Objective:Health #34 - The Healing Potential of Psychedelics

I wouldn't say "zip" side effects. The unintended consequences can be psychologically profound and permanent in a negative way for those that don't respect the substance. Even for those who are prepared and respect it, it can harm. Even Terrence McKenna was done with psilocybin by the end of his life due to one too many terrifying trips.

thanks for the reminder! first frosty night/mushroom season just started here

I have zero doubt that these substances (LSD, LSA, psilocybin/psilocin, MDMA, and DMT) can be used to help heal trauma. And I want them to be available to those looking for help.

I used to feel that these should all be legalized, but now, decriminalization is as far as I'm willing to go for the public, and I'm wary of any pharmaceutical company attempting to capitalize on their "version" of these substances. Anyone who has taken both LSA and LSD knows that a relatively minor change in a substance makes them very different in effect. I have enough experience to realize that while they are mostly harmless (physically), the propensity for young, healthy people to do stupid things with little understanding of what "safe" means could actually make legalization tragic for themselves, and for those that use these substances responsibly. I didn't touch psychedlics until my mid-thirties, and after I did, I realized that someone who hasn't experienced much of life yet may not be able to handle these drugs.

I practice harm reduction and do advise people (who are going to use them regardless of what I say) that one's mindset and their physical setting could mean the difference between giggling in your friends living room, having a profoundly positive spiritual experience, or experiencing hours of traumatizing abject terror that makes it impossible for them to accept consensus reality and thus function as humans.

LonSabbatical What's a drug? Drink a gallon or two of H2O and you'll O.D.

Get a headache when you don't drink coffee? You are PHYSICALLY ADDICTED.

I dare say folks shouldn't have to 'see a qualified physician to drink coffee, nor water. What ever the hell happened to individual freedome and common sense??

R.C.

RC, I see where you are coming from.

I did dabble to see what the fuss is about and my conclusion was that it was potentially very dangerous. The drug induced state is not real but it nonetheless is interesting. It's only to be experienced very rarely.

I was actually going to say something similar, but I couldn't put it into words that felt right to direct toward Lon.

I also don't think your average psychiatrist or PCP is going to know the best dosage for you to take of a psychedelic. I think that's what shamans were for before organized religion forcibly replaced them with priests who have no connection beyond the veil. Men of science, except at the very fringe of physics, have little to no connection beyond the veil. That may be a judgement, but I'm making it.

That's why this conversation is difficult. I know about how many mushrooms I need for a journey. But that dosage is very, very fluid. It's not a toy. It's not for pleasure. I get really anxious after I've decided to take a journey. It's a compulsion when I do, and it's uncomfortable. And until they take full effect, I can't remember why I wanted to take them. It's very strange that way. And then all of a sudden, I remember EVERYTHING. That's when I begin my work. And often I remember little of the journey afterward, but have the tools I need to put things together.

This isn't something the FDA will ever figure out, an ideal dosage for spiritual journey just isn't in the wheelhouse of their purpose. They might figure out the ideal dosage to facilitate therapy to deal with PTSD. But the substance has potential to heal more than just the very, very damaged. And even if they do figure out an ideal dosage, I think that for many people, they'd be better off just eating a lot of mushrooms and being alone with themselves to face their demons. I know I don't want to be around others when I take them.

And I object to the idea that a drug induced state is not real or cannot lead to knowledge. I know far more about myself and the world at large due in no small part to psychedelics. My mind just was not open enough to see myself, or to accept certain truths prior to those journeys.

That's why I just wish they would decriminalize it. I don't want to see it sold in stores or grown and manufactured by multinational pharmaceutical companies. But I should be allowed to cultivate my own for personal use, and shouldn't have to worry about going to jail if I need medical help from a misadventure. For me and many others, they are a tool. I know the Cs warned about psychs, but interestingly they did not name mushrooms. And maybe that's just MY wishful thinking. I have plenty of opportunity to take them. I have a stash of them. But I am learning a great many things and the time isn't right. You can't just take them and expect to have your questions answered. But you can study a great deal and use them to put the pieces together. I'm just hoping that I learn how to put the pieces together without them, which is why I don't use them often even though I could.

Artex Someone who I met (SWIM) taught me a lot about this. I my write in first person because it's easier for me.

There's no need to EVER estimate blind with mushrooms. (I've heard of kids boiling down and drinking absurd amounts. Contrast the the proper usage - especially for medical uses - of microdosing.) Every mushroom will have a different potency. They lose almost NO potentcy from drying with cool to warm air.

Once they've dried mix and chop them as fine or finer than chopped dried parsely. Start with super tiny amount (soak in lemon juice, then place under tounge. Measure as one goes along so dose anc batch are calculated. take same amount every 15 minutes until proper mindset is achieved.

Works fine, and helps with ADD, all sorts of neuro muscular issues (e.g., Alzheimers' MS.. but Mainstream med won't do the tests.)

One thing big pharma has learned from medical pot is that they can 'get in on the biz' while they were before worried that they couldn't due to the non patentable nature(they thought) of naturals. Why do our brains have opiate receptors? Because ancestors discovered poppies. Same with mushrooms.

R.C.

Give us a "report spam" button. I don't even care about any other features. I just don't want spammers to realize their shit stays here forever.