Welcome to this week’s edition of The Guide ⚡️ 

Today’s newsletter takes about 5 minutes to read—so if you’ve only got 60 seconds, here’s what you need to know:

• Here’s what makes a psychedelic “psychedelic.” Classic compounds (psilocybin, LSD, DMT, mescaline) act mainly on serotonin receptors, shifting perception and mood.

• There are a few core families. The “classic” psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD are different than MDMA and Ketamine.

• Then vs. now. Psychedelics have been used for centuries by cultures all over the world for religious, spiritual, and ceremonial reasons.

• Psychedelics offer promise, not a complete panacea. While they provide the potential for treating depression/PTSD/addiction, it’s essential they’re used with professional screening, set/setting, and integration.

• The Webdelics Podcast. Host Scott Mason talks with Nahum Vizakis on ibogaine/ayahuasca, safety, red flags, and doing the necessary work.

We hope you like this one as much as we do!

🧠 The Webdelics Team

👋 New here? We do this every week… Join Us!

🎧️ The Webdelics Podcast

🎙️ The Dark Side of Healing - Lessons from Ibogaine Ceremonies and Ketamine Experiences

🍄 This week, we sat down with Nahum Vizakis to explore the light and shadow of transformative medicines. Drawing on thousands of ayahuasca ceremonies and four iboga flood doses, Nahum focuses on what comes after the visions: integration, accountability, and daily practice.

🫶 They cover the power and risks of iboga/ibogaine, safety, ethics, and informed consent, red flags in retreat/underground spaces, and pitfalls of reckless ketamine use. This discussion also surrounds the practical set, setting, and integration frameworks that turn insights into real‑world change.

📜 The “Must Read” For The Week

Here’s What Makes A Psychedelic A Psychedelic

Psychedelics are back in the spotlight for their potential to support an array of mental health conditions, and yet, most people still have more questions than answers…

What are these substances? How do they work? And how are they different from traditional therapy?

It’s time to finally break down what psychedelics are, their long history, and why researchers are taking a fresh look today…

❓️ What Are Psychedelics?

Psychedelics are compounds that can shift perception, thinking, and emotions, often in very profound ways.

Well-known examples of psychedelics include psilocybin (magic mushrooms), LSD, DMT, and mescaline (from certain cacti).

Most of the classic psychedelics interact with serotonin receptors (especially 5‑HT2A), which can lead to vivid imagery, deep introspection, and a changed sense of self.

📃 The Main Types of Psychedelics

There are three commonly discussed groups of psychedelics:

• Tryptamines - Psilocybin, DMT. Often associated with rich visuals and strong emotional content.

• Lysergamides - LSD (synthesized in 1938), pivotal in 1960s culture and early mental‑health research.

• Phenethylamines - Mescaline (peyote, San Pedro). Used for centuries in spiritual and communal contexts.

When doing research, you’ll also discover information about MDMA and Ketamine. They both can produce psychedelic‑like experiences, but act very differently in the brain and are usually considered separately from classic psychedelics.

📊 The Rise, Fall, and Return in Medicine

In the 1950s-60s, psychedelics drew serious clinical interest for conditions like depression and anxiety. Two broad approaches emerged:

• Psycholytic therapy - Lower doses paired with ongoing talk therapy.

• Psychedelic therapy - Higher doses intended to catalyze a single, transformative experience.

Recreational use and cultural backlash led to prohibition in the late 1960s, stalling most research for decades, until the recent resurgence under modern ethical and scientific standards.

🗝️ Ancient Roots of Psychedelics & Spirituality

Long before labs, plant medicines were woven into ceremony and healing around the world.

• Magic mushrooms - Located back to Central America, with evidence of use stretching back ~6,000 years.

• San Pedro cactus - Archaeological finds in Peru date to ~8,000 years.

• Ayahuasca - Amazonian traditions using DMT‑containing brews for healing and spiritual practice date back thousands of years.

These lineages show a long, consistent relationship between psychedelics and human spirituality.

💥 Why the Modern Renaissance Matters

Today’s studies point to promising possibilities: MDMA‑assisted therapy for PTSD, psilocybin for severe depression, and ibogaine explored for opioid use disorder. Some have even received special regulatory designations recognizing their potential…

Still, caution is essential. Psychedelics are powerful tools that should be used responsibly, ideally with professional screening, supervision, and integration support.

As research grows, psychedelics could reshape aspects of mental‑health care IF safety and ethics stay front and center…

👉️ Subscribe to The Guide for evidence-based takes on psychedelics, research, and integration tools—delivered weekly to your inbox.

💬 Our Why…

👉 Knowledge only helps when you put it to work, carefully.

Classic psychedelics can open doors, but outcomes hinge on prep, set/setting, ethics, and real integration with professionals...

If today’s issue gave you insights, here are the next steps to take:

• 🔍 Get Oriented: Read some of our previous publications to take a deeper dive into the mystical world of plant medicines and psychedelics.

• 🧭 Safe Starts: Grab our Beginner’s Guide to MDMA to get all your questions answered!

• 🎧 Listen In: This week’s podcast with Nahum Vizakis goes deep on iboga/ibogaine, ayahuasca, safety, and doing the work needed to see the change you want to see after a ceremony.

• 🗺️ Know the Rules: Check your local laws before making any plans!

At Webdelics, we aim to give clear, evidence-based guidance so you can make safer, more informed choices about psychedelics and plant medicines.

📩 If this helped, forward it to someone curious about finding new ways to change their brain…
💬 Questions, corrections, or have a topic you want us to unpack next? Reply and tell us!

🧠 The Guide - by Webdelics

Disclaimer: Webdelics does not support or promote any illegal activities, including the use of substances that may be mentioned in this newsletter. We encourage all readers to familiarize themselves with and adhere to the laws in their region. Please note that Webdelics does not offer mental health, medical, or clinical services and should not be used as a replacement for professional medical, psychological, or psychiatric care, diagnosis, or treatment.