If the United States hadn't fearfully and irrationally quashed this revolution when it started in the 60's we'd know so much more about LSD today. Tons and tons of people have seen promising or beneficial results from LSD, psilocybin, DMT, Salvia, etc. but sheer cultural inertia prevents the obvious benefits of the substances from being taken seriously. It's so unfortunate and maddening to see.
Power will always crush that which is a threat to it. I'm know the U.S. has done many illegal things in it's "War on Drugs" and that it's done plenty of legal but unethical things. From the point of view of those who wielded power the decision to act the way they did was rational. Legal, ethical and rational are all different things.
It's about fucking time. The U.S. and UN bans on psychedelics have left us in a dark age of psychopharmacology. Psychedelics are, by far, the most fascinating psychoactive compounds on the planet, and their potential is staggering.
Despite the West's ban on psychedelics, other parts and cultures have continued their tradition of using them for a variety of purposes, one among them is as a form of recuperative therapy (healing), another would be as a means for enlightenment. In fact, there's like hundreds of places in Peru where you can partake of Ayahuasca which has been used by the native peoples since forever. It's supposed potency far outweighs that of LSD, and it's effects are apparently life-changing, according to some personal accounts. I dated a guy who was a radical sort of psychologist and he and his colleagues provided the type of therapy this article is talking about. I never did it, though; which I regret now :/
The main effect of ayahuasca is that of DMT. When ingested, DMT gets broken down by enzymes called monoaminooxydases (MAO). Therefore, for it to be active, it is mixed with another substance that inhibits said MAO enzymes. I don't recall the exact names of the bark and leaf that are used as a source for each substance. What I am trying to say is, ingesting this mix is pretty uncomfortable. People usually vomit heavily during the sessions. DMT can be smoked/vaporized. The effect is shorter (about 15 minutes) but probably similar in its therapeutic value. Maybe the future will show a more controlled and better application of this substance :) I have hope!
If this sort of therapy can find a foothold with the terminally ill, the door will be open to begin using it with non-terminal patients. One obstacle is that LSD is out of patent, so Big Pharma has no reason to push it. Perhaps they will develop patentable derivatives, not that that is a good thing but Pharma has tremendous influence on what prevails. LSD therapy will be an opportunity for "talk therapists" who have in recent years seen their practices curtailed by meds and cognitive therapy.
Just be careful with it when you finally do try it. It's all about your mental/emotional state when you get into it, your environment and the people around you. I highly recommend you have someone you really trust to stay sober and act as your 'guide' if you start having a bad time. Have a long relaxing/happy playlist loaded up, and somewhere soft to sit/lay down. Anything in addition to that is just for fun.
You decide whether you want/need a sober guide if you give it a try. It's great for some people to have a minder, personally I it a bit repressive (even someone else minder). I've had a few chances to try iowaska but there were all these rules involved like having a minder, dressing all in white that just aren't for me, so I've passed. Know thyself! If you go into it knowing you are going to have a cool time and don't need a minder you will probably do great. Nothing is more true than that the attitude you go into this kind of thing with will usually define your experience. Limit the variables before you try the first time. Be with a person you or persons you know and care about who care about you. If you have some heavy karma to work out with one of those people there is a good chance that you will be doing that at some point so if you don't want to deal with it find other people. Nature is great for this kind of thing. The worst random variables are things like police and parents, use nature to separate you from that kind of stuff. Police, parents, heavy trips and most everything else will just pass if you keep your cool, it'll all be over in less than a half day. Hydrate!
I have to disagree here. It's always best to go in with a sitter for your first time. Even if there's a 90% chance everything goes perfectly well, there's always the chance things will get weird. Not to mention, you can't trust your sober mind to know how your mind's going to work on an eighth of mushrooms if you haven't tried them before. It's just a completely different headspace, and it's always safer to tread carefully when you start out.
I think many people would disagree with me but I'm glad I got to explore the experience with out any intermediary trying to keep my chill. I've certainly baby sat people who seemed like they needed a minder but I wonder if they would have had a more open and honest trip without someone trying to keep them grounded.
I don't disagree that solo trips can be very beneficial--my most insightful trips have always been on my own. I just think people shouldn't do it alone their first time.
I recently did psilocybin and it was such an incredible experience. We didn't a sober guide, but we were comfortable enough with each other that it was a great trip. I highly suggest having water colors around.
Super soakers...nice. It was snowing outside and we went and played it in. It was the most beautiful snowfall I'd ever seen.