Emerging Science: Women’s Health & Psychedelics

Science is beginning to explore how hormonal rhythms interact with psilocybin, showing that shifts in oestrogen and progesterone may influence mood, perception, and emotional balance. Many women intuitively sense this connection, noticing that their experiences with psychedelics feel different depending on where they are in their cycle or life stage. This meeting point of science and lived wisdom is guiding a new frontier in women’s health.

Hormones & psychedelic experiences:

Research is beginning to explore the ways psilocybin may support women through hormonal transitions such as perimenopause, PMDD, and menopause. While much of this work is still early, women are already reporting benefits in mood, emotional balance, and connection to their bodies.

  • Research is beginning to explore the ways psilocybin may support women through hormonal transitions such as perimenopause, PMDD, and menopause. While much of this work is still early, women are already reporting benefits in mood, emotional balance, and connection to their bodies.

  • Psychedelics may hold potential for conditions that disproportionately affect women, such as chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia. 

  • Emerging research suggests that psychedelic experiences may shift across the menstrual cycle. Oestrogen plays a key role in regulating serotonin, the neurotransmitter system central to psilocybin’s effects, which means hormonal changes can influence how a journey is felt and experienced.

  • Emerging studies are exploring psilocybin’s role in supporting mood, reducing brain fog, and improving quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may also influence individual responses.

  • Psychedelics may indirectly support fertility by helping resolve trauma, reduce stress, improve mood, and encourage healthier lifestyle choices. While this remains untested, it is a fascinating area for future study.

  • Women remain underrepresented in psychedelic studies. Initiatives such as Hystelica with King’s College London are helping to address this, focusing on women’s biology, menopause, and psychedelic use.

  • Early studies suggest that men and women may respond differently to psychedelics underscoring the importance of gender-informed approaches.

  • The microbiome and estrobolome play a key role in hormone balance, mood, and stress resilience, all of which shape our experience of altered states.

  • Preclinical studies have found that psilocybin’s metabolite may influence cellular ageing pathways. Although no human trials exist yet, this points to intriguing possibilities for the future

Future Directions

The relationship between women’s health, hormones and psychedelics is still emerging. Drawing on early findings, we can begin to think about new ways of preparing for, guiding and integrating psychedelic journeys so they are safer, more intentional and more supportive of women’s health and wellbeing.

Informed preparation

Attuning to the hormonal and physiological rhythms of the body can help create conditions for psychedelic journeys that are intentional and responsive to each woman’s unique experience.

Personalised Care

When approaches are tailored to life stage, biology, and emotional needs the therapeutic potential can unfold more fully.

Sustainable Outcomes

Integration is not only about recalling insights but embodying them through attending to the body’s rhythms, supporting hormonal balance, and continuing regular somatic practices.

Thrive in mind, body, & spirit

Our programme honours the whole woman: body, mind and spirit. Each stage of life carries its own rhythms, thresholds and invitations. Whether you are living in rhythm with your menstrual cycle, navigating a fertility journey, motherhood, perimenopause, menopause or another life transition, our foundations remain the same:

Supporting your vitality

Deepening your embodiment

Reconnecting you to your truth

Mind

Awareness, Insight & Emotional Wellbeing

“I came to the retreat seeking direction, feeling a little lost and weighed down by shifting emotions. What I discovered was something even more powerful: a deep sense of love, belonging, joy, and lightness.”

As part of The Reconnection programme we explore:

  • The full spectrum of emotions - honouring everything from grief, rage, joy, and bliss, and recognising that each carries its own wisdom and truth

  • Releasing old patterns such as perfectionism, overworking, or numbing, and creating space for a life that feels more aligned, authentic, and empowered

  • Reimagining ageing as a passage into greater wisdom, creativity, and depth, honouring the gifts and insights that each stage of life brings

  • Expanded states of consciousness as catalysts for insight and transformation, offering new perspectives that support growth, resilience, clarity, and connection

Body

Nourishment, Energy & Embodiment

As part of The Reconnection programme we explore:

  • Somatic and nervous system practices that support grounding, regulation and a sense of safety in the body

  • Hormonal awareness from menarche to menopause, understanding how changes influence mood, energy, libido, and sensitivity to psychedelics

  • Restoring vitality through practices that support sleep, reduce stress, calm inflammation and optimise metabolic health

  • Strength and bone health through mindful, intentional movement that supports longevity and vitality.

  • The gut–brain–hormone connection, considering how nourishment and digestive health influence mood, concentration, and resilience

“The Reconnection Retreat was an incredible experience. I left really connected with my heart and body, bringing new embodiment practices into my daily life.”

Spirit

“The combination of somatic practices, ceremony, and the beautiful connection with other women made this a life-changing experience. I felt safe to explore my vulnerabilities, and I’m walking away with a reignited sense of joy, love, and deep healing”

Connection, Meaning & Integration

As part of The Reconnection programme we explore:

  • The subtle ways Spirit reveals our interconnectedness - how it moves between us, within us, and through the natural world, reminding us of our inherent belonging.

  • Connection to land, lineage, and the more-than-human world

  • Feminine archetypes such as Maiden, Mother, Crone and, Wild Woman, as living guides through the seasons of our lives

  • Psychedelics as plant-medicine teachers in the journey toward self-understanding, belonging, and awakening.

  • Integration as a way of living, allowing the truths we remember to be kept alive through ritual, creativity, embodiment practices.

Optional Personalised Women’s Health & Hormone Support

You may have already explored talk therapy or other supportive healing modalities, yet when the body is out of balance, it can be harder to fully experience the benefits. To support your wellbeing on every level, we offer the option of a consultation with one of our UK-based GPs who specialise in women’s health and hormones.

This support can help you feel physically and emotionally resourced before the ceremony, especially if you are navigating perimenopausal symptoms such as fatigue, mood changes, sleep disruption or brain fog. It may also be valuable if you wish to better understand how your physiology could influence your experience, or if you simply want to feel more energised as you begin this journey of reconnection.

The process includes:

  • One private consultation with a GP who specialises in women’s health and hormones

  • Tailored recommendations for testing (e.g., hormone panels, thyroid, vitamin D, iron, gut microbiome, methylation)

  • Personalised lifestyle and supplement/replacement guidance for hormonal balance, gut health, and emotional wellbeing

Please note: This is offered as an optional add-on. The consultation fee is approximately £250 (with any recommended tests or supplements paid for separately). Medical advice is offered independently by the GP and is not part of the core retreat programme.

Why this additional support may be helpful:

  • Mood changes: Balance hormonal fluctuations that can heighten emotional sensitivity, helping you feel more centred before the retreat

  • Sleep disruption: Address cortisol spikes, hormonal dips, and blood sugar imbalances to restore deeper, more restful sleep

  • Low energy or brain fog: Optimise thyroid, iron, and B vitamin levels to restore vitality, focus, and mental clarity

  • Digestive issues: Strengthen gut health and microbiome balance to support mood, absorption, and resilience

  • Hormonal transitions: Bring oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone into harmony to support emotional and physical wellbeing

Please let us know if this is something you might like to explore as part of your overall experience with us.