For centuries, psychedelics have been used for healing, self-discovery, and spiritual awakening. Now, science is uncovering their potential for mental health, addiction recovery, and cognitive enhancement.
Here’s a detailed look at the top 10 psychedelics, including how they work, their history, and their effects on the brain and body.
1. Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms)
🔹 Found In: Over 200 mushroom species worldwide
🔹 Used By: Aztecs, Mayans, and modern psychonauts for spiritual insight
🔹 How It’s Consumed: Eaten fresh/dried, brewed into tea, or microdosed
🔹 Active Molecule: Psilocybin (converted to psilocin)
🔹 Effects on Brain: Increases serotonin and neuroplasticity (Carhart-Harris et al., 2012)
🔹 Duration: 4–6 hours
✅ Effects on Mind & Body:
- Enhances creativity, emotional processing, and ego dissolution
- Reduces depression and PTSD symptoms
- Can induce mystical experiences
2. LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)
🔹 Found In: Originally synthesized from ergot fungus
🔹 Used By: The CIA (MKUltra program), 1960s counterculture
🔹 How It’s Consumed: Blotter papers, liquid drops, or microdosed
🔹 Active Molecule: LSD-25
🔹 Effects on Brain: Boosts serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate (Vollenweider et al., 1998)
🔹 Duration: 8–12 hours
✅ Effects on Mind & Body:
- Expands perception, enhances problem-solving, and distorts time
- Heightens sensory experiences and induces ego death
3. DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine)
🔹 Found In: Plants (Ayahuasca, Acacia, Mimosa) and trace amounts in the human brain
🔹 Used By: Amazonian shamans for spiritual healing
🔹 How It’s Consumed: Smoked, vaped, or drank in Ayahuasca brews
🔹 Active Molecule: DMT
🔹 Effects on Brain: Boosts serotonin, alters consciousness, and synchronizes brainwaves (Barker et al., 2012)
🔹 Duration: 5–15 min (smoked), 4–6 hours (Ayahuasca)
✅ Effects on Mind & Body:
- Induces out-of-body experiences
- Encounters with entities and hyperdimensional landscapes
4. Ayahuasca
🔹 Found In: Brewed from Banisteriopsis caapi (MAOI) + Psychotria viridis (DMT)
🔹 Used By: Amazonian tribes for centuries in sacred rituals
🔹 How It’s Consumed: Drank in guided ceremonies
🔹 Active Molecule: DMT (activated by MAOIs)
🔹 Effects on Brain: Enhances neurogenesis and emotional regulation (Riba et al., 2001)
🔹 Duration: 4–6 hours
✅ Effects on Mind & Body:
- Deep emotional healing and trauma release
- Can cause vomiting (“purging”)
5. Mescaline (Peyote & San Pedro Cactus)
🔹 Found In: Peyote, San Pedro, Peruvian Torch cacti
🔹 Used By: Native American Church, Indigenous tribes
🔹 How It’s Consumed: Chewed, brewed into cactus tea
🔹 Active Molecule: Mescaline
🔹 Effects on Brain: Boosts serotonin and dopamine (Halberstadt et al., 2018)
🔹 Duration: 8–12 hours
✅ Effects on Mind & Body:
- Strong visual distortions and emotional sensitivity
- Deepened connection to nature
6. Ibogaine
🔹 Found In: Iboga root (Central Africa)
🔹 Used By: Bwiti tribes for initiations and healing
🔹 How It’s Consumed: Eaten as root bark or extracted into ibogaine HCl
🔹 Active Molecule: Ibogaine
🔹 Effects on Brain: Resets dopamine receptors, reducing addiction cravings (Mash et al., 2018)
🔹 Duration: 12–36 hours
✅ Effects on Mind & Body:
- Strong introspection and addiction recovery effects
- Can be physically intense with nausea
7. MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly)
🔹 Found In: Synthesized in 1912
🔹 Used By: Therapists for PTSD therapy
🔹 How It’s Consumed: Capsules, pressed pills, or powder
🔹 Active Molecule: MDMA
🔹 Effects on Brain: Boosts serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine (Bedi et al., 2010)
🔹 Duration: 3–6 hours
✅ Effects on Mind & Body:
- Enhances empathy, trust, and emotional openness
- Reduces PTSD symptoms
8. Ketamine
🔹 Found In: Developed as an anesthetic
🔹 Used By: Military, now used in depression treatment
🔹 How It’s Consumed: IV, nasal spray (Spravato)
🔹 Active Molecule: Ketamine
🔹 Effects on Brain: Blocks NMDA receptors, boosting glutamate (Zarate et al., 2006)
🔹 Duration: 30–60 minutes
✅ Effects on Mind & Body:
- Dissociation and out-of-body sensations
- Rapid antidepressant effects
9. Salvia Divinorum
🔹 Found In: Salvia plants (Mexico)
🔹 Used By: Mazatec shamans for divination
🔹 How It’s Consumed: Smoked or chewed
🔹 Active Molecule: Salvinorin A
🔹 Effects on Brain: Activates kappa opioid receptors, causing dissociation (Roth et al., 2002)
🔹 Duration: 5–15 minutes
✅ Effects on Mind & Body:
- Breaks normal perception of reality
10. 2C-B (Psychedelic + MDMA Hybrid Experience)
🔹 Found In: Synthetic compound from the 2C family
🔹 Used By: Psychonauts and psychedelic therapy research
🔹 How It’s Consumed: Pill or powder, taken orally or snorted
🔹 Active Molecule: 2C-B (Phenethylamine)
🔹 Effects on Brain: Modulates serotonin and dopamine, producing both hallucinogenic and euphoric effects (Shulgin & Shulgin, 1991)
🔹 Duration: 4–6 hours
✅ Effects on Mind & Body:
- Vivid visuals combined with an MDMA-like body high
- Deep emotional and social connection
- Less intense than LSD or mushrooms, but still powerful
Final Thought: The Expanding World of Psychedelics
Each psychedelic interacts uniquely with the brain, offering different experiences and potential benefits. As research grows, these substances may reshape medicine, therapy, and human consciousness.
