Scientists are working to place psychedelics research, particularly psilocybin studies, on a more rigorous scientific foundation. The field has historically been hampered by a lack of controlled, well-designed experiments. Researchers are now applying modern biochemistry, chemistry, and neuroscience methods to investigate the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of hallucinogens. The article reports on efforts to move beyond the stigma and anecdotal evidence that have long surrounded psychedelic drugs, aiming instead for reproducible, evidence-based findings that could lead to new treatments for central nervous system disorders.
Ibogaine, an alkaloid from a West African shrub, reduces cravings for alcohol and other drugs in animal tests and anecdotal human reports. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, confirmed these findings in rodents and showed ibogaine interacts with the brain's reward circuits. The compound, which has hallucinogenic and neurotoxic side effects, is not FDA-approved but is used by some clinicians outside the U.S. to limit withdrawal symptoms and craving. The researchers confirmed that ibogaine reduces ethanol consumption in rats and limits relapse effects after alcohol withdrawal.