Psychosomadelics: The case for renaming psychedelics

A new term, 'psychosomadelics', is proposed to replace 'psychedelics' for a certain class of psychoactive substances. The authors argue that 'psychedelics' is psychocentric, focusing primarily on mental effects and neglecting the somatic (bodily) effects, which are increasingly documented. The new term aims to balance and enrich discourse by denoting both mind and body concepts and indirectly relating to philosophical mind-body ontologies and phenomenologies. The authors suggest adopting this term to evolve and expand the connotations of such substances and their effects.

Study at a glance

Abstract

It is proposed that the term ‘psychedelics’, used for a certain class of psychoactive substances, be replaced by our new term 'psychosomadelics'. In our view, this step is necessary because the term 'psychedelics' is psychocentric (i.e. focusing primarily on the effects on the mind) and therefore neglects the somatic (bodily) effects of these substances. This is of particular importance as knowledge of the extensive effects that these substances have on the body is rapidly increasing. Furthermore, from a philosophical point of view, this new term also evolves and expands the connotations of such substances and their effects, as it indirectly relates to philosophical mind-body ontologies and phenomenologies. The term 'psychosomadelics' denotes both mind and body concepts, and also connotes their proposed relations – thereby providing balance and enrichment to the associated discourse. We thus suggest that the new term be adopted.