Page 173 - Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained Vol. 3

154 Mysteries of the Mind

while working with other ergot derivatives autistic withdrawal, alteration of personal-
and experienced a kind of pleasant feeling of ity, impairment of conscience lasting from
inebriation, which consisted of hallucinations one to eight hours;
that lasted for several hours. Since Hofmann’s 3. Recovery, lasting for several hours and
accidental discovery, scientists have been try- consisting of feelings of normality alternat-
ing to fit LSD-25 and other drugs with hallu- ing with sensations of abnormality;
cinogenic properties into biochemical
4. Aftermath, consisting of fatigue and ten-
schemes of many kinds. In the 1960s and
sion during the following day.
1970s, substances and chemicals that formerly
had an aura of mystery around them were According to many researchers, LSD is not
being broken down by chemical analysis and addictive. It is, in fact, self-limiting. If one
were hailed by some individuals as “mind- were to take the drug for three days in a row, it
expanders” and by others as recreational drugs would no longer produce a psychic effect. A
that could be exploited for fast “trips” to “far- week or longer would have to pass before the
out” places. drug would again expand the mind.
During the 20 years following World War Long-term use of LSD has been known to
II (1939–45), LSD was used to study brain cause permanent psychoses, schizophrenia,
chemistry and to trace its effectiveness in and severe depression. Some researchers have
treating patients with schizophrenia and other noticed a change in the aging process among
mental disorders. It was also utilized in con- native shamans and diviners who steadily par-
junction with cancer patients and alcoholics. take of their own home-brewed psychedelics.
Rapid aging might be an as yet unforeseen
LSD was found to create such primary
result of extensive use of psychedelics. Some
effects as the following:
psychiatrists maintain that a psychotic distur-
1. a feeling of being one with the universe; bance can occur days, weeks, or even months
2. recognition of two identities; after receiving LSD.
3. a change in the usual concept of self; In 1963, Dr. Timothy Leary and Dr.
4. new perceptions of space and time; Richard Alpert were discharged from their
positions at Harvard University for their
5. heightened sensory perceptions;
enthusiasm in advocating the mind-expanding
6. a feeling that one has been touched by a properties of LSD. Undaunted, the two went
profound understanding of religion or phi- on to establish a number of colonies of their
losophy; International Federation of Internal Freedom.
7. a gamut of rapidly changing emotions; Throughout most of the 1960s, Leary was the
8. increased sensitivity for the feelings of oth- primary and most well-known prophet of the
ers; LSD movement, and he predicted that by
1970, as many as 30 million persons, most of
9. such psychotic changes as illusions, halluci-
them young, would have embarked on voyages
nations, paranoid delusions, severe anxiety.
of discovery through the limitless inner space
In 1966 the investigational drug branch of of their own minds. According to Leary, these
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voyagers would return much wiser and much
distinguished four stages of LSD action: more loving than when they began.
1. Initial, lasting for about 30 to 45 minutes Years before Leary’s predicted voyages by
after oral ingestion of 100 to 150 micro- millions through their inner space, law
grams of LSD, producing slight nausea, enforcement officials had begun to regard traf-
some anxiety, dilation of pupils; fic in LSD and other hallucinogens as just
2. Hallucinations, associated with significant another racket and feared that they would
alteration of consciousness (confused soon have to contend with a black market in
states, dreamlike revivals of past traumatic the drugs and that it would be aided and abet-
events or childhood memories), distortion ted by the crime syndicates. The growing use
of time and space perspective, anxiety, of psychedelics by the counterculture, the

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