In the modern era, psychedelics have been a victim of bad PR jobs, much like politics. An early Reagan-era advert, for example, depicts a man, presumably under the influence of a substance, sitting by a window, claiming he feels like he’s flying, saying he is God and Jesus himself, only for the visual to cut to him falling out of the window—cue a dramatic anti-drug PSA.  

Brain Remodeling and Healing 

According to a study conducted by UC Davis, some psychedelic drugs promote plasticity in the brain, allowing it to remodel and rewire itself physically. Think of a neuron as a giant tree with dense branches and leaves. The leaves work as synapses or as connection points to other neurons (or trees in this case). Research shows that neuro-psychiatric diseases can damage these connections, withering the leaves over time and disrupting communication between different regions of the brain. Theories suggest that this might be why one might get stuck in cycles of negative thoughts and patterns. The introduction of psychedelics not only helps in healing but also in regrowing the damaged neurons—quite literally changing the structure of your brain.   

Benefits of Psychedelics 

Experts emphasise that these neurons not only regrow but grow denser, developing more connections in the brain. The effect is said to be almost immediate. And there’s evidence to support this. Research conducted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Canada on the potential benefits of ayahuasca states, “Among a randomly selected group of União do Vegetal (UDV, a Brazilian ayahuasca church) members, a majority reported a prior history of moderate to severe problems with alcohol or other drugs. However, all had stopped using substances other than ayahuasca (including tobacco) after joining the church and attributed their improved health behaviours to ayahuasca drinking.”  

Psychotherapy and Medication 

A study published by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) shares an interesting conclusion on ketamine use, an anesthetic drug also used as a horse tranquilliser, which can severely damage the body if consumed in excess. The study shows that “Ketamine has a robust and rapid effect on depression, which was seen immediately after the administration of ketamine and sustained at the end of one month. There was a significant improvement in depression, anxiety, and the severity of illness after two weeks and one month of the last dose of ketamine.” However, almost all experts unanimously agree that psychedelic medication should only be prescribed alongside psychotherapy.  

Understanding Brain Chemistry 

There’s still some debate on how brain chemistry alters under the influence of psychedelics. While scientists have proven that psychedelics can heal the brain, they do not yet fully understand the mechanisms behind this process. Think of them as vaping. Yes, the zeitgeist would tell you that it is better than smoking and that it is a healthier alternative. But is it? Perhaps an even more apt example could be experimental medicines. All of them make tall claims, yes. But like psychedelic-sourced medication, they are only studied in a controlled environment. The same experts who sing the benefit of alternative therapy like this also strongly caution against using them in supervised therapeutic settings, such as in a clinical trial or at an established clinic, and for a good reason. Folks who already suffer from both diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health issues like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are often excluded from these trials for the potential harm they can do themselves under the influence.  

Challenges in Mental Health Treatment 

Today’s mental health treatments have not evolved significantly in a generation, largely falling into two categories: psychotherapy and a broad range of drugs known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), first introduced in the 1980s. Over the decades, testimonies and research have indicated that these drugs can become habit-forming. Man’s World reached out to four different psychiatrists for this story, and only one agreed to speak anonymously, confirming, “Once you get on SSRIs, it pretty much has you for life.” However, the effects of SSRIs have long been studied. We know the risks associated with them and how to mitigate them.  

Barriers to Mainstream Adoption 

Not to mention there are many valid factors why psychedelic-assisted therapy hasn’t gone mainstream yet. Culturally, psychedelic drugs like LSD and Ayahuasca are clubbed together with stimulant drugs like Methamphetamine and Cocaine. All of them can cause physical harm through their use or influence. But perhaps the biggest hurdle right now is patience. Scientists and researchers are currently working on separating the hallucinogenic effect from psychedelic compounds, allowing for more mainstream use. And big pharma seems to have caught a whiff of it too. According to a study published by JAMA Network, an open-access medical journal, the market for psychedelic substances is projected to grow from $2 billion in 2020 to $10.75 billion by 2027, a growth rate that might even outpace the legal US cannabis market. The day most likely isn’t far off when psychedelic-assisted therapy clinics start popping off corners like weed dispensers. Until that day, perhaps stick to the known devil rather than an unknown one? 

Statutory Warning: Psychedelic drugs are not considered as mainstream medicine.  The usage of psychedelics is illegal and can cause dependence.