Psychedelics have been used for healing purposes for thousands of years, but popular culture is only beginning to understand just how powerful and multifaceted these substances are. This article will explore the past and present of psychedelic medicine, as well as introduce you to Psychable – an online resource aimed at helping people find professionals who can support them on their journey with psychedelics.
What is Psychedelic Medicine?
Psychedelic medicine is an emergent field that utilizes naturally occurring or synthetic psychedelic substances as tools for healing and self-improvement.
The Controlled Substances Act prohibited psychedelic use in 1971, crucially limiting research efforts and driving many psychedelic therapists “underground” or abroad to locations with less stringent laws. However, in the last decade, partly due to tireless advocacy on the part of organizations such as the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), research into psychedelics is seeing a revival.
A limited but promising body of clinical evidence on the safety and efficacy of psychedelic substances such as psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, ayahuasca, and MDMA shows that they may be able to treat various psychological and physical disorders. At higher doses, psychedelics such as LSD may increase neuroplasticity, the ability of our brains to change and adapt.
One survey study even found that psychedelic use is linked to better physical health. Current research supports the idea that psychedelic substances could have powerful healing potential for a variety of conditions, such as PTSD, major depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder.
“The potential for psychedelic medicine to successfully treat these disorders is exciting, as many of these conditions are often resistant to conventional treatment,” says Jemie Sae Koo, Psychable CEO and Co-Founder.
“However, more research is needed in order to determine how to optimize outcomes for patients and what psychedelic therapy protocols are best indicated for specific conditions.” Researchers are also investigating psychedelics for applications such as coping with racial trauma, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and even reducing recidivism.
Additionally, psychedelics can help people to expand their minds in fascinating ways. Many professionals, especially from the tech and business world, report microdosing LSD to solve problems, enhance creativity and improve performance. Some microdosing research suggests that subjective benefits of microdosing may only be the placebo effect rather than the efficacy of the drug explicitly.
Although researchers are “cautiously optimistic” about psychedelics for mental health conditions, there is not enough clinical evidence to prove that psychedelics can address the problems of the modern world.
Keeping Up with the Current Research and Trends in Psychedelic Medicine
“Psychedelics are not a panacea,” explains Matt Zemon, Psychable Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder. “Some people try to fit psychedelic medicine into their existing concept of medicine, typically the western medical paradigm that rests heavily on the use of pharmaceutical interventions or surgical procedures. This may lead to the misunderstanding that psychedelics are potential instant cures for diagnoses. Psychedelics are tools; just like a knife that can be used in service of help or harm.”
This oversimplification of psychedelic medicine is one example of the shadow side of psychedelics, a phenomenon receiving more attention recently as global interest and demand increase. Other related issues include accessibility, the overharvesting, and endangerment of peyote and iboga, the complexities of decriminalization efforts, the potential pitfalls of mainstreaming psychedelics, ethical and legal issues, spiritual bypassing, sexual misconduct in psychedelic therapy and psychedelic spaces, and more.
Psychable can help you get informed about everything in the world of psychedelic medicine. They envision a world where the safe, legal and ethical use of psychedelics has transformed global mental health, allowing more people to heal, transform and access their true potential. Psychable’s mission is to empower individuals seeking the healing properties of psychedelics with practitioners, knowledge, and a safe community that legally supports them.
As the legal landscape continues to shift, Psychable aims to simplify the process of finding experienced professionals who offer legal healing modalities and pre-and post-psychedelic experience support.
Psychable is for service-seekers and practitioners, as well those who are new to learning about psychedelic-assisted therapy. Browse their collection of evidence-based articles, participate in their engaged and passionate online forum, and check out the professional directory powered by ratings and reviews.
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