Reading Room

Books of interest

[Vol. I] Psychedelic Medicine: New Evidence for Hallucinogenic Substances
As Treatments by Michael J. Winkelman & Thomas B. Roberts (Eds.)
Publisher:Praeger
Year:2007
ISBN: 978-0-275-99024-4

Reviewed by Bruce Sewick, LCPC, RDDP, CADC, 5/26/2008
Review originally published by Erowid

The two-volume Psychedelic Medicine edited by Michael J. Winkelman and Thomas B. Roberts should be a part of both academic and community libraries. As a mental health clinician and adjunct faculty, one of my goals for both clients and students is to foster critical thinking skills. This book will go a long way in providing balance in order to critically weigh information both favorable and critical of psychedelic substances. Despite political pressure, psychedelics are here to stay and current research cited supports the premise that there can be medical applications under controlled conditions. Even critics may find it difficult to deny use of these substances to those with psychological diagnoses resistant to treatment (e.g. PTSD) and those who suffer from chronic and intractable disease, such as cancer. Furthermore, the unsuccessful treatment of the social diseases of our times (i.e. addictions) opens the door to such an alternative treatment modality.

The first volume assembles current theories behind research and ways that psychedelics can be used productively in society. Winkelman introduces the concept of psychedelics as “psychointegrators”, which enhance the integration of information in the brain. Tom Roberts and Dennis McKenna speak to the possibility of psychedelic experiences enhancing the immune system. Other applications cited include the use of MDMA to treat PTSD, and the use of LSD and psilocybin to treat cluster headaches and the anxiety and suffering that can result as a part of the dying experience. Moreno and Delgado’s research in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder suggests that psychedelics may improve intracellular signaling. This is ironic (listen up baby boomers) when one reflects on how one of the initial erroneous LSD scare tactics presented LSD as causing chromosome damage!

Psychedelic Medicine provides a way to reconceptualize what previously had been demonized. Presenting evidence and proposing ways that psychedelics can be used for the benefit of society encourages critical thinking needed when weighing the misinformation presented in service of prohibitionist agendas. The mis-scheduling of drugs can then be understood to be a reflection of politics, not medicine, something that may not be readily apparent to the general populace and health care providers who focus on the isolated abuse of psychedelics rather than their potential use for healing.

This text concludes by considering ways psychedelics can be used to facilitate growth (both spiritual and economic). Part of the secret may be the way psychedelics promote integration and communication between mind and body on behalf of our physiological and psychological evolution.

[Vol. 2] Psychedelic Medicine: New Evidence for Hallucinogenic Substances As Treatments by Michael J. Winkelman & Thomas B. Roberts (Eds.)
Publisher:Praeger
Year:2007
ISBN:978-0-275-99024-4
Reviewed by Bruce Sewick, LCPC, RDDP, CADC, 7/14/2008
Review originally published by Erowid

Volume II of Psychedelic Medicine provides an in-depth transpersonal perspective of how psychedelics may facilitate spiritual healing. This is most apparent in considering how psychedelics can help addicts recover. As I reviewed this section I was struck by the parallel philosophy that is shared with AA. Much like AA, the psychedelic approach to healing addictions is a spiritual cure. Addiction can be looked at as an addict’s misguided attempt to self-initiate into the “other world” i.e., one’s spiritual dimension. Evidence suggests that psychedelic-assisted therapy can provide an organized, controlled and guided way to access this world in a non-addictive way. One of the most rigorous and prestigious research studies of note, that supports this hypothesis, was the work done at John Hopkins University in 2006. Psilocybin occasioned powerful, spiritual experience similar to a mystical experience in the volunteers who participated in this study. This suggests the possibility of a chemically facilitated spiritual cure. Treatment results from clinics using ibogaine and ayahuasca to treat opiate addicts does support the theory of a cure by providing the transpersonal experience while substantially diminishing withdrawal symptoms.

This volume also tackles some of the contraindications to psychedelic use that need to be discussed. These contraindications set both physiological and psychological limits to prevent a tragic outcome. Anyone who has a mental illness with psychotic features that might be exacerbated by psychedelics needs to be ruled out. Certain medical conditions (e.g. cardiovascular problems) and the use of some prescription medications are also contraindicated. There may be some dietary restrictions when using specific psychedelics. These substances need to be taken in a supervised setting for these reasons. There are protocols that need to be followed and precautions taken, a difficult task in casual recreational use.

Politics aside, what are some conclusions of past and present psychedelic research that could lead to acceptance and integration of these substances in society? First and foremost, altered states of consciousness and transpersonal experiences can be therapeutic. Stanislav Grof hypothesizes that the mind has a natural tendency to move toward transpersonal experiences (holotropism) as a way to self-actualize. Psychedelics can facilitate this, and may promote a dramatic change from a single experience. Secondly, as Dr. Roberts posits, the mind is capable of many different mindbody states (think computer programs). These states can also be amplified/modified by combining them. It is important to emphasize, as the book does, that no one is advocating psychedelic experiences outside of clinical or laboratory settings. These controlled settings provide the structure and ritual that have made the use of psychoactive substances by indigenous people non-problematic.

Timothy Leary incited the establishment by his phrase: “turn on, tune in, drop out”. Many feel he was responsible for the bad publicity that ended up demonizing psychedelics. Now 40 years later, I feel we are in the second stage of a three-stage process of psychedelic re-evolution. The first stage ended in demonization, now we are in the reconceptualization phase, and eventually will move to the integration stage. Psychedelics have reached middle age, as have my fellow baby boomers. It is up to us, with the help of scholarly research and publications like these volumes, to educate society about the value of psychedelics. We need to help psychedelics reach maturity as we ourselves age. These time-honored substances might help us get to know ourselves and assist with the transition to the “other side”. The clock is ticking…

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