Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research has led the way in clinical trials. Director Robin Carhart-Harris has published over 100 papers on the effects of psychedelics on a variety of mental health issues. The center recently produced one of the first large-scale studies on microdosing, with a caveat—the psychedelics were self-supplied (to skirt legal issues) and the psychological results self-reported. For the study published in eLife, the team recruited 191 citizen cosmonauts to microdose either LSD or a placebo over the course of several weeks and note the psychological effects. Volunteers were already microdosing LSD, so there was no true control. Each volunteer was given instructions on creating their own low-dose gel capsules, some containing LSD, others not. Then they mixed the capsules in envelopes so they didn’t know if they were taking the real thing or not. The results: LSD microdosers reported feeling more mindful, satisfied with life, and better overall; they also noticed a reduction in feelings of paranoia. The Imperial team believes the expectation of a trip might have been enough to produce similar results. Senior author David Erritzoe is excited for future studies on the topic, believing they tapped into a new wave of citizen science that could push forward our knowledge of psychedelic substances. “Accounting for the placebo effect is important when assessing trends such as the use of cannabidiol oils, fad diets or supplements where social pressure or users’ expectations can lead to a strong placebo response. Self-blinding citizen science initiatives could be used as an inexpensive, initial screening tool before launching expensive clinical studies.” Of course, we should continue to explore the efficacy of psychedelics on anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, PTSD, and addiction. Pharmacological dependence is a stain on the psychiatry industry. Whether or not psychedelics can be prescribed for daily use remains to be seen.

I’m a fan of the Placebo and Nocebo Effect more than drugs or food. But as my previous post addressed, many people clench their minds on the power of a material thing, food, plant, drug or what have you and then the thing has the power instead of their own mind. It becomes a TALISMAN or a horcrux. That’s fine. It’s all a lesson as long as you don’t expect others to need to 3D clench on a thing the same way you do. Everyone’s mind is programmed differently by themselves.

Definition of Nocebo is a detrimental effect on health produced by psychological or psychosomatic factors such as negative expectations of treatment or prognosis.

Definition of Placebo is a beneficial effect produced by a placebo drug or treatment, which cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient’s belief in that treatment. “Orthodox doctors dismiss the positive results as a result of the placebo effect”

Notice that last quote in placebo effect. They dismiss positive results of a placebo because they, the doctor, didn’t achieve the healing, the patient did it themselves. That’s not allowed in straight medicine. The power can’t be in the patient; that would be patient empowerment which is HOLISTIC. Why would you trust a healthcare practitioner who functions on EGO? Maybe you as the patient do as well. Law of Attraction.