Psychedelic Medicine

The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca

By: Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Narrated by: Andy Rick

Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Explores the potential of psychedelics as medicine and the intersections of politics, science, and psychedelics

• Explores the tumultuous history of psychedelic research, the efforts to restore psychedelic therapies, and the links between psychiatric drugs and mental illness
• Offers non-technical summaries of the most recent, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies with MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca
• Includes the work of Rick Doblin, Stanislav Grof, James Fadiman, Julie Holland, Dennis McKenna, David Nichols, Charles Grob, Phil Wolfson, Michael and Annie Mithoefer, Roland Griffiths, Katherine MacLean, and Robert Whitaker

Embracing the revival of psychedelic research and the discovery of new therapeutic uses, clinical psychologist Dr. Richard Louis Miller discusses what is happening today in psychedelic medicine - and what will happen in the future - with top researchers and thinkers in this field, including Rick Doblin, Stanislav Grof, James Fadiman, Julie Holland, Dennis McKenna, David Nichols, Charles Grob, Phil Wolfson, Michael and Annie Mithoefer, Roland Griffiths, Katherine MacLean, and Robert Whitaker.

Dr. Miller and his contributors cover the tumultuous history of early psychedelic research brought to a halt 50 years ago by the US government as well as offering non-technical summaries of the most recent studies with MDMA, psilocybin, LSD, and ayahuasca. They explore the biochemistry of consciousness and the use of psychedelics for self-discovery and healing. They discuss the use of psilocybin for releasing fear in the terminally ill and the potential for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of PTSD. They examine Dr. Charles Grob’s research on the indigenous use and therapeutic properties of ayahuasca and Dr. Gabor Mate’s attempt to transport this plant medicine to a clinical setting with the help of Canada’s Department of National Health.

Dr. Miller and his contributors explore the ongoing efforts to restore psychedelic therapies to the health field, the growing threat of overmedication by the pharmaceutical industry, and the links between psychiatric drugs and mental illness. They also discuss the newly shifting political climate and the push for new research, offering hope for an end to the War on Drugs and a potential renaissance of research into psychedelic medicines around the world.

©2017 Dr. Richard Louis Miller (P)2019 Inner Traditions Audio

Critic reviews

"Imagine that you could ask almost every noteworthy psychedelic researcher not only to discuss their work in depth outside of the jargon of heavy journal descriptions but also to discuss the implications of their work and where it will be going in the future. Imagine an interviewer that knows the research backward and forward and presses each person to think in new directions. It’s all there in Psychedelic Medicine. I have been hoping for some years that there would be a book that I could point to that includes almost everything that’s going on. This is as close as we’re likely going to get. I’m in the book as well which is why I can attest to Miller’s knowledgeable and invaluable questioning." (James Fadiman, PhD, microdose researcher and author of The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide)

“We love Dr. Richard Miller’s perceptive, up-close-and-personal interviews with the courageous pioneers of the psychedelic renaissance. Psychedelic Medicine is a treasure trove of insights into psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy’s well-documented ability to facilitate lasting healing and life-changing mystical experience.” (Jerry and Julie Brown, coauthors of The Psychedelic Gospels)

“Lively, in-depth, and insightful interviews with both pioneering and contemporary members of the psychedelic research community. An excellent introduction to many of the themes and figures involved in the recent resurgence of clinical studies with these drugs." (Rick Strassman, MD, author of DMT: The Spirit Molecule)

Transcribed interviews, read out loud...

Very interesting content, poorly structured. Besides, to have transcribed interviews read out loud - is quite absurd. I would have loved to hear the original interviews. Also, having the initials of each interviewed said out loud each time they speak, is annoying, and same thing goes for the "quote on quote" being repeated like 100 times in the whole audiobook...

A Great Crime is Being Committed

I was a drug addict for 10 years of my life. I voluntarily checked into rehab for medical detox and 30 days of treatment. This consisted of daily AA shenanigans and repeatedly being told that I had a disease which was chronic and that relapse was part of it. In other words, planting the seeds of doubt and making excuses for relapses that had not occurred yet. That was 8 years ago and I've never thought of using again. I know many fail trying to get clean. One of the reasons for this is "treatment" is an industry that is not evidence-based but rather the demonstrably worthless, faith-based criteria set forth by AA or any number of equally worthless 12-step programs. Perhaps they benefit the masses as a support tool, but treatment or therapy it most definitely is not. Even in the first days of detox, I thought, "my god, they want me to pray away my addiction." That was 8 years ago and I remain sober today and have never relapsed. I succeeded through self-awareness of my behaviors and impulses, dealing with them rationally with some short-term therapy. The first year was enormously difficult and where most people relapse. As a person who had an addiction to a drug, I do not believe and never have believed that addiction is a disease. It is truly sad that our government has demonized certain substances which may be potentially life changing therapies. All in the name of political power. Of course, the War on Drugs was used by Nixon as a tool to control the perceived threat of minorities and hippies. This policy may be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, policy disaster this country has ever faced. It is STILL choking scientific research and creating criminals out of desperately sick people. And addicts are sick people though not (necessarily) diseased. This book is both illuminating and important. It was not the easiest of listens, but was highly informative.

my mind is soo open. probably one of my favorites

I can't say enough about this book. I learned so much and enjoyed all of it. It was delivered in a way that anyone can understand.

It is shame- scientists more political and lack objectivity and integrity

Most of book not about psychedelics but blaming government and psychiatry, off topic, twisted information end explanation, dirty rhetorical tricks. I am so interested in science of psychedelics but I do not trust compromised scientists

Psychedelic Medicine

hated the format. boring and not effective. reading a transcript of interviews is boring and eating time.. very little actual scientific information and s lot of political missionary statements that even if correct are not relevant to the book title.

Good, not great.

Good content (a bit dated in 2021). Since these arer transcripts it would have made more sense to listen to the original interviews.

Great information!

The information in this book is Incredibly important. The way the book is written, in interview form, makes it cumbersome.
Overall, I would recommend reading it.

A must read on psychedelic science.

A well written and respectful approach to psychedelic medicine and real healing. Definitely a good read.

Good information from multiple scientists

Information is excellent, covers a lot about the therepeutic uses of the drugs and the social implications behind use and how we can go forward. I also really liked the end where he introduces studies of classes of drugs used today and their effectiveness or lack of. Negatives? Interview format kinda sucked. Would've preferred a recording of the interview. If reading is your thing, that may be better but it's still doable. I still enjoyed it and learned a lot.

Best psychedelic medicine compilation

I’ve listened to or read almost every book about psychedelic medicine, and this is the best compilation of the experts all in one source. Once you get past the transcript nature of the conversations, it is excellent.

Fascinating Audiobook

As someone with an intense interest in all things plant medicine, this book is a must have.

Fantastic information through out, even if I've heard and read a lot of it elsewhere. For me, it's all about getting the full picture.

It really reinforces the fact that the world is being denied vital medicine, so that big pharma can continue to dumb us down and profit from us.

The book leaves me with more than a glimmer of hope for the future though, I'd highly recommend purchasing it.

should be compulsory reading …

for anyone in healthcare , public policy or anyone trying to take control of their own mental health

Informative

A fascinating and educational listen. I particularly like the part where the author appraises SSRIs. References are made to the author’s podcasts which are summarised nicely here and the summary is clearly more efficient than listening to all of the podcasts, but you could do all the podcasts instead if you have nothing better to do.

Awful narration

Robotic, lifeless narration managed to drain any interest or enthusiasm I could generate for a potentially very interesting book.

Good but...

basically a transcripted podcast which can get frustrating the way it is narrated .

People should know this information

I found this to be very eye opening. It helped me realise some things that I didn't had any explanation of.

awesome

insightful and easy to follow.
recommend for those who are unimpressed by today's mental care modality.

eye opening

Very informative on many counts. Helped grasp a better understanding of various substances and why they are not readily available