Neurons to Nirvana: Understanding Psychedelic Medicines

But the second half--as soon as they started putting down "Big Pharma" was when I checked out. It's a false dichotomy. Millions of people have been helped by pharmaceuticals.Without treatment, Bipolar Disorder has about a 25% mortality rate. That's worse than most cancers.Bipolar disorder isn't a myth; it's a real disease that you can see in functional brain scans in real time. It shows up out of the blue for many people; people who have never had any problems, never been abused, gotten good grades in school, and done what they could do to be a moral, logical, rational human being. It shows up in youth, and many, many, many young people have died as a result of inadequate treatment. Furthermore, pharmaceutical options for these people are not only fine, but typically necessary.Are there side effects to Prozac and Lamictal? Sure, but there are side effects to EVERYTHING you ingest, even if it comes straight from the ground.If you want to take legalization of psychedelics seriously, and if you want others to do the same, you have to STOP slamming Western medicine. Don't make it an either/or, make your message inclusive. Stop participating in identity politics that get us nowhere but in our own corners. Stop convincing generations of young people to avoid treatment for fully treatable illnesses such as bipolar and schizophrenia.At the same time, of course, the psychedelics should ABSOLUTELY be declassified by the DEA. How about we figure out how best to do that; elect open-minded legislators instead of anti-science demagogues; talk openly with doctors about your own experiences with psychedelics and be honest. Keep charts and documentation of how you are affected, show these charts to your doctor. Follow your local legislature, which can often be a better resource for reducing the ill effects of the war on drugs. Ask your legislator to write legislation that reduces or eliminates penalties for personal use or out of state use; or to protect users from discrimination in housing and employment. Ask them to scale back drug testing legislation for state or local employees or recipients of welfare programs. These are things you can do here and now to increase safe access and reduce stigmatization of hallucinogens users.But don't tell people with real problems to dump their medical therapy wholesale. That ain't helping anyone, and you may end up with their blood on your hands.

If there ever was a film that intelligently covers the essence of psychedelics and the biological explanation of their mechanisms, this is it. This is so well made, it incorporates information from many trusted sources, information you could gain from reading dozens of books or watching this film. I enjoyed the scientific part of the film, the interviews, the brief and unbiased information presented in a very objective and kind way.Reviewers giving this film one star come across as very fearful children who are afraid that even a single trip will shake them to the core and make them into better people. Travesty! What could be worse than having a chance to see your life from a different perspective? What could be more unsettling than getting to know yourself truly and without the grime of the conditioned attitudes? Let the fearful drink their fears away while the thoughtful and spiritual take flight.Watch this film, learn a thing or two, read the available research on the matter, and make your own conclusions. We are more than the material body in a life where the biggest joy is getting the newest smartphone. What a sad life that would make were it all there was. Luckily, there is so much more to it...

A great documentary on the use of plants for medical treatments. Back in the 1960's when I was going to college, I had terrible migraine headaches. When Dr. Leary came out with LSD, I tried it and it completely eliminated the migraines and it has never returned. Of course I wouldn't take LSD today because the people who makes it also adds other ingredients that are not healthy. Over four years ago, I was diagnosed with lung cancer, stage 2. I went through radiation therapy 5 days a week for 7 weeks and then was put on chemotherapy. I was only half way through the chemo when I came down with ITP. My body stopped making blood platelets and I almost bled to death, and had to be hospitalized for weeks and enduring endless amounts of blood transfusions and of blood platelets. That is when I started my research. The United State had absolutely no studies on the use of marijuana for medical purposes. I had to research countries in Europe, South America and the far East. Marijuana is legal in some countries for medical purposes. I finally came up with a dosage of Marijuana that I could take in capsule form, 25mg capsule that contained 12.5mg of THC + its terpenes and 12.5 mg of CBD + its terpenes. It worked. I am now cancer free and only have to see my cancer specialist once a year for a check up to see if it has come back. This documentary should be seen by a lot of people. Changes are being made. States are now opening up the mfg. and sale of marijuana medicinal medicines. Of course the DEA still classifies it as a class 1 drug which will soon be lowered to a class 2 drug. Just recently, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Federal Government cannot prosecute any who buys marijuana in states that have legalized it as long as the producers, sellers and users abide by the state law.

Very cool documentary.Once again the government is demonizing something without any science. Sure they can be dangerous, but alcohol and prescription painkillers are way worse, and legal. There is even a product in every grocery store and pharmacy that will have similar effects as lsd or psilocybin when consumed enough. Legalized and supervised hallucinogens would lower crime and reduce costs for many diseases and with documentaries like this, hopefully can get an eventual paradigm shift, keep up the good work. I only wished that they had talked more about DMT, it was hardly mentioned.. hopefully in the sequel.

Brilliant!!

It is time for change in the medical professions, including psychiatry.

It was a great view into a world I knew from long experience, and it took my understanding even further. It pointed out to me exactly how many governments and governors work - they try to control people's feelings and decisions by misinformation. I recommend it for any thinking person.