Psychedelics for Serious Illness: An update on the state of science for psychedelics, and what all clinicians should know as they enter this uncharted territory.

An update on the state of science for psychedelics, and what all clinicians should know as they enter this uncharted territory.
Articles about psychedelic treatments for persistent depression, PTSD, and substance use disorder seem to be everywhere. Rarely a week goes by without a newly published study appearing in a peer-reviewed medical journal, usually followed by reports of the study in prominent news outlets.

Anyone born after 1970 may find themselves wondering, “What’s going on?” Until recently, psychedelics seemed to be artifacts of a bygone era of anti-war protests, hippies, Hair, and classic vinyl.

Here’s what you need to know.

1. These drugs have a long history.

Psychedelics actually have a long history. Archaeological evidence shows that early humans ingested specific plants and mushrooms, which produce chemicals with psychedelic properties. For millennia, indigenous people in Asia, Central and South America have used experiences induced by psychedelics as central components of sacred ceremonies. Western medicine’s examination of these drugs dates to the synthesis of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) in 1938 by Albert Hoffman, a Swiss chemist working for the Sandoz pharmaceutical company. Hofmann had been researching vasoactive compounds and initially set aside LSD. In 1943 he inadvertently absorbed some of the chemical transcutaneously and had the first LSD-induced psychedelic experience.

Recognizing its intense psychic properties, Sandoz offered LSD to psychiatrists who were interested in exploring its therapeutic potential. From 1950 through early 1970s, licensed physicians could administer or prescribe LSD to patients. Research flourished in the form of bench science, case studies and small, non-randomized trials. Before falling victim to the excesses and cultural-political tensions of the era, more than 1,000 articles about psychedelics were published in the medical literature. Then the Nixon administration reclassified psychedelics as Schedule I drugs, signifying high potential for abuse and no legitimate use. Research ceased.

But seeds had been planted in the minds of a handful of clinicians and investigators. Early in the present century the FDA granted permission to researchers at UCLA, NYU, and Johns Hopkins universities to conduct small, well-designed trials of psilocybin-assisted therapy. Consistent with previous findings, a large majority of patients with cancer and concomitant depression or anxiety demonstrated substantial improvements on standard scales. Notably, these benefits were often sustained through months of follow up. Publication of these studies ushered in the current renaissance of psychedelic-assisted therapies.

Read Full Article

Latest Blog Posts

A Holistic Solution to Health Disparities: Naturopathic Medicine and Culturally Competent Care 

A Holistic Solution to Health Disparities: Naturopathic Medicine and Culturally Competent Care 

Healthcare Disparities in African American Communities African Americans continue to face significant disparities in healthcare. From higher mortality rates for chronic conditions like cancer and heart disease to underdiagnosis of autoimmune disorders, these inequities stem from systemic racism, implicit bias, and a lack of cultural sensitivity among providers. Studies show that Black patients are less likely to receive adequate pain management and more likely to feel unheard or dismissed during medical visits. These disparities erode trust in the healthcare system and lead to poorer outcomes and avoidable suffering. For many, navigating the system can feel isolating and disempowering, leaving them ...

Read More
At AIMS Institute we prescribe low dose oral naltrexone for ‘long COVID’

At AIMS Institute we prescribe low dose oral naltrexone for ‘long COVID’

A recent paper in the Frontiers in Medicine states that An underutilized intervention for long  COVID is low dose naltrexone, which has an established safety profile for a variety of conditions. ‘Naltrexone is a non-selective opioid antagonist currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of alcohol and opioid dependence and is prescribed at 50–150 mg daily. At doses below 5 mg, it is considered low-dose naltrexone (LDN), exhibits anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and has been used off-label to reduce severity of symptoms in conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, complex regional pain syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue ...

Read More
Unusual Suspects

Unusual Suspects

Psychedelic Therapies Gain New Advocates Texas Law Magazine Written by Robin Berghaus. Art by Matthieu Bourel Published November 6, 2024 Marcus Capone served seven combat tours as a Navy SEAL — including missions with SEAL Team Six, the nation’s preeminent counterterrorism unit — before being medically retired in 2013. For years, he struggled to find effective treatments for his traumatic brain injuries, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Capone tried antidepressants, talk therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and he visited several brain clinics. Nothing worked. When Capone’s life began falling apart, he considered suicide. His wife was just as ...

Read More
Call Us Text Us
Skip to content