Finding the Right Plant Medicine: Psilocybin, MDMA or LSD?

Not all plant and psychedelic medicines are the same. Each one has a unique personality, purpose, and way of helping us heal. While they aren’t “cures” in the traditional sense, studies and decades of lived experience show these medicines can support real transformation—especially for those struggling with trauma, depression, anxiety, and feeling disconnected from life.

Let’s take a closer look at three powerful medicines—psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD—and what current research says they can help with.

What Can Psilocybin Help With?

Psilocybin (magic mushrooms) is known for creating new neural pathways in the brain and helping people access deep emotional healing and spiritual insight.

Research shows psilocybin may support:

• Major depressive disorder

• Anxiety (especially in terminal illness)

• PTSD and trauma-related symptoms

• OCD

• Smoking and alcohol addiction

• Emotional numbness and disconnection

• Spiritual distress or existential crisis

What it feels like: Heart-opening, sometimes visionary, and deeply introspective. Can bring up repressed feelings to be processed and released.

What Can MDMA Help With?

MDMA, often used in therapeutic settings, helps people access and process painful memories while feeling emotionally safe and connected.

Research shows MDMA may support:

• PTSD (including complex trauma and sexual trauma)

• Social anxiety (especially in autism)

• Depression (especially in trauma survivors)

• Relationship repair and emotional openness

• Body image and self-worth issues

What it feels like: Grounded, emotionally safe, and connected. Encourages empathy, trust, and emotional release without overwhelm.

What Can LSD Help With?

LSD promotes neuroplasticity and can spark profound insight, emotional breakthroughs, and creative problem-solving.

Research and anecdotal reports suggest LSD may support:

• Anxiety and depression

• Alcohol dependence

• Cluster headaches (experimental use)

• Existential or spiritual crisis

• Creativity and personal insight

• End-of-life anxiety

What it feels like: Expansive, visual, and introspective. Offers a “zoomed-out” view of patterns, behaviors, and life meaning.

How to Choose the Right Medicine?

Here’s a simplified guide based on the research and therapeutic uses:

Choose Psilocybin if you’re dealing with:

• Deep depression or emotional numbness

• Existential or spiritual pain

• Long-standing anxiety or OCD

• Addiction to alcohol or nicotine

• A desire to reconnect with self and nature

Choose MDMA if you’re dealing with:

• PTSD or trauma from abuse or violence

• Fear of emotional intimacy or trust issues

• Sexual trauma

• Relationship struggles (with the right facilitation)

• Need for safety while processing painful memories

Choose LSD if you’re dealing with:

• Desire for deep insight or big-picture clarity

• Mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety

• Feeling stuck in repetitive thoughts

• Creativity blocks

• Spiritual seeking or life transition reflection