Eddie Jacobs - Grounding Research to Non-Western Medicines in Non-Western Ethical Frameworks

Psychedelic therapy practices require a re-evaluation of ethical frameworks that go beyond Western, individualistic paradigms. Such approaches, notably those derived from African cultural perspectives, emphasize relationality, contextuality, and complementarity to better align research with the needs of diverse patient populations. Applying these principles to processes like ibogaine clinical trials demonstrates a critical need for post-trial care and a move toward cooperative models of participant engagement. Rethinking these relationships as relational, communal endeavors rather than transactional business models fosters responsible research that acknowledges the intrinsic value of participants as interconnected beings.