From Pain to Power: Twin Survivors Cipriana and TK Quann Share How Psychedelics Can Transform Healing

As identical twin sisters that experienced sexual, physical, and emotional childhood abuse everyday for over 10 years—and developed identical coping mechanisms that evolved into food addictions—the Quann sisters know firsthand just how seminal psychedelics can be to trauma and healing journeys. Their journeys, however, are not so identical; one has been working with psychedelics for eight years while the other had her first psychedelic experience at a medically staffed Ibogaine center seven months ago. Despite the contrast in timeframe, psychedelics yielded the same results: breaking a decades-long addiction to sugar and ultra-processed foods (UPFs). In the psychedelic world much of the national conversation is focused on how psychoactive plants can provide much needed relief to those with PTSD and drug addictions, including the opioid crisis. But food addictions? Not so much. The cravings those addicted to drugs experience is similar to the cravings those addicted to sugar experience. Research has proven sugar is just as potent of an addiction as cocaine. And that addiction to refined sugar and UPFs often leads to type 2 diabetes; cardiovascular diseases; cancer; mental illness; high cholesterol; eating disorders; and obesity. The correlation between trauma and chronic diseases is daunting, and as Black women and childhood abuse survivors, the manifestations that arose in the Quann sisters’ adulthood were chronic diseases. Bringing this conversation to the forefront in the world of psychedelics is paramount, especially with a focus on including BIPOC communities.