BOOKS
Western medicine has not been particularly successful at getting people relief from conditions like depression, chronic pain, migraine headaches, addiction, and PTSD. Because these and others are diseases deeply connected with the state of our emotional bodies. Too often, the Western medical approach fails to address the emotional dimension of illness. This is where traditional plant medicines, with their ability to alter consciousness and open channels of communication to our emotions, offer so much promise.
The use of entheogens, or psychedelics, is out of the closet today. LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and other medicines once associated only with the counterculture are now being legally studied for their healing properties. But as Rachel Harris shows, the underground use and study of psychedelics by women dates back to the Eleusinian Mysteries of ancient Greece. Harris interviews the modern women elders carrying on this tradition to gather their hard-won wisdom of experience.
Used for thousands of years by indigenous tribes of the Amazon rain forest, the mystical brew ayahuasca is now becoming increasingly popular in the West. Psychologist Rachel Harris here shares her own healing experiences and draws on her original research into the powerful medicine’s effects on depression, addiction, PTSD, and anxiety.
The Ketamine Papers opens the door to a broad understanding of this medicine’s growing use in psychiatry and its decades of history providing transformative personal experiences. Now gaining increasing recognition as a promising approach to the treatment of depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other psychological conditions, ketamine therapies offer new hope for patients and clinicians alike.
With so much misinformation surrounding magic mushrooms out there, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. This is where Your Psilocybin Mushroom Companion comes in to help. In this book, you’ll find a comprehensive yet friendly guide to everything there is to know about magic mushrooms.
This book is about a psychologist, "Jacob" (pseudonym), who applied psychedelic drugs throughout his practice of psychotherapy until his death twenty or so ago-in spite of the fact that such drugs had been declared illegal in the mid-60's. The body of the book is an interview with Jacob conducted in the early 80s but never before published; this is followed by an appendix paraphrasing the drug experiences of five of his clients, and an appendix listing resources for those interested in psychedelic therapy. T
This is the story of LSD told by a concerned yet hopeful father, organic chemist Albert Hofmann. He traces LSD's path from a promising psychiatric research medicine to a recreational drug sparking hysteria and prohibition. We follow Dr. Hofmann's trek across Mexico to discover sacred plants related to LSD, and listen in as he corresponds with other notable figures about his remarkable discovery. Underlying it all is Dr. Hofmann's powerful conclusion that mystical experience may be our planet's best hope for survival.
The Varieties of Psychedelic Experience was published in 1966, just as the first legal restrictions on the use of psychedelic substances were being enacted. Avoiding the wild excesses taken by both sides on this issue, this book is unique for the light it sheds on the possibilities and the limitations of psychedelic drugs, as well as on the techniques for working with them. With drug legalization an increasingly important issue, The Varieties of Psychedelic Experience provides a welcome and much needed contrast to the current hysteria that surrounds this topic.
Storming Heaven is the extraordinary story of how LSD evolved from a psychiatric tool to a force that changed a generation, from the first tentative explorations of Aldous Huxley and Alan Watts through Timothy Leary and the "Summer of Love".
At once sceptical and sympathetic, with a wonderful sense of the comic, Stevens is the ideal guide through the psychedelic maze.
Is Santa Claus really a magic mushroom in disguise? Was Alice's Adventures in Wonderland a thinly veiled psychedelic mushroom odyssey? Did mushroom tea kick-start ancient Greek philosophy?
Much stranger than the fictions it has inspired, the world of the magic mushroom is a place where shamans and hippies rub shoulders with psychiatrists, poets and international bankers. The magic mushroom was rediscovered only fifty years ago but has accumulated all sorts of folktales and urban legends along the way. In this timely and definitive study, Andy Letcher strips away the myths to get at the true story of how hallucinogenic mushrooms, once shunned in the West as the most pernicious of poisons, came to be the illicit drug of choice.
Despite modern pharmaceutical medications and many different psychological therapies, military veterans and survivors of mental and physical trauma from civil society continue to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trust Surrender Receive: How MDMA Can Release Us from Trauma and PTSD briefly chronicles the medical, legal, and social history of this misunderstood medicine, but its primary focus is to give a taste of how MDMA actually works from inside the experience, through the written and spoken words of firsthand testimonial account
A fascinating, transformative look at the therapeutic powers of psychedelic drugs, particularly in the treatment of PTSD, and the past fifty years of scientific, political, and legal controversy they have ignited, by award-winning journalist Tom Shroder.
It’s no secret that psychedelic drugs have the ability to cast light on the miraculous reality hidden within our psyche. Following the discovery of LSD less than a hundred years ago, psychedelics began to play a crucial role in the quest to understand the link between mind and matter. Compounds such as LSD and MDMA have proved to be extraordinarily effective in treating disorders such as posttraumatic stress–yet the drugs remain illegal, out of reach of the millions of people who could benefit from them.
Called “America’s wisest and most respected authority on psychedelics and their use,” James Fadiman has been involved with psychedelic research since the 1960s. In this guide to the immediate and long-term effects of psychedelic use for spiritual (high dose), therapeutic (moderate dose), and problem-solving (low dose and microdose) purposes, Fadiman outlines best practices for safe, sacred entheogenic voyages learned through his more than 40 years of experience--from the benefits of having a sensitive guide during a session (and how to be one) to the importance of the setting and pre-session intention.
WEBSITES
GENERAL
The Psychedelic Peer Support Line is staffed by compassionate, supportive volunteers from diverse backgrounds who are trained to listen deeply and from a place of non-judgment. All volunteers have completed our rigorous training program, which included components such as active listening, providing support during psychedelic experiences, integration, and providing support by text message.
KRIYA Institute is devoted to understanding the therapeutic properties of ketamine (and related medicines). We provide clinical services directly to patients; we give presentations about therapeutic ketamine in a variety of settings; we offer consultation services to physicians and therapists; and we run KRIYA Conference.
We are researchers and psychotherapists with direct experience in psychedelic clinical trials. Our mission is to educate the broader health care community about psychedelic science and equip practitioners with relevant clinical skills. We aim to increase access to this field by offering highly interactive training delivered online and in-person.
Drug education and psychopharmacology consulting for safe, beneficial, and spiritual drug experiences.
Psychedelics can be life-changing tools that can help people lead more meaningful and fulfilling lives. They help us understand how changing ourselves – and the world around us – is possible.
The time has come for people who care about psychedelics to step out of the shadows and bring our voices to the table.
Erowid is a member-supported organization providing access to reliable, non-judgmental information about psychoactive plants, chemicals, and related issues. We work with academic, medical, and experiential experts to develop and publish new resources, as well as to improve and increase access to already existing resources. We also strive to ensure that these resources are maintained and preserved as a historical record for the future.
Psymposia is a leading advocacy-based media group focused on sharing stories and fresh perspectives of psychedelic science and drug policy reform.
The Psychedelic Education and Continuing Care Program is designed to assist people who have had psychedelic experiences and are seeking support in connection with those experiences, as well as people who would like to learn more about psychedelics. Our overarching intention for the program is to increase awareness and reduce risks of psychedelic use. We see this as a natural extension of the harm reduction approach that the Center for Optimal Living is known for.
Chacruna provides public education and cultural understanding about psychedelic plant medicines and promote between the ceremonial use of sacred plants and psychedelic science.
Envision a world where plant medicines and other psychedelics are preserved, protected, and valued as part of our cultural identity and integrated into our social, legal and health care systems.
The Women’s Visionary Council (WVC) promotes women who develop innovative mental health and community wellness services. The WVC hosts public discussions including the Women’s Visionary Congress. A non-profit educational organization, the WVC makes grants to advance the work of women healers, researchers, activists, and artists at the leading edge of cultural evolution.
RESEARCH & CLINICAL TRIALS
This revolutionary Centre focuses on the action and clinical use of psychedelics, with a particular focus on researching the treatment of depression.
Usona embraces the challenge of finding a better way forward. We are a non‑profit, medical research organization looking beyond the traditional treatments for depression. Our aim is to enable and support research toward the goal of an FDA registration for psilocybin as an approved medicine.
The Heffter Research Institute promotes research of the highest scientific quality with the classic
hallucinogens and related compounds (sometimes called psychedelics) in order to contribute to a greater
understanding of the mind leading to the improvement of the human condition, and to alleviate suffering.
The Beckley Foundation pioneers psychedelic research to drive evidence-based drug policy reform, founded and directed by Amanda Feilding as a UK-based think-tank and NGO.
Founded in 2016, our first major initiative is developing psilocybin therapy through late-stage clinical trials in Europe and North America for patients with treatment-resistant depression.
ClinicalTrials.gov is a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world.
Founded in 1986, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana.
HARM REDUCTION & INTEGRATION
At The Third Wave we provide well-researched, high-quality information specific to the classic psychedelics – and how they can be used to help people like you live more vibrant lives.
Psychedelics Today is dedicated to exploring and discussing the important academic/scientific and other research in the field of psychedelics. We are interested in how psychedelics and other non-ordinary states of consciousness relate to the human potential as well as the healing potential that they can foster.
DanceSafe has two fundamental operating principles: harm reduction and peer-based, popular education. Combining these two principles has enabled us to create successful, peer-based educational programs to reduce drug misuse and empower young people to make healthy, informed lifestyle choices. We are known for bringing adulterant screening (a.k.a., “pill testing,” “drug checking”) to the rave and nightlife community in the U.S., and for distributing unbiased educational literature describing the effects and risks associated with the use of various drugs.
This year, millions of people will use psychedelics outside of supervised medical contexts, many of them for the first time. Taking psychedelics can result in overwhelming and uncomfortable experiences, more likely with high doses, amongst first-time users, and without adequate preparation or setting. Psychedelic harm reduction includes a variety of methods to help prevent and transform difficult experiences while in a non-ordinary state of consciousness.
TripSafe is an educational website about psychedelics - including LSD, Shrooms (Psilocybin/Magic Mushrooms), and others. We do not endorse the acquisition and use of psychedelics outside of approved medical settings. If you’re likely to use psychedelics anyway, please do your research.
MOVIES
Fantastic Fungi is a consciousness-shifting film about the mycelium network that takes us on an immersive journey through time and scale into the magical earth beneath our feet, an underground network that can heal and save our planet.
Author Michael Pollan leads the way in this docuseries exploring the history and uses of psychedelics, including LSD, psilocybin, MDMA and mescaline.
After many years of prescription medications failed her a suicidal woman turns to underground healers to try and overcome her depression, anxiety, and opioid addiction with illegal psychedelic medicine like magic mushrooms and iboga.
Adrianne’s first dose of magic mushrooms catapulted her out of a deep depression and into an unexpected world of healing where plant medicines like psilocybin mushrooms and iboga are redefining our understanding of mental health and addiction.
Tens of millions of people worldwide suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Millions more have suffered from emotional and physical abuse but never get diagnosed. I would put myself in the latter category for reasons I’ll explain another time.
“Trip of Compassion” documents one unusual approach to healing trauma that might astonish you, an innovative treatment involving the psychoactive drug MDMA (commonly known as “ecstasy”). As you will see firsthand, if the therapy is well designed, true rebirth and transformation can happen in a matter of weeks and not years.
Comedian Shane Mauss goes on a series of adventures to deepen his understanding of psychedelics. He describes the indescribable and takes us through some of his most intense experiences, while getting the added perspectives of some of the top scientists and experts in this realm. With moments of both confusion and clarity, this documentary is an honest account of the experiences of a genuine Psychonaut.
From Shock to Awe asks, ‘how do we heal our deepest wounds?’ An intimate and raw look at the transformational journey of two combat veterans suffering from severe trauma as they abandon pharmaceuticals to seek relief through the mind-expanding world of psychedelics. Recent scientific research coupled with a psychedelic renaissance reveals that these substances can be used to heal PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) for individuals and their families. Beyond the personal stories, From Shock to Awe also raises fundamental questions about war, the pharmaceutical industry, and the US legal system.
A New Understanding explores the treatment of end-of-life anxiety in terminally ill cancer patients using psilocybin, a psychoactive compound found in some mushrooms, to facilitate deeply spiritual experiences. The documentary explores the confluence of science and spirituality in the first psychedelic research studies with terminally ill patients since the 1970s.
The recent resurgence of psychedelic research is once again revealing the power of compounds like psilocybin to profoundly alter our understanding of both life and death. As a society we devote a great deal of attention to treating cancer, but very little to treating the human being who is dying of cancer.