For many people, the “trip” can be a life-changing experience. Similar to CBT or EMDR, psychedelics are being looked at as a kind of hard reset for patients living with a wide variety of complex mood disorders. This reframing can be a powerful tool in the psychological treatment process. Side effects of this experience can include feeling deeply connected, an increase in empathy, confidence to approach situations in a new way and a reinvigorated sense of purpose. Hofmann’s initial discovery of LSD was set aside for five years until April 1943, when he returned to his earlier therapeutic research on the compound.Īt the core of Hoffmann’s theory is the idea that psychedelics can aid an individual in readjusting their perspective, ultimately leading them to the realization that they are a small part of something much, much bigger than themselves. Scientist Albert Hofmann, the first known person to synthesize LSD (and several other powerful psychedelic compounds), argued passionately against the public’s casual recreational use of these drugs during the 1960’s and 1970’s. RELATED: 5 Things Every Cannabis Entrepreneur Must Know About Raising Money Wherever You Go, There You Are
The psychedelic-psychiatric breakthrough happens when you take one of these drugs, resulting in a dissolution of the ego, which can lead to a new perception of reality and one’s place within it. Psilocybin, LSD and MDMA are being recommended as potential treatments for anxiety, depression and C/PTSD by a growing number of reputable institutions, with research indicating that these compounds could also have far-reaching effects for people struggling with substance abuse, smoking addiction or processing grief. Why? Similarly to how people are using cannabis and CBD to treat themselves, these compounds are positioned to become the next big thing in mental health treatment. VICTOR DE SCHWANBERG | SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY | Getty Images As we observe the successes and failures from these first-wave ventures, investors are now identifying a natural link to the early (yet potentially explosive) world of commercial psychedelics.
It’s a wild time to invest in alternative medicine - just think about how much wealth has come from the widespread legalization of CBD and expanded access to full-spectrum cannabis in recent years.