Plantes Maîtresses : quand la nature nous guérit

Master Plants: when nature heals us

March 27, 2026

This article follows a meeting with the Decriminalize Nature France team.
Here is an invitation to reconsider our relationship with entheogenic plants and the therapeutic possibilities they offer.

Throughout history, certain plants have held a special place in human traditions. Not merely as remedies, but as interlocutors — plant beings that many cultures have referred to as master plants. Ayahuasca in the Amazon, peyote among indigenous peoples of America, psilocybin mushrooms in Mesoamerican rituals: all are bridges between the visible world and a deeper understanding of oneself and of life.

I had the opportunity to speak with the association Decriminalize Nature France, founded on March 21, 2024, and the French branch of the international movement that originated in the United States in 2018. We celebrated the association's second anniversary together in Lyon this past Saturday, the 21st, to open discussions on these plants.
Their work greatly inspired me — and I wanted to share with you the reflections these discussions sparked.

What is a master plant?

The term entheogen — from the Greek entheos (inspired by the divine) and genesthai (to become) — refers to natural substances capable of inducing altered states of consciousness with deep spiritual or introspective dimensions. This word, coined in 1979 by a group of ethnobotanists and mythology specialists, sought precisely to move these plants away from being merely "drugs" and to place them back in their millennia-old cultural and ritual context. What's also interesting about languages is that the term "drug" in English can refer to a "medicine" whose substances are ingested, not just a "drogue" (recreational drug) which implies toxic substances. This shows how important it is to go back to the etymology of words to understand their real meaning, not the deviations of their use in other contexts. Each root has its importance.

The most well-known and scientifically documented master plants are:

Psilocybin mushrooms — used for millennia in Toltec and Mazatec rituals, now among the most studied substances for their antidepressant potential.
Ayahuasca — an Amazonian brew combining two plants (the vine Banisteriopsis caapi and the leaves of Psychotria viridis), central to shamanic traditions and increasing clinical studies on addictive disorders and PTSD.
Peyote — a cactus containing mescaline, sacred to several Native American nations, with promising data on the treatment of resistant depression.
Iboga and ibogaine — originating from Central Africa (Bwiti tradition), particularly explored for opioid withdrawal assistance.

"We envision happier and healthier individuals and communities, reconnected to nature and to the traditions and practices of entheogenic plants and fungi." — Decriminalize Nature France, Manifesto

A turning point in global medical research

The last decade has seen a remarkable acceleration of clinical research on entheogens. Institutions like Johns Hopkins University, Imperial College London, and the University of Zurich regularly publish rigorous studies on their therapeutic effects in supervised contexts. The results are compelling enough that the US FDA has granted psilocybin "Breakthrough Therapy" status — an accelerated pathway reserved for urgent treatments.

Treatment-resistant depression Several clinical trials show significant remission with one to two accompanied psilocybin sessions, where conventional antidepressants had failed.

Trauma & PTSD Ayahuasca and psilocybin show effects on the emotional processing of trauma, promoting neural plasticity and psychological integration.

Addictions Pilot studies indicate impressive alcohol and tobacco cessation rates. Ibogaine is particularly promising for opioid dependencies.

End-of-life care Psilocybin protocols in terminally ill patients show a significant reduction in existential anxiety and a peaceful openness to the natural process of death.

These results do not mean that these substances are without risks or that they should be used outside a safe framework. But they call for a serious, evidence-based re-evaluation of their legal status and their medical potential.

And in France — where do we stand?

In France, the situation is both strictly regulated and evolving. In accordance with Article L3421-1 of the Public Health Code, the possession, consumption, and production of substances classified as narcotics are prohibited and subject to criminal penalties. Psilocybin, mescaline, ibogaine, and the substances present in ayahuasca fall into this category.

However, this classification is regularly questioned on legal and ethical grounds. Decriminalize Nature France points out that the Constitutional Council, in its decision n° 2021-967/973 QPC of February 11, 2022, has opened reflections on the proportionality of the penalties applied. The association advocates for a legislative evolution that distinguishes decriminalization (removal of criminal penalties for personal use) from commercial legalization — and that allows for the development of a safe medical and therapeutic framework.

⚖️ Important legal note: In France, the possession, consumption, cultivation, and sale of these substances remain illegal to this day (Public Health Code, art. L3421-1). This article is solely for informational purposes regarding scientific, ethical, and legislative issues, and in no way constitutes an incitement to illicit activities.

Developments to watch

Several signs indicate that public debate is evolving in France. University researchers are beginning to speak openly about the need for supervised clinical studies. Psychiatrists and psychotherapists are interested in the Australian model, the first country to authorize the medical use of psilocybin in 2023, or the Swiss model where clinical studies are already underway.

Decriminalize Nature France works to raise awareness among public decision-makers, support harm reduction, and create spaces for exchange between researchers, practitioners, traditional communities, and the general public — such as their event "Psychedelics and Master Plants: Towards a New Paradigm," which took place in Lyon on March 21 and 22, 2026.

Decriminalize Nature France: restoring our roots

Founded on March 21, 2024, DN France is the French branch of the international organization Decriminalize Nature. In less than 48 hours after its creation, it already had more than 100 members. Its mission: to inform, educate, and advocate for a fairer regulation of entheogenic plants and fungi — not to trivialize their use, but to allow their therapeutic potential to be fully explored in compliance with the law and fundamental human rights.

Their approach includes harm reduction, support for psychological integration circles, and the dissemination of rigorous scientific information to the general public and institutions.

🌐 To learn more: www.decriminalizenature-france.org

The link with NaturaSounds

At NaturaSounds, we have long explored the idea that sound and nature are intertwined in our relationship with our inner selves. The sounds of the forest, water, and wind are not just pleasant — they act on our nervous system, modify our state of consciousness, and promote emotional regulation. In this sense, they share a common intention with master plants: to connect us to something greater than the daily ego.

Many traditions that use entheogenic plants also integrate singing, icaros (shamanic chants), percussion or wind instruments as essential parts of the therapeutic and ritual process. Sound and plant, together, create the context — what researchers call the set & setting — in which the experience can be beneficial and transformative.

"Healing does not come solely from the substance. It comes from the context, the intention, the accompaniment with an understanding of the plant's spirit — and from the sound, the vibration that holds the space." — Renaud Ruhlmnn

An invitation to responsible curiosity

The subject of master plants and entheogens is often taboo in Western societies — associated with marginality, danger, or persistent cultural stereotypes. However, science, history, and traditional knowledge converge towards another interpretation: that of plants which, used with intention, in a safe and respectful setting, can be powerful allies for mental health, reconnection to oneself, and to life.

We do not advocate for off-label use or a lighthearted approach to these topics. We simply invite informed curiosity, open dialogue, and support for spaces where researchers, caregivers, traditional communities, and citizens can work together towards a wiser and fairer vision of our relationship with plants.

Tags: Master Plants · Entheogens · Psychedelic Therapy · Psilocybin · Ayahuasca · Decriminalization · Mental Health · Nature & Healing

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