This paper looks at the possible applications of entheogens (i.e. psychoactive plants and chemicals used as spiritual sacraments) as potential educational tools to stimulate foundamental types of understanding. The prescient observations of Aldous Huxley concerning what he saw as a malaise in contemporary education - no éess relevant today in the 21st century than when he first made them fifthy years ago - offer an impetus to reconsider the value of traditionally-used "plant teachers". I outline the ideas of educational theorist Kieran Egan and philosopher Richard Shusterman, who portray mythic and somatic forms of understanding as foundamental, yet largely neglected in modern pedagogy and psilosophy, and show how entheogens might function within their theoretical frameworks to provide richer educational experiences.