Essential guide to the Psychedelic Renaissance


Book Description

In this book you will learn all the basics of psychedelics and why all this research is great news for public health in this century. After a very long and strange journey, psychedelics may finally be back for good. Rick Doblin, PhD, Founder & Executive Director, MAPS. In this guide you will learn all the essentials about the history, neuroscience, legality, therapeutic applications and harm reduction of the most promising psychedelic drugs for science. After decades of international prohibition these molecules are returning to laboratories and clinics, hand in hand with the most rigorous science, to revolutionize the way we understand and treat mental health (depression, anxiety, PTSD and addictions). Discover the world of psilocybin, MDMA, DMT, ketamine and LSD, before society immerses in this revolution, which will forever change the perception we have of psychedelics. This guide will be of interest to both therapists and other mental health professionals interested in the clinical applications, parents and educators seeking to understand the impact and safety of psychedelics and other drugs, as well as any adult curious to learn about and explore this new world of the psychedelic renaissance.




The Psychedelic Renaissance


Book Description

Praise for Second Edition of The Psychedelic Renaissance: 'Onward, intrepid explorer, keep your wits, while allowing them to be tickled, as Dr Sessa leads you into a world of remarkable wonders! You are in for a real treat!' Robin Carhart-Harris 'This new book is a succinct, entertaining overview of the emerging "Psychedelic Renaissance" written by an insider, and one of the brightest young architects of this new emerging paradigm.' Dr Dennis J. McKenna 'With intelligence, fact-based optimism and compassion Sessa throws open the doors of perception and guides the reader through the complexities of the history, pharmacology, legality and potential of these miraculous molecules.' Andy Roberts 'This new edition of Sessa's, The Psychedelic Renaissance, will encourage researchers to work in this field, to the benefit of our understanding of how the brain works and to develop new approaches to psychiatric disorders.' David Nutt 'Dr. Ben Sessa prescribes a way forward; mainstreaming psychedelics for a world in deep need of spirituality and inspiration. The Psychedelic Renaissance is a book that deserves to be widely read.' Rick Doblin 'Ben Sessa's energetic review of the research and cultural use of psychedelics provides a unique perspective. The way forward is clear: we urgently need more scientific research, and a rational reform of drug policies.' Amanda Feilding 'The Psychedelic Renaissance will inevitably and rightly be seen as an important marker of their assimilation into the cultural mainstream. I highly recommend it.' Ralph Metzner 'Dr. Sessa skilfully chronicles important developments, perhaps a turning point, in psychiatry and in the understanding of psychedelics in the wider culture. This new updated edition of The Psychedelic Renaissance is informative, entertaining and timely.' Michael Mithoefer







The Psychedelic Handbook


Book Description

Learn everything you need to know about psychedelics with this ultimate guide packed with information on popular psychedelic drugs like psilocybin, ketamine, MDMA, DMT and LSD—plus practical tips for microdosing and how to safely "trip"—from bestselling author Dr. Rick Strassman. Entering the world of psychedelic drugs can be challenging, and many aren’t sure where to start. As research continues to expand and legalization looms on the horizon for psychedelics like psilocybin, you may need a guide to navigate what psychedelics are, how they work, and their potential benefits and risks. The Psychedelic Handbook is a complete manual that is accessible to anyone with an interest in these “mind-manifesting” substances. Packed with information on psilocybin, LSD, DMT/ayahuasca, mescaline/peyote, ketamine, MDMA, ibogaine, 5-methoxy-DMT (“the toad”), and Salvia divinorum/salvinorin A, this book is your ultimate reference for understanding the science and history of psychedelics; discovering their potential to treat depression, PTSD, substance abuse, and other disorders, as well as to increase wellness, creativity, and meditation; learning how to safely trip and explaining what we know about microdosing; and recognizing and caring for negative reactions to psychedelics. Clinical research psychiatrist, founding figure of the American psychedelic research renaissance, and best-selling author of DMT: The Spirit Molecule, Dr. Rick Strassman shares his experience and perspectives as neither advocate nor foe of psychedelics in order to help readers understand the effects of these remarkable drugs.




The Ultimate Guide to Psychedelics


Book Description

The Ultimate Guide to Psychedelics takes the reader on a journey of discovery, covering six of the most notorious psychedelic substances: MDMA or Ecstasy, psilocybin or magic mushrooms, LSD, DMT, the culturally and spiritually associated brew from the Amazon called ayahuasca, and its more Northern friend, peyote, or mescaline. This book guides you through controversial histories, chemical structures, ground-breaking research, and information about newer methods of using these substances, such as microdosing. We'll dive deep into each drug so that by the end of this book, you can ultimately decide whether these substances are actually just misunderstood. We'll analyze historical and current accounts, clinical trials and their outcomes, recent legislative bans placed on these substances, and ultimately, the effects these substances have on the human body when used in both therapeutic settings and in recreational environments. You'll find here everything you need to know about MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, DMT, ayahuasca, and peyote-gift-wrapped in multiple layers of mind-blowing facts and information about the history, controversy, and newly discovered healing potential of these drugs that have been hiding for more than half-a-decade. We have now entered the Psychedelic Renaissance. The more we learn about these mind-altering substances and their potential, the easier it will be to understand this movement's relevance in the health industry.




Acid Revival


Book Description

A vivid analysis of the history and revival of clinical psychedelic science Psychedelic drugs are making a comeback. In the mid-twentieth century, scientists actively studied the potential of drugs like LSD and psilocybin for treating mental health problems. After a decades-long hiatus, researchers are once again testing how effective these drugs are in relieving symptoms for a wide variety of psychiatric conditions, from depression and obsessive–compulsive disorder to posttraumatic stress disorder and substance addiction. In Acid Revival, Danielle Giffort examines how this new generation of researchers and their allies are working to rehabilitate psychedelic drugs and to usher in a new era of psychedelic medicine. As this team of researchers and mental health professionals revive the field of psychedelic science, they are haunted by the past and by one person in particular: psychedelic evangelist Timothy Leary. Drawing on extensive archival research and interviews with people working on scientific psychedelia, Giffort shows how today’s researchers tell stories about Leary as an “impure” scientist and perform his antithesis to address a series of lingering dilemmas that threaten to rupture their budding legitimacy. Acid Revival presents new information about the so-called psychedelic renaissance and highlights the cultural work involved with the reassembly of dormant areas of medical science. This colorful and accessible history of the rise, fall, and reemergence of psychedelic medicine is infused with intriguing narratives and personalities—a story for popular science aficionados as well as for scholars of the history of science and medicine.




Beyond the Narrow Life


Book Description

Beyond the Narrow Life: A Guide to Psychedelic Integration and Existential Exploration presents a framework for understanding and experiencing psychedelic-assisted therapy including foundational therapeutic approaches, the psychospiritual aspects of the psychedelic journey, and integration of the insights gained.




Handbook of Medical Hallucinogens


Book Description

This handbook reviews promising applications of psychedelics in treatment of such challenging psychiatric problems as posttraumatic stress disorder, major depression, substance use disorders, and end-of-life anxiety. Experts from multiple disciplines synthesize current knowledge on psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, and other medical hallucinogens. The volume comprehensively examines these substances' neurobiological mechanisms, clinical effects, therapeutic potential, risks, and anthropological and historical contexts. Coverage ranges from basic science to practical clinical considerations, including patient screening and selection, dosages and routes of administration, how psychedelic-assisted sessions are structured and conducted, and management of adverse reactions.




Psychedelic Healing


Book Description

Psychedelics as therapeutic catalysts for emotional and spiritual transformation • Explores the latest medical research on the healing powers of entheogens • Reveals the crucial role of tribal and shamanic wisdom in psychedelic medicine • Provides guidelines for working with psychedelics, including the author’s personal healing and recommendations for creating change on the spiritual and societal levels Banned after promising research in the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s, the use of psychedelics as therapeutic catalysts is now being rediscovered at prestigious medical schools, such as Harvard, Johns Hopkins, NYU, and UCLA. Through clinical trials to assess their use, entheogens have been found to ease anxiety in the dying, interrupt the hold of addictive drugs, cure post-traumatic stress disorder, and treat other deep-seated emotional disturbances. To date, results have been positive, and the idea of psychedelics as powerful psychiatric--and spiritual--medicines is now beginning to be accepted by the medical community. Exploring the latest cutting-edge research on psychedelics, along with their use in indigenous cultures throughout history for rites of passage and shamanic rituals, Neal Goldsmith reveals that the curative effect of entheogens comes not from a chemical effect on the body but rather by triggering a peak or spiritual experience. He provides guidelines for working with entheogens, groundbreaking analyses of the concept--and the process--of change in psychotherapy, and, ultimately, his own story of psychedelic healing. Examining the tribal roots of this knowledge, Goldsmith shows that by combining ancient wisdom and modern research, we can unlock the emotional, mental, and spiritual healing powers of these unique and powerful tools, providing an integral medicine for postmodern society.




The Psychedelic Handbook


Book Description

Learn everything you need to know about psychedelics with this ultimate guide packed with information on popular psychoactive drugs like psilocybin, ketamine, MDMA, DMT and LSD--plus practical tips for microdosing and how to safely "trip"--from bestselling author Dr. Rick Strassman. Entering the world of psychedelics can be daunting, and many aren't sure where to start. Research continues to expand and legalization looms on the horizon for psychedelics like psilocybin. The Psychedelic Handbook is a complete manual that explains the basics of psychedelics in a way that is accessible for the novice user--or even just the psychedelic-curious. Inside you'll find: Information on the science and history of psychedelics Basic information on popular psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and peyote The difference between psychedelics and other "psychedelic-like" such as MDMA and ketamine The healing potential of psychedelic medicine for depression, PTSD, and anxiety And much more! Clinical research psychiatrist and bestselling author of DMT: The Spirit Molecule, Dr. Rick Strassman offers his expert advice for safely and effectively reaping the benefits of psychedelic medicine.