Stephanie | Green in the New Black
The stigma surrounding mental health issues still exists despite wider research, broader media coverage, and brave individuals speaking out to share their experiences. It’s a common problem the world over with no magic pill to pop that can fix it. However, there is a new strand of therapy emerging that’s backed by science and increasing in popularity. Here, Jonathan de Potter, of Behold Retreats shares his views on the global mental health crisis and how alternative therapies and plant-based medicine might help certain individuals heal.
Mental health disorders now affect one in seven people (1.1bn globally, 500m in Asia), it’s difficult to say that our current forms of treatment are proving effective. Coronavirus is further exacerbating the mental health crisis, and we are in urgent need of new solutions. We are seeing record levels of anxiety, depression, and addictive disorders.
Clinical research in the US and Europe has proven plant-based medicine to be a safe and powerful modality for treatment. For the past two decades, research on the subject has been a priority for leading medical universities, for example at John Hopkins in the USA and Imperial College in the UK. Clinical research demonstrates lasting improvements in behaviour, cognition, and brain function, as reported by the individual and surrounding family and friends. Patients also report an increased feeling in social connectedness.
Michael Pollan’s 2018 book “How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence” has played an important role in bringing the topic into the mainstream. Legal treatment options are already available in a number of locations globally – including Canada, California, Colorado, Portugal, Netherlands, and Central/South America. The industry is also attracting considerable investment, with further legalization initiatives underway across the globe.
Click here to read the full article written by Stephanie.
*Lead image by Harsha Poojari
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