Plant Medicine Supports Meaning at the End of Life
Information for this piece was adapted from an article published by Lisa Mulcahy, “Facing Death Without Fear: Psychedelics for End-of-Life Care.” It can be found here: https://www.webmd.com/palliative-care/features/facing-death-without-fear-psychedelics--end-life-care
Facing the end of life can be one of the most challenging experiences anyone encounters. Beyond physical illness, many people struggle with fear, anxiety, and unresolved emotions. Traditional palliative care helps, but sometimes it doesn’t fully ease the emotional weight of knowing time is limited. Emerging research shows that, when used safely and thoughtfully, psychedelics like psilocybin and ketamine can offer profound relief, helping people approach the end of life with greater peace and clarity.
Programs like Canada’s Roots to Thrive highlight this potential. Participants in guided psychedelic therapy describe confronting grief, anger, and fear in a supportive, structured space. Christine “Cat” Parlee, who faced metastatic melanoma, found these sessions transformative—experiencing release, insight, and connection rather than panic or despair. The combination of skilled guidance, community support, and carefully administered psychedelics creates a container for deep healing and reflection.
Science supports these personal experiences. Studies at Johns Hopkins and NYU show that even a single dose of psilocybin can reduce anxiety, depression, and hopelessness in patients with serious illness. These experiences often lead to lasting changes in how people relate to their diagnosis, their relationships, and their lives. By gently shifting rigid patterns of thinking, psychedelics can open the door to acceptance, personal insight, and sometimes spiritual or mystical experiences.
Many participants report reframing their relationship with life and death—finding renewed self-awareness, repairing relationships, and discovering a deeper appreciation for the moments they have left. These experiences illustrate the power of plant medicine in supporting meaning-making at the end of life.
If you want to explore this work more deeply, consider joining our upcoming Navigator Training on Plant Medicine, a supportive space to build knowledge, practice skills, and learn how to help others face life’s final chapter with clarity, compassion, and grounded confidence. Follow this link to register.