Is Shamanic Healing Dangerous? What You Need to Know

Shamanic healing has become increasingly popular in the West, attracting people seeking spiritual insight, emotional healing, and an alternative to conventional medicine. But as this ancient practice enters the mainstream, questions about its safety have emerged. Is shamanic healing dangerous? Or is it simply misunderstood?

The answer is nuanced. While shamanic healing can offer profound benefits, it also carries certain risks—especially when misunderstood, misused, or practiced without proper training or cultural context. This article explores the potential dangers of shamanic healing, what makes it safe or unsafe, and how to approach it responsibly.

What Is Shamanic Healing?

Shamanic healing is a spiritual and energetic healing practice rooted in ancient indigenous traditions. It is based on the belief that illness originates in the spiritual or energetic realm and that healing requires addressing the underlying spiritual imbalances.

Shamans—traditional healers, seers, or spiritual leaders—enter altered states of consciousness to journey into the spirit world. There, they communicate with spirit guides, ancestors, or nature spirits to:

• Retrieve lost soul parts (soul retrieval)

• Remove negative energies or spiritual intrusions (extraction)

• Receive guidance or healing for the patient

• Conduct ceremonies to restore balance

These methods are practiced in cultures worldwide, from the Amazon rainforest to Mongolia, Siberia, and Africa.

Why People Turn to Shamanic Healing

Many people are drawn to shamanic healing for emotional or spiritual reasons, particularly when conventional medicine fails to address the root of suffering. Common reasons include:

• Trauma or emotional pain

• Feeling disconnected or “lost”

• Chronic illness with no medical explanation

• Spiritual awakening or crisis

• Desire for personal growth or clarity

The focus on energy, spirit, and wholeness makes shamanic healing appealing to those who view health holistically.

Is It Dangerous?

Shamanic healing is not inherently dangerous. When practiced by a well-trained, ethical shaman within a proper cultural and spiritual context, it can be profoundly healing. However, there are specific risks to be aware of:

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1. Psychological Risk: Triggering or Unprocessed Trauma

One of the most significant risks in shamanic healing is the potential to retrigger trauma. Techniques like soul retrieval or deep journeying may uncover buried emotional wounds. If these are not processed properly or supported afterward, the individual can experience:

• Emotional overwhelm

• Dissociation

• Flashbacks

• Anxiety or depression

Trained indigenous shamans are typically embedded in a community context and offer long-term support. In Western settings, healing often occurs in isolation, without adequate aftercare or psychological integration.

Solution: Work with someone trained in trauma-informed care, and ensure there's a support system in place post-session.

2. Physical Danger: Use of Plant Medicines

In some traditions—especially in the Amazon—plant medicines like ayahuasca, peyote, or iboga are used to induce visions and healing experiences. While these can be transformative, they also pose risks:

• Nausea, vomiting, or dehydration

• Dangerous drug interactions (especially with antidepressants)

• Psychological distress or psychosis

• Cardiac risks (especially with iboga)

Unregulated ayahuasca ceremonies, especially “tourist retreats” run by unqualified practitioners, have resulted in hospitalizations and even deaths.

Solution: Only participate in plant medicine ceremonies with experienced, reputable guides in safe, legal, and medically supervised settings.

3. Spiritual Risk: Misuse of Power or Energy

Shamanism deals with unseen forces, which can be healing—or harmful if misused. Risks include:

• Opening oneself to unwanted spiritual influences

• Receiving energy from untrustworthy practitioners

• Participating in rituals that one doesn’t understand or isn't prepared for

In traditional societies, shamans undergo long apprenticeships to learn how to navigate spiritual realms safely. In modern contexts, self-declared shamans may lack this depth.

Solution: Choose practitioners who are deeply trained, grounded, and respectful of spiritual ethics. Avoid anyone who promises miracles, instills fear, or pressures participation.

4. Cultural Misappropriation and Lack of Authenticity

Another form of danger is cultural. Westernized or “neo-shamanic” practices often remove rituals from their indigenous roots. This can lead to:

• Misuse or distortion of sacred rituals

• Harmful stereotypes or disrespect toward native cultures

• Superficial practices with no grounding in actual tradition

Worse, some self-proclaimed shamans exploit sacred traditions for profit, ignoring the depth and context required for safe healing.

Solution: Educate yourself on the origins of the practices. Support indigenous healers or those trained with integrity in those lineages.

5. Delayed Medical Treatment

Some individuals reject conventional medicine in favor of spiritual healing alone. This can become dangerous if shamanic healing is used instead of necessary medical treatment.

For example:

• Ignoring infections or tumors

• Attempting to treat serious psychiatric disorders solely through ritual

• Relying on spirits rather than seeking emergency care

Solution: Use shamanic healing as complementary, not replacement, care. Holistic health includes both spiritual and medical support.

When Shamanic Healing Can Be Beneficial

When done responsibly, shamanic healing can offer powerful benefits:

• Deep emotional release

• Connection to purpose or spirit

• Resolution of long-standing energetic imbalances

• A sense of empowerment and clarity

• Renewed connection to nature and self

Many report transformative breakthroughs, especially when healing is integrated with therapy, meditation, journaling, and community support.

How to Protect Yourself: Best Practices

If you're considering shamanic healing, take the following precautions to ensure a safe and beneficial experience:

1. Research the Practitioner

• Ask about their training, lineage, and experience.

• Look for someone grounded, ethical, and trauma-informed.

• Avoid anyone who makes extreme claims or asks for secrecy or large sums of money.

2. Understand the Process

• Ask what techniques will be used (e.g., journeying, soul retrieval, plant medicine).

• Know what to expect and what integration support is available afterward.

3. Start Slow

• Begin with a simple session like guided journeying or energy cleansing.

• Avoid intense ceremonies or plant medicines until you're sure you're ready.

4. Consider Integration Support

• Work with a therapist, spiritual mentor, or support group after the session.

• Journaling, rest, and reflection can help ground the experience.

5. Know the Red Flags

• Practitioners who claim to be the only true healer

• Anyone discouraging medical care or other opinions

• Coercive, cult-like behavior

Case Studies: When It Goes Right and When It Doesn’t

Positive Example:
Emma, a trauma survivor, worked with a trained shamanic practitioner over six months. Through journeying, soul retrieval, and careful integration with a trauma therapist, she reported significant improvements in emotional regulation and spiritual peace.

Negative Example:
John traveled to South America for an ayahuasca retreat. The shaman was unlicensed and gave high doses. John experienced psychosis and required hospitalization. He had no support afterward and developed PTSD from the experience.

These real-life stories show both the potential and the pitfalls.

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth the Risk?

Shamanic healing is not inherently dangerous, but it does require care, discernment, and respect. Like any powerful tool, it can heal or harm depending on how it’s used.

Approach it with:

• Openness, but also skepticism

• Respect for its cultural roots

• Commitment to personal growth and responsibility

If you do your homework, choose the right guide, and integrate the experience mindfully, shamanic healing can be a profound ally on your journey to wholeness.

Sources and Further Reading:

• Michael Harner, The Way of the Shaman

• Sandra Ingerman, Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self

• Eduardo Luna & Pablo Amaringo, Ayahuasca Visions

• Rachel Harris, Listening to Ayahuasca

• MAPS.org on psychedelics and integration

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) on trauma-informed care

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Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.