Psychedelics show promise as anti-depressants

After a pause of nearly 40 years in research into the therapeutic effects of psychedelic drugs, recent studies are showing promising results.

Psychedelics like LSD, ketamine or magic mushrooms could be combined with psychotherapy to treat people suffering from psychiatric disorders such as depression or compulsive disorders, Swiss scientists suggested.

The researchers said recent brain imaging studies show that psychedelics such as LSD, ketamine and psilocybin act on the brain in ways that could help reduce symptoms of various psychiatric disorders. It is important to keep the doses of the drugs low and ensure they are given over a short period of time, in combination with therapy sessions.

This way, the drugs can be used as a kind of catalyst, helping patients to alter their perception of problems or pain levels and then work with behavioral therapists or psychotherapists to work on these issues from a different angle.

"Psychedelics can give patients a new perspective -- particularly when things like suppressed memories come up -- and then they can work with that experience," said Franz Vollenweider of the Neuropsychopharmacology and brain imaging unit at Zurich's University Hospital of Psychiatry, who published the paper titled ‘The neurobiology of psychedelic drugs: implications for the treatment of mood disorders’ in Nature Neuroscience journal.

Scientific American, CNN, and World Science have all recently published articles on the healing properties of psychedelics.

| |

Comments

BULE - 2010-08-25 23:28:40

Self medicating is irresponsible and dangerous, but that's what I've done and still do (a long story). I beleive we're all aware of instruction that psychedelics shouldn't ever be taken in
different sorts of enviroment and moods etc.( I agree), tho that's exactly my game. I've induced so called "bad trips" intentionally many times and I felt great afterwards; I did it with HBWR seeds(15) two weeks ago and it was terrifying - just don't try it, especially without siter(I am almost always alone). After all..., nothing could replace how I feel now due to my recent experience.
"Psychedelics show promise as anti-depressants" - they've showed me alright.
Now that I feel fine, I can't wait the next time I'll do it, cause it's going to be taken for fun - on wonderful day and peaceful state of mind.
Take care!

Henk - 2010-08-26 18:27:52

What feels better than those clear after trip moments?

Henk - 2010-08-26 18:29:56

Thank god for psychedelics

Shanga - 2010-08-26 19:04:28

It is wonderful to live in a time when, after 40 years, psychedelics are finally beginning to once again emerge from the layers of prejudice and misunderstanding in the minds of modern scientists. However, if you read the Scientific American article, in the end it says: "Regardless, it is unlikely that ketamine, psilocybin or any of these psychedelics would be used directly, because of their hallucinogenic and other side effects. According to Duman, several pharmaceutical companies have already begun the search for alternative compounds that target the same biochemistry or brain function." So who knows what this will end in. Probably something pretty different from the original drugs.

ElTigno - 2010-08-29 04:46:16

"Regardless, it is unlikely that ketamine, psilocybin or any of these psychedelics would be used directly, because of their hallucinogenic and other side effects. According to Duman, several pharmaceutical companies have already begun the search for alternative compounds that target the same biochemistry or brain function."

Moralistics idiots, you can't have healing power without hallucinations! It's a full package! We have natural and wonderful substances, and the only obstacle to use them on terapy is why someone say they're illegal... fools!

Customer Support

Order information