Reviving the study of hallucinogens
The word "psychedelic," invented by the psychiatrist Humphry Osmond in the 1950s, comes from Greek roots that mean "mind-revealing." An experiment conducted in 2005 at Johns Hopkins University suggests that this term accurately describes an experience regularly induced by the hallucinogenic drug psilocybin. The findings, reported in the journal Psychopharmacology, are accompanied by four expert commentaries and an editorial.
Psilocybin is the active ingredient of a mushroom (Psilocybe mexicana or Psilocybe cubensis) long used in magical and healing rituals in Mexico and Central America. The Aztecs called it "flesh of the gods." In the Johns Hopkins experiment, it produced mystical experiences with high personal significance and favorable psychological changes lasting at least two months.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise