The healing power of psychedelic therapies is not a new idea, but the mainstream medical community has largely ignored it for decades. The use of psychedelics in psychotherapy and as an adjunct to other treatments has gained popularity over the past few years.
Let’s explore some of the histories behind the use of psychedelics in medicine and how they are used today to help people with mental health issues.
What are psychedelics?
Psychedelics are a class of drugs that are known to induce a profound state of altered consciousness, often referred to as “the psychedelic experience” or “psychedelic trip.” They have been used for centuries in shamanistic and religious contexts, but only recently has research begun to explore the therapeutic potential of using psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for mental illnesses like treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
There are several types of classic psychedelics, each having its own specific use, benefits, and origin.
Types of Psychedelic Drugs
- LSD: LSD is the most well-known psychedelic drug and was first synthesized in 1938. The effects of LSD can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 8 hours, depending on the dosage. LSD-Assisted psychotherapy is known for its therapeutic capabilities in treating psychiatric disorders.
- Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms): Psilocybin is a compound in certain mushrooms found throughout the world. These mushrooms are typically consumed raw or dried, or even brewed into tea, and can cause you to have a mystical experience. Psilocybin-assisted therapy has been shown to effectively manage stress, help treat addictions, and ease anxiety related to terminal illnesses. Several studies have shown a reduction in anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer after psilocybin experiences.
- MDMA: MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), also known as ecstasy, is a psychoactive substance that has a serotonin-releasing agent and hallucinogenic abilities. Due to its ability to affect your serotonin levels, MDMA-assisted therapy has shown great success in clinical studies of treating various mental health disorders.
- Ayahuasca: Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic drug that was traditionally used by indigenous people in South America. It is a combination of DMT (N-dimethyltryptamine) and ayahuasca vine and extract, brewed into a tea. Studies have shown that long-term use of this psychedelic can help treat and prevent addictions or alcohol use disorder.
- DMT: Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in Ayahuasca. It is one of the main active ingredients in the ayahuasca plant. It is very similar chemically to Psilocybin and can offer some of the same benefits. Some research has shown that it may be able to help with stress and social anxiety in patients, but there is very limited evidence of its effectiveness.
- Ketamine: Ketamine was originally created and used as an anesthetic in hospitals and clinics. It is now commonly used for treating various mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression. It is considered a dissociative psychedelic, which can allow the user to have out-of-body experiences. It is also one of the only FDA-approved psychedelic drugs to help treat depression because of its antidepressant effects.
History of Psychedelics
The use of psychedelics goes back thousands of years. In ancient times, indigenous people and shamans would ingest plants and other substances for different ceremonies and rituals.
Psychedelics were once thought to be dangerous because they caused hallucinations and psychosis. However, recent studies show that psychedelic-assisted therapy actually has many positive uses and has a place in modern medicine for its therapeutic properties.
Why Psychedelic Treatments Are Gaining Popularity
While psychedelic substances have been used throughout history, until the 1950s, they were not used in modern Western medicine. During the 50s, mental health providers studied their potential benefits when used alongside psychotherapy to treat mental illness. They began to be widely used recreationally in the 60s, while these drugs were unregulated. This widespread use, particularly in the counter culture movements, caused psychedelics to have a stigma around them and a negative connotation. While they have been shown to have a very low potential for abuse, the War on Drugs caused many misconceptions about the effects of psychedelics and positioned them as dangerous drugs. Psychedelic drugs were eventually all classified as Schedule I drugs, which means they have no medical use.
Now, here we are, seven decades later, and psychedelic-assisted therapy has begun to gain attention as a breakthrough treatment option for mental illnesses such as depressive disorder, anxiety, PTSD, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders, like alcohol use disorder or drug addiction. Now, more and more research and clinical studies are being done surrounding psychedelic treatments and how they have positive effects on the quality of life for mental health patients.
Ketamine vs. Other Psychedelic Therapies
Currently, Ketamine is the only psychedelic drug that is legally available to treat mood disorders or mental illness. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can offer benefits to patients who suffer from a number of mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and various substance use disorders.
Its proven safety in medical uses has made it an ideal treatment for depression and anxiety, not only for office and clinical visits but for supervised at-home use, too. Sublingual forms of Ketamine in an at-home setting make KAP more affordable and accessible to more people. Research has shown that when KAP is carried out with medical support and backed by established psychiatry and psychedelic medicine, the sessions are an effective method for treating mental health disorders.
The Therapeutic Potential of Ketamine
Ketamine has dissociative properties that provide a temporary disconnection between the brain and body. Patients often feel relaxed, creative, and euphoric during their treatment. Many report feelings of new perspectives, shared connection, increased clarity, renewed purpose, and awareness of spirituality.
Although it was originally developed as an anesthetic, its therapeutic effects and effects on the brain led researchers to study it as an adjunct to psychotherapy for mood disorders. There is still much we don’t know about Ketamine’s effects on the brain, but there is growing evidence that it is an effective treatment for many mental health disorders.
Administration of Ketamine has been proven effective for a better life for many people and offers:
- Long-term symptom relief
- Fast results within an hour or two, not weeks or months
- Safe treatment options without adverse effects of other psychiatric drugs
- Scientifically proven to be a safe, fast-acting, and effective mental health treatment.
Consider Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Ketamine is a powerful tool for healing your mind and body. It’s a great option if you are looking for a safe, holistic, and effective way to find relief from the debilitating symptoms of mental illnesses.
HAPPŸŸ provides safe, effective ketamine treatment in the familiar comfort of your own home. Our ketamine treatment programs are facilitated and overseen to provide a transformational experience.
Take our free 1-minute assessment to know if FLÖW ketamine-assisted therapy is right for you. Find freedom and relief from the comforts of home. More HAPPŸŸNESS is just a few clicks away.
