A Psychedelics Panacea Myth Vs Reality

Could psychedelic substances become a real deal in treating mental health issues like the Cannabis-infused medicines we see today?

- Niraj Kakade

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.