This short book is packed with fascinating information about one of the most controversial areas of psychiatry - psychedelic therapy. Research within this field of medicine has recently been resumed, having been banned for nearly half a century, and results of completed studies on the effects of psychedelics on war veterans with intractable PTSD and on subjects with treatment-resistant depression, have been very promising. Currently, controlled studies on the efficacy of psychedelic treatment for depression are taking place at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the USA and at the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences, at Imperial College London. The results so far suggest that within a decade, psychedelics could become a legal pharmacological treatment for depression and PTSD. In addition, these substances are known for their ability to dramatically enhance creativity and to provide profound spiritual insights, but perhaps the most fascinating part of this book is the second section which describes the experiences of numerous famous individuals who owe much of their significant success in life to these life-changing chemicals, the list includes: Apple pioneer, Steve Jobs who credits his outside-the-box perspective to LSD, which bestowed upon him an entirely different vision of existence that inspired a lot of Apple's product inventions and success; Francis Crick, the father of modern genetics who perceived the double helix shape of DNA during an LSD trip. The award-winning cosmologist Carl Sagan who stated: "e;the Hindu mystical experience"e; of union with the universe "e; is pre-wired into us, requiring only 200 micrograms of LSD to be made manifest."e; Oliver Wolf Sacks, author and Professor of neurology and psychiatry at Columbia University: "e;I'm glad I had the experience. It taught me what the mind is capable of."e; Susan Blackmore, English freelance writer, lecturer, author of The Meme Machine who stated: "e;The ultimate psychedelic, whose discoverer is fit and well at a hundred years old, is LSD...Not only can it induce mystical experiences, but can treat neurosis and alleviate pain and fear in the terminally ill. We may be wasting a potential "e;wonder drug."e; Tom Robbins, American author named one of the 100 Best Writers of the 20th Century by Writer's Digest magazine: "e;Frankly, the day I ingested 300 micrograms of pure Sandoz LSD was the most rewarding day of my life, the one day that I would not trade for any other... psychedelics can enhance the life of any intelligent, courageous person, and they might even represent our last great hope for planetary survival."e; And this list also includes numerous other celebrity figures such as: Aldous Huxley; Chemistry Nobel Prize winner, Kary Banks Mullis; VRML inventor Mark Pesce; New York Times best-selling author and doctor, Andrew Weil; Bill Wilson, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous; Rupert Sheldrake; Colin Wilson; Walter Houston Clark; Stephen John Fry; Robert Greene; Robin Skynner; Abraham Maslow; Robert Anton Wilson; Huston Smith; Alan Watts; Ken Kesey; Cary Grant; and Time Magazine publisher Henry Luce, who in the 1950's, subsequently wrote and published in Time Magazine, some very positive articles about the drug's potential, in which he praised Sandoz and LSD itself as providing: "e;an invaluable weapon to psychiatrists."e;

"Examines the mind-manifesting properties of psychedelic drugs and assesses the scientific evidence supporting their potential clinical and therapeutic use. Ben Sessa takes the reader on a journey through the fascinating history of psychedelic plants and chemicals, examining their role in human culture from prehistory to modern times. Based on a thorough review of scientific evidence, he makes a clarion call for a reevaluation of their clinical potential with appropriate setting in scientific research, psychiatry, psychotherapy, and personal growth. First published in 2012, This second edition of Psychedelic Renaissance has been extensively revised and expanded to incorporate the extraordinary developments in research into psychedelics over the intervening years"--Provided by publisher

Recent clinical trials show that psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin can be given safely in controlled conditions, and can cause lasting psychological benefits with one or two administrations. Supervised psychedelic sessions can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and addiction, and improve well-being in healthy volunteers, for months or even years. But these benefits seem to be mediated by "mystical" experiences of cosmic consciousness, which prompts a philosophical concern: do psychedelics cause psychological benefits by inducing false or implausible beliefs about the metaphysical nature of reality? This book is the first scholarly monograph in English devoted to the philosophical analysis of psychedelic drugs. Its central focus is the apparent conflict between the growing use of psychedelics in psychiatry and the philosophical worldview of naturalism. Within the book, Letheby integrates empirical evidence and philosophical considerations in the service of a simple conclusion: this "Comforting Delusion Objection" to psychedelic therapy fails. While exotic metaphysical ideas do sometimes come up, they are not, on closer inspection, the central driver of change in psychedelic therapy. Psychedelics lead to lasting benefits by altering the sense of self, and changing how people relate to their own minds and lives-not by changing their beliefs about the ultimate nature of reality. The upshot is that a traditional conception of psychedelics as agents of insight and spirituality can be reconciled with naturalism (the philosophical position that the natural world is all there is). Controlled psychedelic use can lead to genuine forms of knowledge gain and spiritual growth-even if no Cosmic Consciousness or transcendent divine Reality exists. Philosophy of Psychedelics is an indispensable guide to the literature for researchers already engaged in the field of psychedelic psychiatry, and for researchers-especially philosophers-who want to become acquainted with this increasingly topical field.

Researchers, program administrators, and practicing clinicians explain the most recent developments in using psychedelic substances to treat psychological, physiological, and social problems. More than a decade ago, the U.S. government lifted its ban on all testing of psychedelic substances. Winkelman and Sessa now provide updated scientific research and applications of these substances, now moving into approved categories of medicine. The text is an up-to-date assessment of the latest advances in the field of psychedelic medicine, covering the use of LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, ayahuasca, and other substances to augment psychotherapies for a range of disorders. It discusses medical and psychiatric concerns, clinical efficacy and safety, ethical considerations, and neuroscience findings regarding the psychedelic compounds. Topics covered include an overview of psychiatric applications of psychedelics; treatments for addictions and depressive disorders; effects of psychedelics on inflammation and neuroplasticity; evidence for clinical applications of DMT, ayahuasca, and cannabidiol; psychedelic treatment of sociopathic disorders; microdosing psychedelics; training psychedelic therapists; and community-based harm reduction approaches to managing psychedelic crises.

• Examines the therapeutic potential of expanded states, underground psychedelic psychotherapy, harm reduction, new approaches for healing individual and collective trauma, and training considerations • Addresses challenging psychedelic experiences, spiritual emergencies, and the central importance of the therapeutic relationship • Details the use of cannabis as a psychedelic tool, spiritual exploration with LSD, micro-dosing with Iboga, and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD Exploring the latest developments in the flourishing field of modern psychedelic psycho-therapy, this book shares practical experiences and insights from both elders and newer research voices in the psychedelic research and clinical communities. The contributors examine new findings on safe and skillful work with psychedelic and expanded states for therapeutic, personal, and spiritual growth. They explain the dual process of opening and healing. They explore new approaches for individual inner work as well as for the healing of ancestral and collective trauma. They examine the power of expanded states for reparative attachment work and offer insights on the integration process through the lens of Holotropic Breathwork. The contributors also examine the use of cannabis as a psychedelic tool, spiritual exploration with LSD, microdosing with Iboga, treating depression with psilocybin, and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Revealing diverse ways of working with psychedelics in terms of set, setting, and type of substance, the book concludes with discussions of ethics and professional development for those working in the field as well as explores considerations for training the next generation of psychedelic therapists.

For the psychonaut to those curious about psychedelics, this definitive guide to seven psychedelic substances and how they are changing our world is the perfect holiday stocking stuffer. "Shows us how psychedelics can transform mental health and enhance the way we live."—Sara Gottfried MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Hormone Cure This practical guide to psychedelics will appeal to anyone interested in their own health and wellbeing: "A captivating read that shares how society can use psychedelics to transform the way we exist in the world."—Robin Divine, psychedelic advocate and creator of Black People Trip Once feared and misunderstood, psychedelics have emerged as one of the most promising therapies of the 21st century. Through cutting-edge research, substances such as MDMA and LSD are being recognized as powerful keys to healing and human improvement, offering solutions for mental health issues including PTSD and depression. Similarly, plant medicines like ayahuasca, peyote, and iboga, used since time immemorial by Indigenous cultures for spiritual purposes, have been shown to promote feelings of empathy, connection, and love for the self, others, and the world around us. But how can everyday people benefit from psychedelics? And will they really transform healthcare as we know it? In Psyched, health journalist Amanda Siebert explores the history, culture, and potential of seven psychedelic substances. She interweaves real-life stories, clinical research, and interviews with the world’s leading psychedelics experts and cultural allies to offer a definitive guide to these cutting-edge treatments.