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Psilocybin is
Psilocybin is
psychoactive substance
psychoactive substance
found in over 200
found in over 200
species of mushrooms.
species of mushrooms.
It has been used for
It has been used for
many generations and by
many generations and by
our great ancestors for
our great ancestors for
ritualistic ceremonies.
ritualistic ceremonies.
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Suggestion of human use
Suggestion of human use
dates back to at least
dates back to at least
9000 BCE
9000 BCE
In the Aztec language of
In the Aztec language of
Nahuatl, the mushrooms
Nahuatl, the mushrooms
are called Teonanacatl
are called Teonanacatl
which translates to
which translates to
“God’s Flesh”.
“God’s Flesh”.
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Psilocybin’s effect causes aa
Psilocybin’s effect causes
transcendental effect, with
transcendental effect, with
deeper connection to the
deeper connection to the
world itself. Best describe as aa
world itself. Best describe as
‘oneness’ with all existence.
‘oneness’ with all existence.
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Research for medical
Research for medical
use started in the
use started in the
1950’s and 60’s.
1950’s and 60’s.
It was later
It was later
discontinued because
discontinued because
of the potential
of the potential
‘danger’ of the
‘danger’ of the
substance.
substance.
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The decline and regulations on
The decline and regulations on
research into psilocybin eventually
research into psilocybin eventually
led to a global discontinuation by
led to a global discontinuation by
1980, a major step in the wrong
1980, a major step in the wrong
directions for psychological study.
directions for psychological study.
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Hope through
Hope through
psychedelic therapy
psychedelic therapy
for psychological
for psychological
disorders was lost
disorders was lost
during this time.
during this time.
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Trials and studies are proving
Trials and studies are proving
positive results and in many
positive results and in many
cases having long term effects
cases having long term effects
on some of the most difficult
on some of the most difficult
things to treat.
things to treat.
More than half of the
More than half of the
participants have
participants have
recorded an overall
recorded an overall
better well being even
better well being even
14 months after the
14 months after the
sessions
sessions
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The use of psychedelic therapy for
The use of psychedelic therapy for
psychological disorders could lead
psychological disorders could lead
to a more vibrant, fulfilling life for
to a more vibrant, fulfilling life for
those in despair. The support of
those in despair. The support of
the public is vital to it’s success.
the public is vital to it’s success.
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Psilocybin has been used for generations, and though it was
Psilocybin has been used for generations, and though it was
discontinued for several decades, research is being brought to life
discontinued for several decades, research is being brought to life
again and has proven phenomenal results for psychological
again and has proven phenomenal results for psychological
disorders.
disorders.
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Psychedelic Therapy is
Psychedelic Therapy is
an old idea with a new
an old idea with a new
hope in today’s medical
hope in today’s medical
field for psychological
field for psychological
disorders.
disorders.
Slide 1: Imagine for just a second, suffering from the terrors of PTSD or the bleak reality that your life will be coming to an end soon because of a terminal illness, be that cancer or some other possible condition. Fear, uncertainty, depression. These things are real and almost everyone knows someone who is affected by a psychological disorder or know or have known someone who is terminally ill.
Slide 2: •Modern, everyday medicine has yet to come as far as to fully address these problems. There are medicines that work to alleviate the symptoms and keep balance in a person’s chemical mind, yet when the medicine stops, the problem returns with all of it’s destructive power.
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Slide 3: •Doctors and scientists at a number of renowned Universities have revisited an idea, a practice, that was abandoned and rejected roughly 40 years ago. This idea, is Psychedelic Therapy, and continued study and trial has shown that this may be the key to unlocking the prisoners of depression, death anxiety, PTSD and many other psychological problems and disorders.
Initial study in psychedelics was held back in the 1950’s and 60’s, but soon after, scientific study was undermined by advocators such as Timothy Leary and the Hippie counter-culture movement.
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Slide 4: Psychedelic Therapy is important and must be pursued, not only for the sake of medical advancement but for the sake of the quiet sufferers that are within our society. The results that have been recorded are undeniable, and powerful, and even emotionally moving to hear. But what exactly is this ‘psychedelic therapy’ that I am speaking of?
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Slide 5: Through hours of study and a deep interest in this topic, I would like to show the effects and possibilities that psychedelic therapy offers for many patients who have struggled with depression, anxiety, OCD, and other mental disorders. The findings of these trials and studies have led to hope for many who thought they had none. My main focus will be directed towards psilocybin, as it has had the most clinical studies out of the numerous psychedelic substances available.
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Slide 6: Over time, the general public has become increasingly more aware of alternative medicine and it’s importance and functions when it comes to treating many ailments, especially those that are presented by the human condition. At this point in time, we may finally be able to explore the realm of psychedelics to be used for medical use.
Many religious groups throughout history have used psilocybin for sacred rituals and for exploration of the psyche, but there are other uses outside of religious realization and spiritual growth that these substances can provide. So, lets take a look at where this may lead.
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Slide 7: There are three important things to look at when it comes to psychedelic therapy:
1. What is psilocybin and it’s effects?
2. What medical uses does it have and what problems does it address?
3. The personal experiences of people who have gone through the psychedelic therapy trials.
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Slide 8: Psilocybin is a psychoactive compound that is prominent in many species of mushrooms, and is what causes the hallucinatory affect in “magic mushrooms”. For generations, psilocybin has been used to explore the mind more fully and has been prominent in many religious cultures. References to the ‘mushroom’ date back even as far as early cave drawings that archaeologists have uncovered.
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Slide 9: Earliest records of human use are hard to trace specifically, however cave murals as far back as 9000 BCE - 7000 BCE have been found in the Sahara desert in the southern portion of Algeria with figures holding mushroom like objects, with lines extending from the mushroom to the center of the figures head. Other notable places that these types of murals were found range from Villar del Humo in Spain dating back to about 6000 BCE and more recent murals and artifacts in Guatemala likely created by the Mayan and Aztec cultures.
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Slide 10: Psilocybin’s psychological effects are that of a transcendental state and acceptance with the world that is. When consumed, it pushes the user into a deeper perceptual state that is not a possibility otherwise, except through some forms of deep meditation. Often described as a religious or mystical experience, it removes the user from the idea of self and puts them into a mind set of connectedness and ‘oneness’ with everything.
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Slide 11: Psilocybin was pursued during the 1950s and 60s for psychological medical use to treat multiple mental disorders ranging from OCD and Depression to PTSD and Anxiety. However, a twisted view of the substance was later put forth to the general public because of it’s abuse by the hippie subculture of the 1960s. Research was discontinued because the substance was considered dangerous by the standards of the US government.
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Slide 12: Abuse of psilocybin led to a complete shutting down of research programs globally. This was a major step in the wrong direction for psychology and medical progress. Early psilocybin tests were showing positive results with many mental disorders through studies at Harvard and other prestigious universities. However, the advantage of psilocybin was neglected for the sake of governments deciding it was to be deemed a Schedule I drug, being among the most dangerous with the likes of heroin, despite psilocybins non-addictive properties and practically 0 toxicity level.
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Slide 13: This being a major setback, there was still no cure for depression, anxiety, OCD and PTSD and time carried on with medical treatments that were suitable for alleviating symptoms from these conditions, but nothing with lasting effects.
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Slide 14: In the past decade research and study has become revamped and has reignited interest in a number of Universities by the likes of John Hopkins University and the University of Arizona among others.
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Slide 15: The new trials are proving to have overwhelmingly positive effects in participants lives. Many patients have reported long term alleviation of their conditions and overall increase in life satisfaction and happiness. Patients are given questionnaires immediately after the experience and then again at a further out time period. In the John Hopkins studies, participants are re-surveyed 14 months after their session and results have shown that more than half the participants record a much higher well-being than that of their condition before the sessions.
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Slide 16: With the results that have been captured, could this be the change that psychological disorders are in need of? Could psilocybin be the tool to a better life for those suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD and terminally ill patients approaching death? The news of acceptance, better well being and higher life satisfaction in members of the trials could be pointing in the right direction.
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Slide 17:The results that Psychedelic therapy are yielding with patients are astounding and beautiful. What psychology needs as a whole is to embrace the importance of this type of therapy and be supportive in the future research and trials that are to come with this life changing medical research. The results are real, and they are able to conquer some of the most widespread psychological disorders of today.
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Slide 18: Psilocybin has been an important substance in religious and mental explorations for generations dating back to 9000 BCE and possibly even before. Medical research with psychedelic therapy was conducted in the 1950s and 60s but was later discontinued because of the abuse by the hippy subculture of the 60s. However, in the past decade psychedelic therapy research has become revamped and is showing incredibly positive results with hard to treat psychological disorders. Psychedelic Therapy could be the new frontier in mental health treatment.
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Slide 19: Psychedelic Therapy is an old idea with a new hope in today’s medical field for psychological disorders.
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Slide 20: There is hope for those silent sufferers of our society, we must first embrace and support the next steps in psychedelic therapy research.
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