🧠 What Makes A Psychedelic A Psychedelic?

Welcome to the world of plant medicines and psychedelics.

⚡️ This newsletter is for those who…

• Keep hearing about psychedelics and plant medicine but have no idea what they’re used for. 

• Have never taken a psychedelic before and are curious about what they can help.

• Are struggling with their mental health and are looking for alternative options.

• Want a central place to get research, science-based protocols, and emerging trends in the field.

🪧 In this weekly newsletter, we will dive deep into the data, research, and trends occurring in the plant medicine and psychedelic landscape so you can be educated and empowered to make your own decisions.

For Free. 

🧠 Welcome to The Guide! - by Webdelics

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In Today’s Email:

🗞️ Media & Research

• Updates from Around the Scientific Community

📜 Top Article

• What Makes A Psychedelic A Psychedelic?

📲 Community Discussions

• Looking to hear about people’s plant medicine journey? Look no further!

📈 Psychedelic Research Studies

• Curious about participate in a clinical trial? Check this out!

🗞️ Media & Research

Updates from Psychedelic and Plant Medicine

• Can psychedelic therapy be beneficial for the treatment of functional seizures? The data in this blog post present a compelling case for further exploration.

• Psilocybin mushrooms may hold the key for ADHD treatment. With diagnoses on the rise, we’re still looking for long-term solutions.

• Speaking of which, what are the safety profiles of psilocybin mushrooms? This article sheds light on what the data is showing.

• What happens when a plant medicine journey doesn’t go the way you planned? Check out this phenomenal write-up by our very own Steve Elfrink on his winding journey with ayahuasca.

• Psychedelics can change the brain, but how? The neural mechanisms are being explored and we know neuroplasticity is critical to the outcomes being seen.

📜 Top Article

What Makes A Psychedelic A Psychedelic?

Psychedelics are gaining A LOT of attention (again) for their potential to help treat mental health issues…

However, many people still have far more questions than answers about what they are, how they work, and where they differ from traditional forms of therapy.

These powerful substances, once misunderstood and banned, are being studied all over the world for their ability to change the way the brain works.

Today, we’re going to explain what psychedelics are, the vast history behind them, and why scientists are so interested in them today.

❓️ What Are Psychedelics?

In a nutshell, psychedelics are substances that can alter your perceptions of the world, your thoughts, and your emotions.

Common examples include psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms), LSD, DMT, and mescaline (from certain cacti).

For the most part, these substances interact with specific serotonin receptors in your brain, which can lead to vivid visuals, deep thoughts, and even a new sense of self.

📃 Types of Psychedelics

There are three main categories of psychedelics:

1. Tryptamines: These include psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and DMT (used in ayahuasca ceremonies). They’re known for producing intense visual and emotional experiences.

2. Lysergamides: The most famous is LSD, first synthesized in 1938. LSD played a huge role in 1960s culture and early research on mental health.

3. Phenethylamines: This group includes mescaline, found in cacti like peyote. It’s been used for centuries in spiritual ceremonies and gatherings.

There are also other synthetic substances, like MDMA and ketamine, that have similar effects but work differently in the brain.

📊 The Rise and Fall of Psychedelics in Medicine

Back in the 1950s and 60s, psychedelics were a hot topic in medical research.

Scientists believed these substances could help treat mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

During this time, therapists essentially used two main approaches:

• Psycholytic Therapy: Small doses of psychedelics that were used during talk therapy.

• Psychedelic Therapy: Higher doses used to create intense, life-changing experiences. This is what most people think about when they hear psychedelic therapy.

Unfortunately, psychedelics also became famous for recreational use, which led to a moral panic and media frenzy against their use.

By the late 1960s, they were banned, and research came to a halt… Until recently.

🗝️ Ancient Roots of Psychedelics and Spirituality

Long before modern science, people around the world used plant medicines and psychedelics in religious ceremonies, community gatherings, and spiritual offerings.

These statistics may take you by surprise:

• Magic Mushrooms: Used in Central America for over 6,000 years.

• San Pedro Cactus: Found in ancient Peruvian sites, dating back nearly 8,000 years.

• Ayahuasca: Used in Amazonian rituals for healing and spiritual growth for millennia.

These traditions show a relatively consistent and deep connection between psychedelics and human spirituality, providing further evidence about how important they have been in human history.

💥 The Psychedelic Comeback

Today, psychedelics are making a comeback in the medical, spiritual, and human performance world.

Studies show that MDMA can help people with PTSD, psilocybin may help treat severe depression, and ibogaine may be a potent treatment for those struggling with opioid addiction.

The FDA has even labeled these medicines as “breakthrough therapies,” meaning they show great promise.

While the potential is exciting, scientists urge caution.

These substances are powerful and need to be used carefully under professional guidance.

With continued research, psychedelics could transform mental health treatment—but only if we prioritize safety and science.

This new era of research could lead to breakthroughs in how we treat mental health, offering hope to millions.

But as we explore this potential, we must do so responsibly.

Check out the full version of this article HERE.

📲 Community Discussions

The Guide is a key part of Webdelics, where community drives everything we do.

Our goal is to build a world-class platform where people can ask questions, share their experiences, and learn about plant medicine and psychedelics in a safe and confidential space.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Our community is where we will give insights to guide future research, share case studies, and provide feedback from experts worldwide.

We’ve actively collected video and written testimonials from people who have had psychedelic and plant medicine experiences to share with the world.

If you want to see people’s stories or share your own, please do so HERE.

📈 Psychedelic Research Studies

Ever wonder where these research studies are taking place?

Look no further!

Here’s a quick list of psychedelic and plant medicine studies at NYU’s Langone Center for Psychedelic Research that are currently recruiting participants:

• Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy For Smoking Cessation

• Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in Advanced Cancer

• A Phase 3 Study Psilocybin for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

• RE104 Safety and Efficacy Study in Postpartum Depression

• Neurobehavioral Mechanisms of Psilocybin-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder

Instructions on how to apply for these studies are in the links listed above…

💬 We will leave you with this…

As Timothy Leary stated, “You’re only as young as the last time you changed your mind.”

Challenging our beliefs and knowledge is essential for finding the truth, especially in a crowded space like plant medicine and psychedelics.

Until next time…

🧠 The Guide Team - by Webdelics

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