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Physiological and Therapeutic Aspects of Shamanistic Healing. Michael Winkelman,Ph.D.
This paper addresses the psychophysiological and therapeutic bases of some universal aspects of shamanistic healing practices. Shamanistic healing is universal because of the interrelated physiological, experiential and therapeutic bases in the use of altered states of consciousness (ASC). Case studies of cross-cultural therapeutic use of ASC illustrate cultural effectiveness. The scientific bases of therapeutic effectiveness are addressed through an examination of the psychophysiology of ASC. Clinical and physiological evidence for the therapeutic effectiveness of ASC in general and hallucinogens in particular is reviewed. Possession and the temporal lobe syndrome are briefly examined in the context of the psychophysiology of ASC.
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