A new study argues that there might be a link between classic psychedelic use (DMT, LSD, “magic” mushroom, etc.) and lower odds of heart disease.
According to Science Alert, the authors of the study Associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use and cardiometabolic diseases published in Scientific Reports found promising results when interviewing people with heart problems.
It is reported that the participants who had used psychedelics at least once in their lifetime had a lower chance, 23% and 12%, respectively, to develop heart diseases and diabetes in the past year.
While the first results are really promising, and the findings will surely help others to continue looking into the matter, the authors reiterated that more research is needed before anyone makes hasty conclusions.
One of the main questions that remained unanswered was the long-term consequences of psychedelic use.
The authors concluded: “There has been extensive research during the last decades on prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic diseases, including several comprehensive interventions designed to reduce lifestyle risk factors.
“Yet the potential long-term effects of classic psychedelic use on cardiometabolic health remains largely unknown. The findings in the present study reveal associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use and lower odds of heart disease in the past year as well as lower odds of diabetes in the past year.
“It demonstrates the need for further research to investigate potential causal pathways of classic psychedelics on cardiometabolic health (i.e., lifestyle changes, mental health benefits, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory characteristics, and affinity to specific serotonin receptor subtypes).”
Although psychedelic use is still stigmatised, as more studies are being published it seems using drugs such as LSD, DMT and “magic” mushroom for medical purposes – micro-dosing, for example – is getting more popular and accepted worldwide.
Canex reported that scientists were working on a pharmaceutical device that would provide future psychedelics patients with the recommended dosage of psychedelics, such as DMT and LSD, for the best experience possible.
The device would work in a similar way to an insulin pump. The pump could be attached to your stomach after being calibrated to deliver the correct dose, frequency, and intensity of psychedelics like DMT, LSD, or mescaline.
There are still a lot of questions surrounding psychedelics, but with the help of scientists the stigmatisation could be mitigated – and if that happens, more work could be done to help all those in need of the treatment.
