The Rise of Psychedelic Therapy 🧠

Where Science Meets the Mystical (7min Read)

**Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Psychedelic substances are regulated and may be illegal in your location. Use of these substances involves risks and should only be considered under professional supervision. The author and platform disclaim liability for any harm from using this information. Always consult a healthcare professional before exploring Psychedelic therapy.**

TL;DR Summary:

• Highlights include the use of Psychedelics for treating mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD under professional guidance.

• Psychedelics, described as mind-altering substances, have historical and spiritual significance, showing promise in enhancing consciousness and healing.

• The blog addresses misconceptions about Psychedelics, advocating for informed and safe use amidst legal and regulatory challenges.

• Efforts are underway to legalize Psychedelic therapy, with organizations like MAPS leading the charge for FDA approval.

• The piece underscores Psychedelics' potential role in personal and societal transformation, emphasizing education and responsible usage.

Welcome Back!

We’re back, and today, Corbin Sellers is taking over the Mind Brain Body Lab Digest!

Corbin is an expert in the field of Psychedelics, so I can assure you that you’re in safe hands.

I’ve also taken some time to add in supporting research, and some extra citations for the skeptical among us.

While I do believe there is a place for Psychedelics in healing trauma, I caution you to slow down a bit if you think they’re a cure-all.

As you’ll see today, these tools can be very effective at helping people heal anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction, and more.

However, they are in a clinical setting, with trained professionals.

Please keep this in mind before you start to dabble with these powerful substances by yourself.

That being said, Corbin is someone who’s experienced these things himself and actively helps people with these kinds of things for a living.

So, please enjoy today’s blog!

Are Psychedelics the Solution?

Humanity is currently facing a LOT of problems. Economic instability, technological disruptions, war, and an international health crisis. 

While these problems are incredibly complex and will require out-of-the-box solutions, as Albert Einstein said "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." 

So, then the question becomes, what can we do to change our thinking? 

In my mind, there are few tools as powerful and readily available as Psychedelics. 

Psychedelics could provide the solution to our current way of thinking, our internal problems, and maybe even our external problems. 

For the sake of this article and the audience, I’m going to focus on how Psychedelics can serve as tools to help us solve the mental and emotional problems within us. 

With so much of America dealing with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, it’s clear that our current solutions are not resolving the myriad of health challenges humans face. 

There is now a mountain of clinical and anecdotal evidence showing the powerful impact Psychedelics can have on mental and emotional health. 

While some of the power of Psychedelics can be measured and explained, much of it cannot be. 

So, as you’re reading this, I invite you to be open to the idea that much of their impact is ineffable and indescribable.

What Even Are Psychedelics? 

First off, what are Psychedelics? 

When you look at the etymology of the word “psychedelic” it means “mind/soul-manifesting.”

From a clinical perspective, they are substances that induce altered states of consciousness, leading to profound changes in mental, emotional, and perceptual processing. 

These substances interact with the brain’s 5-HT2A serotonin receptors. 

Serotonin is one of the primary ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters in the brain. 

Psychedelics stimulate a surge in this ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter, creating dramatic shifts in consciousness. 

Psychedelic substances include LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide), Psilocybin (magic mushrooms), MDMA (ecstasy), DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) and Mescaline (Peyote). 

All of these substances or their molecular predecessors, exist in the natural world and many of them have been used for centuries by indigenous cultures. 

Some are even thought to be the reason humans developed such large brains in comparison to their primate ancestors (see Stoned Ape theory). 

While substances like Cannabis/THC and Ketamine can induce altered states of consciousness as well, they do not interact with the Serotonergic system. 

Consequently, they are not technically considered Psychedelics in the classic sense. 

However, both of these substances (and others) have similar abilities to create dramatic shifts in consciousness along with the mental and emotional healing to go with it.

How do Psychedelics work? 

While Psychedelics stimulate an increase in serotonin receptor activity, there is a long and exhaustive list of cascading effects that lead to their powerful impact. 

One of the primary mechanisms is through the downregulation of the Nervous System. 

Psychedelics have a unique ability to help down-regulate the body’s nervous system. 

Many people spend much of their time in the Sympathetic (fight or flight) state. 

In this state it is very hard to heal, process and access expanded cognition because the organism is preoccupied with defending itself against threats in its environment. 

Threats which used to include saber tooth tigers, invading tribes and famines, have been replaced with to-do lists, work deadlines, financial scarcity, and relational insecurity. 

These modern threats still activate the organism the same way pre-historic threats did. 

Psychedelics can help people drop into the Parasympathetic (rest and digest/restore and resolve) state. 

This state is crucial when it comes to health and healing. If a person does not spend enough time in this state of rest and recovery, then stress and environmental toxicity can lead to the deterioration and decay of the organism. 

It’s from this Parasympathetic state that someone can find healing from the mental and emotional wounds we all face as a result of being human.

The parasympathetic state Psychedelics encourage is also what allows someone the safety and ease necessary to process old traumas and clear emotional blockages. 

This same safety is what can allow someone to creatively resolve problems regarding their work, relationships, and the everyday burdens of living in a hyperactive and hyperconnected society. 

This is where Einstein's urge for a new way of thinking comes in. 

Psychedelics could very well guide humans to higher levels of consciousness and cognition that will allow us to ascend the ways of thinking that created the toxic and dysfunctional society we find ourselves in.

What Makes Them Ineffable & Inexplicable?

Psychedelics have a unique ability to inspire a greater connection and understanding of Spirituality. 

While hard to measure, this very well could be one of the most beneficial impacts of Psychedelics. 

These plants and fungi have been used for centuries across the world for spiritual and ceremonial purposes. 

Tribes of indigenous people from the Amazon to the Nordic region have utilized these tools to connect with Spiritual planes of existence. 

Many of today’s clinical trials [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] do test and account for this factor and often have participants claim Mystical Spiritual Experiences (MSEs) resulting from ingesting these substances. 

Note from Cody: The numbers in brackets reference the supporting research Corbin is referring to that I’ve listed below. 

Are Psychedelics Dangerous?

But what about what we’ve been told about Psychedelics and their harm? 

Aren’t they illegal for a reason? Much of what we’ve been told about Psychedelics, that they’re addictive, that they fry your brain, or lead people to jump out of windows, are all myths told to us by the powers that be whose very power and authority could come under question by the expanded cognition Psychedelics facilitate. 

Psychedelics aren’t addictive, they don’t fry your brain, and they don’t lead people to jump out of windows [6, 7, 8].

In fact, quite the opposite, Psychedelics can help break patterns of addiction, restore brain health, and heal suicidality [9]. 

While there certainly are some risks with Psychedelics such as serotonin syndrome (at high dosages) and dehydration, most of these risks are mitigated by intentional usage and proper education. 

Some psychedelic experiences can bring traumatic experiences and mental patterns to conscious awareness, eliciting a challenging experience, these risks are also mitigated with intentional usage and adequate support and guidance. 

How Do I Access Them Safely?

If these tools are so powerful and effective then how do I access them? 

This is an ongoing development in today’s highly regulated world. 

There are efforts by many organizations to get the government and the FDA (Food and Drug Association) to reschedule these substances and legalize Psychedelic Therapy. 

No organization is closer to this than MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies). 

MAPS is just months away from FDA approval of MDMA for the treatment of PTSD. 

Their clinical research findings can be found here. 

Even if approved, there could be a bottleneck in accessing MDMA for the treatment of PTSD, as only a few licensed professionals will be able to provide the therapy. 

While the cost of this therapy is unknown, many people worry that it will be hard to access for the everyday person. 

There are, however, legal grey areas to accessing these tools. 

Many states including Colorado and municipalities such as Ann Arbor Michigan have decriminalized some of these substances. 

Allowing people to possess and ingest certain Psychedelics without an organized effort to prosecute by local authorities. 

Other countries have either legalized or decriminalized these substances as well. 

Many of these countries have retreat centers and facilities devoted to providing Psychedelic Therapy. 

Either way, anyone interacting with these substances must understand their local laws and regulations.

The Future of Psychedelics 

Psychedelics are an incredibly vast and complex subject matter. 

This article only covers a fraction of their effects, mechanisms of action, and ways to engage with them. 

There are several phenomenal resources, including books, videos, and research articles that provide greater insight into these incredible substances. 

Psychedelics have a unique ability to help shift our perspective, heal our hearts, and repattern our behavior. 

Humanity faces a great number of challenges. Many of which have to do with our relationship with ourselves and each other. 

Between generations of trauma, a toxic environment, and a society that is ill-equipped to handle the mental and emotional distress we all face, humanity is at a precipice point. 

Psychedelics may be one of the tools that help us heal and grow into a new era of human history. 

**Corbin Sellers, the author of this article is NOT a licensed health care provider and does not support or condone the use of illegal or illicit substances. The information and supporting evidence in this article is for informational and educational purposes only.**

See You Next Week

That’s a wrap! Thank you, Corbin, for sharing some of your wisdom with us today!

If you would like to reach out to Corbin, you can find him here:

Email: letmebeyourguide26@gmail.com

Social Media: @letmebe_your_guide

I hope you found today’s blog as intriguing and eye-opening as I did when I first read it!

And, as always, until next time… Live Heroically 🧠

Supporting Research

1. Griffiths, R. R., Richards, W. A., McCann, U., & Jesse, R. (2006). Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance. Psychopharmacology, 187(3), 268-283; discussion 284-292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0457-5

2. Ross, S., Bossis, A., Guss, J., Agin-Liebes, G., Malone, T., Cohen, B., ... & Schmidt, B. L. (2016). Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(12), 1165-1180. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881116675512

3. Garcia-Romeu, A., Griffiths, R. R., & Johnson, M. W. (2014). Psilocybin-occasioned mystical experiences in the treatment of tobacco addiction. Current Drug Abuse Reviews, 7(3), 157-164. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874473708666150107121331

4. MacLean, K. A., Johnson, M. W., & Griffiths, R. R. (2011). Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 25(11), 1453-1461. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881111420188

5. Yaden, D. B., Griffiths, R. R., & Johnson, M. W. (2017). The subjective effects of psychedelics are necessary for their enduring therapeutic effects. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 8(11), 2332-2334. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00293

6. Henríquez-Hernández, L., Rojas-Hernández, J., Quintana-Hernández, D., & Borkel, L. (2023). Hofmann vs. Paracelsus: Do Psychedelics Defy the Basics of Toxicology?—A Systematic Review of the Main Ergolamines, Simple Tryptamines, and Phenylethylamines. Toxics, 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11020148.

7. Nichols, D. (2016). Psychedelics. Pharmacological Reviews, 68, 264 - 355. https://doi.org/10.1124/pr.115.011478.

8. Krebs, T., & Johansen, P. (2013). Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study. PLoS ONE, 8. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0063972.

9. Nichols, D., Johnson, M., & Nichols, C. (2017). Psychedelics as Medicines: An Emerging New Paradigm. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 101. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.557.

10. Kansas City Star. (2024, February 8). Psychedelics-assisted therapy in Kansas City. https://www.inkansascity.com/style-shopping/health/psychedelics-assisted-therapy-in-kansas-city/: https://www.inkansascity.com/style-shopping/health/psychedelics-assisted-therapy-in-kansas-city/

11. Lin, W., Wang, N., Guo, Z., et al. (2023). A machine learning approach to identify individuals at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease using retinal fundus photographs. Nature Medicine, 29(10), 1656-1664. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-023-01656-7