaming of psychedelics Journal of Psychedelic Studies 2025
- Chaplains in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy: Rationale and Competencies Journal of Religion and Health February 28, 2026
and 13 more in the library
Cites 71
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
and 66 more in the library