Wool Goddess

In recent years, there’s been an undeniable surge in self-proclaimed healers and visionaries. As a holistic therapist grounded in both NHS nursing and complementary modalities, part of me is excited by this explosion of “wokeness” of people seeking deeper, more authentic connections and inner healing. But another part of me is deeply wary. Because, just as in mainstream healthcare, there are practitioners in the holistic realm whose intentions, or lack thereof, pose serious risks.

Real Stories That Demand Reflection

1. Inner Mastery: When Healing Turns Harmful

One of the most alarming cases is that of Inner Mastery, which marketed itself as the first global ayahuasca healing empire. Founded by Alberto Varela, the organization offered transformational retreats across 14 countries, skilfully blending psychedelics with aggressive marketing and psychology.

Beneath its spiritual veneer, accusations soon emerged cult-like manipulation, unlicensed practices, psychological abuse, sexual misconduct, and even deaths during retreats. Indigenous communities accused Varela of fraudulent claims of authorization, and a whistle-blower described participants being pressured into beliefs and behaviours during ceremonies that were far removed from traditional, safely held rituals.

2. Tragic Outcomes: Ayahuasca Death in Bolivia

In 2024, Maureen Rainford, a 54 year old British mother, tragically died during an ayahuasca ceremony in Bolivia. She collapsed shortly after consuming the brew. The retreat had no immediate medical support, and attempts were made to push her toward local cremation, raising red flags around transparency and emergency protocols.

3. Cacao Ceremonies: Not Always Harmless

While ayahuasca often captures headlines due to its intensity, it’s important to acknowledge that similar risks can occur in cacao ceremonies.

Cacao is widely marketed as a gentle, “heart-opening” elixir for emotional release and connection. In the right hands, it can indeed be a beautiful, mindful practice. But in unregulated settings, cacao ceremonies are not without danger:

• Hidden Additives Some facilitators have been accused of mixing cacao with psychoactive plants to intensify results without full disclosure, creating unsafe and misleading experiences to gain praise for “transformative results.”
• Health Risks Even pure cacao contains compounds like theobromine, which in high doses can trigger complications for those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or certain mental health issues. Without proper medical knowledge or screening, participants may be put at risk.
• Emotional Vulnerability Just like ayahuasca retreats, cacao ceremonies often involve a charismatic leader in a position of influence. These gatherings often place participants in open, suggestible states, giving a leader significant influence. This can be exploited financially, emotionally, or tragically in some cases, even sexually.

So, while cacao is often sold as “safe” compared to ayahuasca, the same dynamics of risk and abuse can exist when ceremonies are facilitated without ethics, medical knowledge, or accountability.

4. Paida Lajin Slap Therapy: Danger in Pseudo-Healing

Another distressing case involved Hongchi Xiao, who conducted “slap therapy” (paida lajin) and encouraged a diabetic participant to stop her insulin, leading to her death. Despite witnessing her critical condition, Xiao failed to intervene medically, resulting in a manslaughter conviction and a 10-year prison sentence for gross negligence.

5. Sexual Abuse in Spiritual Settings

Broader concerns about sexual abuse within shamans and spiritual healers have surfaced globally. A lawsuit in New Mexico accused a “shamanic master” of exploiting clients during energy medicine training. This underscores the vulnerability clients are in and the inherent power imbalance in spiritual healing settings.

6. Impostor Shamans and Criminal Abuse

In Colombia, Édgar Orlando Gaitán Camacho, who posed as a spiritual leader and “Taita de yagé,” was found guilty of sexually abusing multiple women, including minors, during healing ceremonies. His misuse of titles and cultural means to prey on vulnerable individuals spotlight how dangerous unverified practitioners can be.

The Root of the Issue: Lack of Regulation and Oversight

Unlike conventional medicine, where credentials are verifiable and practitioners are regulated, many areas of holistic healing remain unregulated, especially in the UK. That means anyone can call themselves a healer, with little accountability or standardisation.

There are voluntary bodies like:

UK Healers, which helps authenticate membership organisations with shared standards.

CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council), which provides a PSA-accredited voluntary register for complementary therapists.

Ethical codes like those from the College of Healing, which set expectations over conduct, no misleading titles, duty of care, insurance, and referrals when needed.

Professional Memberships such as The Federation Of Holistic Therapists (which I was a member of when practicing on clients)

But many of these are voluntary and the professional membership only cover those who choose to abide by them. Many holistic practitioners operate outside these frameworks.

Why I Choose Not to Participate in Certain Ceremonial Practices

1. Duty of Care & Ethical Responsibility

In healthcare, whether conventional or holistic, duty of care is non-negotiable. Practitioners must safeguard vulnerable clients, respect informed consent, and avoid misrepresentation.

2. Protection Against Power Abuse

Ceremonial or psychedelic contexts carry deep emotional and psychological risks. Without formal oversight, they can become fertile ground for manipulation or exploitation.

3. Avoiding Cultural Appropriation

Many ceremonies originate from Indigenous practices. When misrepresented or commodified without community authority or respect, they become exploitative.

4. Risk Mitigation

Stories like Maureen Rainford’s death or Inner Mastery’s abuses highlight the perils of healers lacking medical backup, clear protocols, and ethics.

5. Professional Integrity

As someone trained both in the NHS and holistic therapy, I see the value in both. But where one is heavily regulated, the other often isn’t. Ethics, qualifications, and safety standards should matter, especially when working with vulnerable souls seeking healing.

I Truly Believe In A Call for Ethical, Compassionate Healing

There are many beautiful, conscientious healers doing wonderful work, and it’s vital to celebrate and support them. But we must also recognise and speak out against those who exploit the vulnerable under the guise of enlightenment or progress.

As holistic therapists, we have a profound responsibility, not only to our clients but to society at large to ensure our work is safe, transparent, compassionate, and grounded in authenticity. When healing becomes a performance or a power trip, it betrays that trust and harms those we swear to help.

There are many beautiful, conscientious healers doing transformative work and it’s vital to celebrate them. But we must also shine a light on those who exploit the vulnerable under the guise of enlightenment.

When healing becomes a performance or a power trip, it ceases to be healing at all.

Stay safe and never be afraid to ask for qualifications, proof of Professional membership…. and double check as not all certificates are the same some are given out after an hour on-line training.

Love & healing hugs