Psychedelics 101

Psychedelics comes from the Greek word for psyche- meaning to make visible. They are substances or experiences that bring about a heightened state of consciousness or brain activity. Psychedelics are a synonym for entheogens which means activating the divine within. 

There is a long history with the legality and criminalization of psychedelics. And there is an even longer documented history of indigenous people using psychedelics in ceremony and a part of everyday life. We are now seemingly in a psychedelic renaissance as they are once again being explored as treatments for everything from headaches, terminal illness, ptsd, depression and anxiety. John Hopkins has had a program dedicated to the research and study of psychedelics and health since 2000. Now I think it is important to remember that anything can be a poison just as anything can be a medicine. Any substance, or activity has the possibility of being misused and abused. It is important to go through The Medicine Checklist before engaging with any medicine.

  1.  Right medicine

  2.  Right dose 

  3.  Right time

  4. Right reason 

  5.  Right location/people/environment

Feel into your body before engaging with any medicine. If you are not able to say “yes” to all the above questions- do not proceed. It is not safe and will be harmful for you to engage.

What Can You Expect from Psychedelics?

An altered sense of reality 

  • An altered sense of time 

  • Altered communication 

  • A spiritual, mystical, or unifying experience 

  • An inability to think in a linear way 

  • A mixed sensory experience - feel the sound 

  • Vivid/ heightened senses 

  • Heightened awareness and understanding

  • Increased energy 

  • Nausea and vomiting

The Most Common Psychedelics

  • Psilocybin- Mushrooms! Psychedelic Mushrooms occur naturally in all 7 continents. 

  • Ayahuasca - A general term to describe brews from plants with intense psychoactive effects. Typically, they contain DMT.

  • Mescaline- Also known as 3,4,5 Trimethoxphenethylamine. Naturally occurring from the peyote cactus San Pedro cactus and the Peruvian Torch. 

  • *MDMA- Not technically a psychedelic but a part of the amphetamine class with psychedelic effects. 

  • *Ketamine- Not technically a psychedelic and not naturally occurring. This is a dissociative substance that has a psychedelic effect.

The Brain on Psychedelics

Classic psychedelics have similar ways that they affect the brain. They all create activity on serotonin receptors. This increases communication between the different areas of the brain. There is more activity between the left and right sides and overall more intercommunication. The brain on psychedelics is more similar to a dream state than a waking state.

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