History of Psychedelics: An Overview

Summary

The article provides a historical overview of psychedelics, focusing on substances, plants, and fungi that have been classified as such. It discusses early uses in ceremonial and clinical settings and examines how the war on drugs in the late twentieth century shifted perceptions of these substances and their users. The analysis draws from various fields, including archeology and anthropology, to explore the risks and benefits associated with psychedelics.

Abstract

This article offers an overview of the history of substances, plants, and fungi later classified as psychedelic. Drawing from archeological, anthropological, botanical, and clinical claims about the risks and benefits of psychedelics, this historical survey emphasizes diverse attempts to make sense of these mind-altering experiences. It tracks early efforts to harness the properties of psychedelic substances in ceremonial and clinical settings, before the war on drugs in the latter part of the twentieth century changed the script on psychedelic explorations and the characterization of those who sought out these non-ordinary states.

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