Contents
In today’s fast paced world of capitalism, mental health related issues like depression have become like a pandemic. Everyday more and more people are being added to the list of mental diseases, including depression and anxiety.
Some experts suggest that after this Covid-19 pandemic of 2021, humanity will face the post-pandemic effects, which they consider as “the mental health epidemic”. There are proven ‘healing’ methods are already known from numerous scientific studies, and has been practiced since ancient times. Depression was not common in ancient times as the ancient cultures were designed around these methods. There are many reasons for the modern world to face it, one of them being the face that modern humans have disconnected themselves from Mother Nature and the ancestral wisdom. However, there is a way to reestablish this connection, as many recent studies and researches have suggested, with help from the Holy Medicine of the Holy and Divine Mother Ayahuasca, other Holy Plant-based Medicines which may be Psychoactive, or other modern Psychedelic substances, which can help re-establish the missing connection and lead to cure human depression.
The rise of a Psychonauts generation
As mental diseases are rising, so is the possibility of curing these diseases by alternate medication is opening up too. A Psychedelic renaissance is ongoing, and numerous scientific studies from different fields are suggesting the same result again and again, that Psychedelics and ancient traditional Holy Plant-based Medicines can relieve depression and contribute to the overall holistic wellbeing.
With internet helping inform the netizens in the virtual world, specific people in need are educating themselves with these studies for deliberate experiments. Many experts are suggesting that this is the rising of a new generation of Psychedelics and Holy Plants consumers, who possess very detailed technical and Pharmacological knowledge about the Holy Plant based substance which are often Psychoactive, such as the Holy Medicine or the Psylocibin, and similar Medicines. Such consumers in the new age are often referred to as “Psychonauts”, “Cyber-psychonauts” or “e-psychonauts”, while many of them consider themselves as shamanism practitioners.
This collective group of people is enthusiastic and deliberate experimenters of hallucinogens, including Psychedelics, both natural Holy Plants and of synthetic substances which are Psychedelic, either for spiritual attainment, self-exploration, or for inducing an altered state of consciousness.
Researchers do not know much about psychonauts, but recently, they have published the latest research in “Frontiers in Psychiatry,” demonstrating how the behaviour and brains of psychonauts may be different from those of regular people.
A Global Survey reports findings from self-medicating consumers of Holy Plant- based and synthetic based Psychedelics in 2020
According to the 2020 Global Drug Survey, it is evident that more and more people are consuming Psychedelics to treat their mental health. The survey asked 110,000 people about their Psychedelic based substance consumption, and around 6,500 people, which is almost 6% of the participants, said that they consume such substances or Holy Plant-based Medicines which are Psychedelic in nature to deal with mental health issues. Out of those who reported having consumed Psychedelics to treat mental health issues, 72% were men, 25% were women, and the rest 2% said they were non-binary.
The study includes the people microdosing alone with magic mushrooms and LSD, people who consumed Holy Plant-based Medicines which are Psychedelic or synthetic substances, under the supervision of another person in an unregulated administration where the administrators most commonly reported as being friends or partner; the study also mentioned that this unregulated administration was in retreats and Sacred Ceremonies of indigenous cultures.
According to the study, relationship problems, depression, and anxiety were the most common underlying factors which lead people to self-medicate with Holy Plant-based Medicines or synthetic substances which were Psychedelic in nature. Among these, common underlying and notable factors were bereavement, PTSD, and problems related to substance abuse.
Findings of the survey
The authors of the study mentioned that instead of seeking help from established general medical services, these people are consuming Holy Plant-based Medicines or synthetic substances which are Psychedelic, to treat the most common mental health problems.
The authors also noted that the study is demonstrating there are many people with common preexisting conditions for whom already existing treatment facilities are either unattractive to engage with or insufficient. This survey was one of the largest surveys which demonstrates that while health regulators debate whether or not to legalize the therapeutic Consumption of synthetic Psychedelic substances and traditional Holy Plant-based Medicines and the Holy Medicine of the Holy and Divine Mother Ayahuasca, the demand keeps increasing.
The most commonly reported reason for consuming magic mushrooms and LSD was to improve overall general wellbeing, followed by usage to get relief from a psychiatric condition and to cope with worries. The authors adjured caution for anyone deciding on self-treatment with such Medicines whether from Holy Plant-based Medicines or synthetic substances.
Dr. Monica Barratt at RMIT University in Australia, who is a social scientist at the Drug Policy Modelling Program and also the co-author of this study, pointed out that at this time, mental health professionals have a very important role to play to support such people, with appropriate training.
Conclusion
The authors concluded that the longer the delay will be in rolling out these treatments through clinical services, the greater the risk these vulnerable people will face. They will be tempted to access these alternative modalities in situations that carry a potentially greater risk of harm. Even Dr. Barratt worries that it may end up being filled outside of the medical setting.
Much previous research showed the potential roles of Psychedelic and traditional Holy Plant-based Medicines and the Holy Medicine in treatment and ‘healing’; despite these possibilities as treatments for several mental health conditions which are not fully curable through the established modality, unplanned attempts to deal with serious mental illness are not recommended. Healing and positive outcomes can only happen with the holistic preparation and integration of Psychedelic experiences in a supportive environment with the ability to access additional resources if needed. Few startups in the modern times are trying to solve precisely this very problem, with building of delivery infrastructure, such as MindMed Inc.
References
- Barratt, M. J., Kuypers K. P. C., Timmerman, C., et al. (2021). Global Drug Survey (GDS) 2020 Psychedelic Key Findings Report. Global Drug Survey, [online] Available at: https://www.globaldrugsurvey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/GDS2020-Psychedelics-report.pdf [Accessed 1st August 2021].
- BBC. (2020). Coronavirus: Mental health of NHS staff at long-term risk. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52528619 [Accessed 1st August 2021].
- d’Angelo, L. C., Savulich, G., Sahakian, B. J. (2017). Lifestyle use of drugs by healthy people for enhancing cognition, creativity, motivation, and pleasure. British Pharmacological Society, [online] Volume, 174(19), p. 3257-3267. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.13813 [Accessed 1st August 2021].
- Prayag, G., Mura, P., Hall, C. M., & Fontaine, J. (2016). Spirituality, drugs, and tourism: tourists’ and shamans’ experiences of ayahuasca in Iquitos, Peru. Tourism Recreation Research, [online] Volume, 41(3), p. 314-325. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2016.1192237 [Accessed 1st August 2021].
- Savulich, G., Bowden-Jones, O., et al. ( 2021). “Hot” and “Cold” Cognition in Users of Club Drugs/Novel Psychoactive Substances. Frontiers in Psychiatry, [online] Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.660575 [Accessed 1st August 2021].
- The New Yorker. (2018). The Science of The Psychedelic Renaissance. [online] Available at: https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/the-science-of-the-psychedelic-renaissance [Accessed 1st August 2021].
