Plant based assisted therapy for the treatment of substance use disorders part 2 : beyond blurred boundaries.
Matteo Polit, Fabio Friso, Jacques Mabit
Cultura y Droga July 1, 2019 DOI: 10.17151/culdr.2019.24.28.2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Addiction |
| Keywords | Context archaeology Consumption sociology Psychoactive substance Substance use Traditional medicine Social science |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | The blurred boundaries between criminalizing drug consumption and treating it as a health issue could be overcome by being inspired by the ancient wisdom of traditional medicines. |
Abstract
Objective. This article aims to offer a vision of the centers at a global level that use derivatives of plants or animals for the treatment of substance use disorders, and to offer a reflection on the concept of drugs as medicinal or toxicant agents depending on the context of use, culture and policy. Methodology. Some practices coming from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas were considered, carrying out a research based on scientific literature, exchange of information with treatment centers, internet search and the personal experience of the authors. Results and Discussion. Different cases of the use of natural medicines are described including psychoactive derivatives of Tabernanthe iboga and Bufo alvarius. Conclusions. The blurred boundaries between considering drug consumption as a crime or as a health issue could be overcome by being inspired by the ancient wisdom of traditional medicines.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account | 2016 | Review | |
| Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents Animal models and cellular studies | 2018 | Review | |
| A narrative review of yoga and mindfulness as complementary therapies for addiction. | 2013 | Review | |
| The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies | 2018 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Beyond the Psychoactive Effects of Ayahuasca: Cultural and Pharmacological Relevance of Its Emetic and Purging Properties. Planta Medica November 1, 2022
- Psychedelic Therapy: A Primer for Primary Care Clinicians—Ibogaine American Journal of Therapeutics March 1, 2024
- Substance use disorders (SUDs) in Latin America and the Caribbean: a narrative review of native medicinal plants as alternative therapies Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences June 20, 2025
Cites 19
- The Therapeutic Potentials of Ayahuasca: Possible Effects against Various Diseases of Civilization. Frontiers in Pharmacology March 2, 2016
- Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: detoxification and drug use outcomes. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 2018
- Ibogaine treatment outcomes for opioid dependence from a twelve-month follow-up observational study. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 2018
- Psychedelics as medicines for substance abuse rehabilitation: evaluating treatments with LSD, Peyote, Ibogaine and Ayahuasca. Current Drug Abuse Reviews 2014
- Treating drug dependence with the aid of ibogaine: a retrospective study. Journal of Psychopharmacology November 1, 2014
and 14 more in the library