Magic Medicine

A Trip Through the Intoxicating History and Modern-Day Use of Psychedelic Plants and Substances

De: Cody Johnson

Narrado por: Steve Quinn

“Cody Johnson beautifully balances historical knowledge with cutting-edge science to produce a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening read which paints a holistic picture of the risks and benefits of psychedelic use in modern day medicine and culture.”—Rick Doblin, PhD, Founder and Executive Director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).

Magic Medicine explores the fascinating history of psychedelic substances and provides a contemporary update about their growing inclusion in modern medicine, science, and culture. Each chapter dives into the rich history of a single plant or compound and explores its therapeutic and spiritual uses in cultures near and far. Firsthand quotes allow glimmers of psychedelic light throughout. Learn all about:

• Classical psychedelics, including 2C-B, ayahuasca, LSD, and peyote
• The empathogenic psychedelics MDA and MDMA
• Dissociative psychedelics, including DXM, ketamine, and salvia
• Unique psychedelics, including cannabis, DiPT, and even fish and sea sponges

The history of psychedelic plants and substances is full of colorful facts and stories, and intriguing questions. Did US Army Intelligence really use LSD as an enhanced military interrogation technique? How is DiPT able to make a familiar tune sound utterly foreign? Can MDMA (Ecstasy) help people overcome traumatic experiences?

Many psychedelic plants and substances have a long history of being incorporated into various healing traditions—such as cannabis and opium in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Science is beginning to research what traditional cultures have told us for years: psychedelics have transformative healing properties.

Anyone who has ever wondered about psychedelics—from complete neophytes to veteran trippers, seekers and sages to skeptics and scientists, therapists and patients to green thumbs and armchair anthropologists—will find something in this engrossing and beautifully designed book.

©2018 Cody Johnson (P)2023 Fair Winds Press

Reseñas de la Crítica

What a good book this is! A rarity among psychedelic publications, it is straightforward, useful, makes complex biochemistry understandable, and will be a reference for years to come. It is a drug-by-drug series of clear, useful descriptions of just what you need to know about both synthetic and plant-based psychedelics. I thought I knew all this stuff, but Johnson weaves in excellent scholarship and some wonderful stories that surprised and delighted me as well.—James Fadiman, Ph.D., microdose researcher and author of The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide

Magic Medicine is a wonderful object as well as a valuable text on this essential subject. Johnson describes a wide range of psychedelic substances—their effects, history and contemporary uses—in a readable style of prose and set amidst an alluring and beautifully presented format. Highly recommended!—Dr. Ben Sessa, psychiatrist, psychedelic researcher, and author of The Psychedelic Renaissance

This is a delightful book that takes the reader on a pleasurable trip through several millennia of use and reflections on humans use of psychedelics. It is beautifully researched and pleasingly produced, with a satisfying balance of science, history and insights. I am sure that everyone interested in this growing field will find something new to intrigue and hopefully inspire them.—Prof. David Nutt, Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London, and author of Drugs Without the Hot Air

This was a very beautiful and formative written book and the narrator did an excellent job.

I liked everything about this book. I can't think of anything that could have been done or said better.

Excellent summary of history and modern uses of psychedelics

I learned a lot from this book! Very interesting read about different psychedelic compounds including plant based and man made. The writing was easily digestible and extremely interesting to learn about centuries old uses of many of these substances as well as modern research to treat many different aiailments.