The surprising new treatment for mental illness - Anees Bahji

In April 1943, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann accidentally exposed himself to a drug he derived from ergot fungus and recorded its unexpected, mind-altering effects.

The drug, lysergic acid diethylamide— or LSD— was soon heralded for its psychiatric potential.

But how do LSD and other psychedelic drugs affect the body?

And can they actually be medicinal? Psychedelics are a class of drugs that alter mood, cognition, and perception, often triggering unusual states of consciousness like hallucinations.

They all interact with the body's serotonin neurotransmitter system, which regulates many processes, including mood, sleep-wake cycles, appetite, and memory.

Lower rates of serotonin signaling are associated with impaired sleep and attention and diminished responses to positive information.

Meanwhile, higher rates tend to track with more positive moods and greater emotional stability.

All psychedelic drugs increase the amount of serotonin signaling.

However, they interact with the serotonin system in different ways and affect other neurotransmitter systems, all of which determines their unique effects and medical potential.