When prompted on subreddits regarding psychedelic medicine and chronic pain, I inquired any personal perspectives or experience in the combination of Body Work with the Psychedelic Integration paradigm. Here are some responses:
“I think that this is a pretty logical and obvious combination and next step.
I also think that if we are talking about doing bodywork during a psychedelic journey, there’s a lot that has to be said concurrently about transference and countertransference, because there’s a significant increase in the propensity to ignore boundaries on psychedelics, project more, and we already have a problem with sketchy therapists violating ethical boundaries in all kinds of shocking ways.
But that doesn’t mean that this modality isn’t going to be helpful and useful. I think there’s a lot that bodywork can offer people, and I think this tilt toward the somatic will be the thing that makes the difference for a good size chunk of the population.
If we are talking bodywork after a psychedelic session as grounding, and perhaps as an approach to integration, I think there’s a lot of promise there as well. I’m happy to see these psychedelic bodyworkers coming out of the woodwork more, it’s a good sign”
“I have reflexology massages for my neuropathic foot pain, physical therapy with lymphedema drainage for my heavy achy lymphedema leg, and general body massages because I feel generally good afterward. I soak in a natural hot springs and do water yoga for muscle and soft tissue pain and feel fully pain-free for an hour or so after I get out.
My pain is the result of a total pelvic exenteration with vulvectomy, radiation to left groin lymph nodes, removal of a huge flap of skin and fat from my left front thigh for a perineal skin graft, And neuropathy from cisplatin.
I’ve never done osteopathic manipulation because I don’t know if it would be helpful for my situation.
I feel fortunate to have caring docs who work with me to provide good medication management as well. I’m always looking for non-pharmaceutical ways to help me”
If you or anyone you know and love have more perspective on this topic, please feel free to leave a WordPress comment, email myself (psychedelicosteopath@gmail.com), or write your story on the r/psychedelicosteopathy subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/psychedelicosteopathy/).
Conscious Osteopathy 