Exploring practitioners’ perceptions of health behavior changes associated with psychedelic experiences

TL;DR

This study explores how psychedelic experiences are perceived to influence health behaviors like exercise, diet, and meditation, based on practitioner reports.

Contribution

The study provides practitioner insights into perceived health behavior changes following psychedelic use, highlighting potential for broader health applications.

Findings

Contemplative practices showed the highest perceived positive change (61.4%) after psychedelic experiences.

Over half of practitioners reported perceived improvements in diet and nutrition (56%).

Positive changes in time spent in nature (60.1%) and physical activity were also commonly reported.

Abstract

In addition to evidence supporting the use of psychedelics in treating alcohol and tobacco misuse, emerging research suggests that psychedelic experiences may also facilitate beneficial changes in other health behaviors, such as diet, exercise, and meditation. This retrospective, survey-based study explored perceived health behavior changes following psychedelic experiences, from the perspective of 96 psychedelic practitioners, working in both legal and underground contexts. Practitioners reported on perceived changes in their clients’ or patients’ behaviors, including physical activity, diet and nutrition, contemplative practices, and time spent in nature, as well as on their own behavior changes, and potential mechanisms underlying these changes. Behaviors with the highest proportion of clients perceived as having changed in a positive direction included contemplative practices (61.4%), time spent in nature (60.1%), eating patterns (56.9%), and diet and nutrition (56%). These findings suggest that practitioners often perceive psychedelic experiences as associated with positive health behavior change. Future research is needed to validate these findings, explore the extent and mechanisms of potential changes, and assess whether such effects are sustained over the long-term. Understanding these effects may help inform future behavior change interventions and public health policy.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-25818-3.

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