Psychedelic Therapy in Stockholm: What's available and legal
Psychedelic therapy in Stockholm: what's being researched, what's legal, and what you can do today
Interest in psychedelic therapy is growing fast across Europe, and Sweden is part of that shift. Karolinska Institutet is running clinical trials with psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Uppsala University has secured €6.5 million for psychedelic research in palliative care. Lund University is conducting the first global systematic psilocybin study on young patients with eating disorders. The research is real and it is moving. But for most people living in Stockholm, clinical psychedelic therapy remains out of reach. It exists inside research protocols, not in any clinic or practice you can book into.
TL;DR: Psilocybin, MDMA and other psychedelics are controlled substances in Sweden with no approved medical use outside of clinical research. Ayahuasca ceremonies exist privately but operate in a legal grey area. Kambo is not psychedelic, is legal in Sweden, and is traditionally used as preparation before deeper ceremonial plant medicine work. It is available in Stockholm today.
What is psychedelic therapy?
Psychedelic therapy refers to treatment in which psychedelic substances, primarily psilocybin and MDMA, are used alongside structured psychotherapeutic support. It is not about taking a substance recreationally and observing what happens. The format is defined: preparatory sessions, one or more guided experiences under clinical supervision, and integration work afterwards.
The clinical evidence is building steadily. Psilocybin treatment has shown sustained remission in more than half of patients with treatment-resistant depression at six months in clinical trials. MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD demonstrated a 71 percent long-term response rate in Phase 3 trials. A review published in The Lancet eClinicalMedicine outlines the growing evidence base alongside the significant infrastructure challenges that remain before these treatments can enter routine clinical care.
What is Sweden doing in the research?
Sweden is an active participant in European psychedelic research, though it moves within the EU's more cautious regulatory framework compared to the United States.
Karolinska Institutet's PSIPET study is Sweden's first randomised controlled trial of psilocybin for major depressive disorder. Uppsala University's PsyPal programme, funded with €6.5 million, is investigating psychedelic-assisted therapy for patients in palliative care. Lund University is running a psilocybin pilot for young anorexia patients — the first such study globally. A European landscape review from 2025 listed Sweden among a handful of EU countries with active clinical trials in this area, alongside France, Denmark and the Czech Republic.
This is serious research. But it is research, not treatment. None of these studies are open to the general public. Participants are recruited through strict diagnostic criteria and study protocols set years in advance.
The legal situation in Sweden
Psilocybin, MDMA, DMT and mescaline are all controlled substances in Sweden under the narcotics framework. They have no approved medical use for private individuals outside of clinical trial protocols. That means psychedelic therapy in the clinical sense is not legally accessible in Sweden today, regardless of what condition you are seeking help for.
Ayahuasca contains DMT, which makes it a controlled substance in Sweden. Private ceremonies do occur, but they operate in a clear legal grey area. That distinction is important to understand before seeking out private options.
Kambo is different. It is not a controlled substance in Sweden and is not regulated as a pharmaceutical. Participating in a kambo ceremony in Stockholm is fully legal. For a full overview of what kambo is and how it works, see the complete guide to kambo.
What is actually available in Stockholm?
For someone in Stockholm who is drawn to this space but cannot access clinical trials, there are broadly three paths.
The first is travelling abroad. Psilocybin retreats are legal and well-organised in the Netherlands and Jamaica, among other countries. Ayahuasca ceremonies are available in several European countries with clearer legal frameworks than Sweden.
The second is private ceremonies in Sweden. Ayahuasca and psilocybin ceremonies do take place privately, but they operate in legally ambiguous territory that is worth understanding clearly before participating.
The third is kambo. Kambo is not psychedelic, does not produce altered states of consciousness, and is legal in Sweden. But it is deep physical and energetic work, and it has been used for generations as preparation before exactly the kind of ceremonial plant medicine work that ayahuasca and psilocybin represent. For a fuller picture of how kambo compares to other plant medicines, see the kambo vs ayahuasca, bufo and psilocybin comparison.
Kambo and psychedelic work
Kambo is a secretion from the Phyllomedusa bicolor tree frog, native to the Amazon rainforest. It is applied to the skin via small burn points and triggers an intense but short-lived physical response. It is neither psychedelic nor a controlled substance. The body is cleansed deeply, and most people experience increased clarity, energy and lightness in the days that follow.
Among the Amazonian peoples who have worked with kambo for generations, including the Matsés people with whom I trained in Peru, kambo is traditionally used to clear what is called panema. Panema is the concept of stagnant, heavy energy that accumulates in the body and affects the mind negatively. The clearing of panema is understood as preparation for deeper ceremonial work — the vessel is emptied before it is filled.
This is why kambo has been used before ayahuasca ceremonies across many Amazonian traditions. Physical purification before a deeper session means the body does not have to spend the ceremony doing that work. You arrive at the experience lighter and more open. Kambo clears the physical. Ayahuasca, when and if that is part of the path, can then reach deeper.
Kambo is not a substitute for psychedelic therapy. It is something distinct. But for someone in Stockholm who is drawn to this space and is looking for something legal, well-defined, and grounded in a genuine tradition, it is a meaningful starting point. Before booking, read the safety information and contraindications.
Kambo and healing ceremonies in Stockholm
I am a certified kambo and rapé practitioner, trained and certified by a Matsés family and Kambo Naturista in the Peruvian Amazon. I hold private kambo ceremonies in Stockholm, in your home anywhere in the city or at a private location surrounded by forest just outside of Stockholm. Before every booking I conduct a health consultation to ensure kambo is right for you, and I am present throughout the entire session.
Kambo can be booked as a standalone private session, as a group session for couples or a small group, or combined with rapé and sananga in the format I call The Awakening Warrior. For information on how to prepare, see the kambo preparation guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is psychedelic therapy legal in Sweden?
No, not for private individuals. Psilocybin, MDMA and other psychedelic substances are controlled under Swedish narcotics law and are only available within approved clinical research studies with strict eligibility criteria. There is no legal private psychedelic therapy available in Sweden today.
Can I join the clinical trials at Karolinska or Uppsala?
The studies recruit participants through specific diagnostic criteria, typically linked to treatment-resistant depression or defined medical conditions. They are not open to the general public. Contact the relevant university research group directly for current recruitment status.
What is the difference between kambo and psychedelic therapy?
Kambo is not psychedelic and produces no visions or altered states of consciousness. It is a deep physical and energetic purification. Psychedelic therapy with psilocybin or MDMA operates primarily on consciousness and requires a structured therapeutic framework. They are fundamentally different tools that can complement each other.
Why is kambo traditionally used before ayahuasca ceremonies?
Kambo purifies the body physically and energetically. Amazonian peoples including the Matsés have used it to clear panema, the stagnant energy that blocks openness and receptivity, before deeper ceremonial work. A cleared body receives a deeper experience.
Is kambo safe?
Under the guidance of a certified practitioner following strict safety protocols, kambo is generally safe and well-tolerated. It is not recommended for people with serious heart conditions, high blood pressure, or during pregnancy. Full contraindication information is on the kambo safety page.
How do I book a healing ceremony in Stockholm?
Contact me directly via the contact page. We begin with a short conversation about your health and intentions, then confirm a date and location that works for you.
Ready to take the first step?
Contact me directly and we will plan a session that fits you.