Ketamine, psilocybin, MDMA, ayahuasca—what sounds like a hedonistic weekend spent in Narcoticsville may very well be the dawn of a new approach to physical and mental healing. With 1 in 5 adults in the US suffering from mental illness and the cost of such conditions on the global economy reaching $16 trillion by 2030, it’s clear that there is huge demand for efficient solutions.
The use of psychedelics dates back to 3500 BC, predominantly in ancient South and Central American cultures, which makes it even more important to preserve the traditions and acknowledge the history of these practices, rather than merely commoditizing an herb within a colonialist framework. In regards to Western medicine, a landmark moment came in 1938 when Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann synthesized LSD, which soon thereafter was used in the treatment of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and addiction, and perhaps with lesser healing intention, in mind-controlling experiments by the CIA.
CARLA SEIPP FEBRUARY 16, 2022
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