A History of Doctors Prescribing Hallucinogens as Medicine

A history of doctors prescribing hallucinogenic drugs as medicine.

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Complex Original

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When you think of hallucinogenic drugs, you probably remember your camping trip junior year when you sacrificed your shoes to the forest to appease the nature gods. (Or was that just me?) But aside from early-20s experimentation and Phish concert parking lots, hallucinogens have been used for more serious and, arguably, beneficial means over the years. While drugs like mushrooms and peyote are deemed harmful and illegal by most governments, reputable and not-so-reputable sources alike believe taking them in controlled environments can do everything from manage depression to cure heroin addiction. With those potential benefits in mind, we decided to take a drug-by-drug look at the ways doctors and scientists have used hallucinogens and related drugs to treat illnesses, as well as expand minds. From acid to ecstasy, this is the medical upside to tripping balls. 

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MDMA

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Ibogaine

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Ayahuasca (DMT)

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LSD

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Psilocybin

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Ketamine

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DXM (Dextromethorphan)

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Peyote (Mescaline)

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