Psychedelic breathing, a term often used interchangeably with holotropic breathwork, is a method of controlling your breathing to achieve altered states of consciousness.
By using different breathing techniques, you can enjoy the benefits of psychedelic effects, without taking a psychedelic drug such as ayahuasca or psilocybin.
Many people prefer psychedelic breathing over psychedelics for a variety of reasons. In this article, we are going to delve into what exactly psychedelic breathing is, different breathing techniques you can try out, and the effects and benefits of psychedelic breathing.
Psychedelic breathing (or holotropic breathwork) is a way of adjusting your breath so that you enter into an altered state of mind.
Breathwork has its roots in Eastern practices like yoga and Buddhist meditation[*]. People in different cultures have been transforming their consciousness for thousands of years through breathing techniques. The aims of these breathing techniques include meditative relaxation, self-healing, and spiritual awakening.
Holotropic breathwork is the type of breathwork that is designed to help you achieve psychedelic effects. Other types of breathwork may lead to psychedelic-like effects, such as changes to emotions and thoughts, as well as alterations in your sense of self and bodily sensations.
But holotropic breathwork more reliably leads to psychedelic effects. After all, Grof developed this technique so that people could achieve psychedelic states without having to use psychedelics. He developed holotropic breathwork as an alternative to LSD after the substance was banned in the late 60s.
But how effective is psychedelic breathing? Can it really be used to alleviate symptoms of all these conditions? There aren’t many studies that demonstrate psychedelic breathing is effective at treating mental health issues like depression and anxiety. However, there are several interesting studies that point to the benefits of psychedelic breathing.
A 1996 study by Sarah Holmes found that participants who received holotropic breathwork treatment plus psychotherapy experienced a reduction in death anxiety and an increase in self-esteem[*]. Also, participants experienced greater benefits than those who received only psychotherapy.
A study conducted by Binovera in 2003 illustrated that participants receiving holotropic breathwork reported improved communication with others, as well as increased insights about the world around them[*].
A 2013 report highlighted that with holotropic breathwork, no adverse reactions were reported by researchers. This report showed, instead, that holotropic breathwork offered people emotional catharsis, making it a low-risk form of therapy.
A 2015 study showed that psychedelic breathing can increase self-awareness and positively shape an individual’s character. Participants reported that these character improvements included being less needy and being slower to anger[*].
Psychedelic breathing differs from psychedelics in many important ways. These differences may make some people prefer psychedelic breathing over psychedelics and vice versa.
Like with any potentially psychedelic experience, it’s always recommended that you do psychedelic breathing under the guidance of a facilitator trained in the particular technique you are doing.
This is to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the technique. If you try to do psychedelic breathing on your own, you may put yourself at risk or do the technique wrong or ineffectively, missing out on the therapeutic benefits.
There are different options if you want to experience psychedelic breathing. You can seek out a practitioner of a particular technique, who can provide one-on-one sessions with you. You can also join group sessions.
Some practitioners offer breathwork on its own or they supplement it with other healing modalities, such as psychotherapy. You may find, as many people do, that psychedelic breathing is most effective when combined with other forms of treatment.
Another popular option is to join a retreat. There are retreats featuring psychedelic breathing that can suit your preferences, interests, and needs. You can find retreats that offer different types of breathwork.
Also, some retreats focus exclusively on breathwork, whereas others feature other treatments, including psychedelic sessions, meditation, yoga, and massage.
Psychedelic breathing is unique in that it offers people the benefits of altered states of consciousness, without the need to take any substances. Also, with the help of a trained facilitator, you can achieve an altered state and have cathartic experiences quite easily.
Based on the low risks involved and the fact that breathwork is rarely overwhelming, there is often less nervousness or anxiety before a session compared to taking a psychedelic.
You can try psychedelic breathing on its own or see how it feels to combine it with another form of treatment. Always make sure to engage in psychedelic breathing under the supervision of a licensed, certified facilitator. He or she will be able to help you breathe safely and effectively, as well as work with any material that arises for you during the session.
You may also find a group session useful, as it can foster discussion and a high degree of emotional support.