Certain scientific studies claim that LSD effects can prove to be beneficial. What are the positive effects of the well-known psychedelic drug?

It looks like when it comes to the treatment of alcoholism and the improvement of terminal cancer patients, LSD effects have broken historic taboos.

David Nichols, professor of medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology, conducted the above-mentioned study on the LSD effects in patients with terminal cancer. Nichols found alleviation of anxiety and physical pain as well as the loss of the fear of death in most of these patients.

“The interesting thing about psychedelic drugs is that they greatly alter the views of the world. And I am very curious which part of the brain is so vital that is able to change the way we perceive reality?” said the scientist.

Nichols has been studying the effects of psychedelic drugs on the brain’s chemistry since 1969 and found that LSD may be used as a molecular tool to help understand the functions of the brain and decipher the mechanism of the appearance of emotions, which could assist in the treatment of certain mental disorders such as depression.

Nichols’s study is a mixture of neuroscience, chemistry, and pharmacology. It is conducted on the basis of a study of various research subjects such as rat behavior, molecular synthesis, cloned brain receptors, and computer models.

According to Nichols, brain receptors respond to anything new and make people notice things, for example, when something falls down and breaks suddenly. When a person takes LSD, these receptors become more sensitive, and any usual object may seem “interesting”.

It creates novelty where novelty does not exist,” said Nichols.

Except for his study of LSD effects, Nichols has worked with Ecstasy, exploring the possibility of the drug to activate receptors in schizophrenics, to help them enhance memory and cognitive skills. Although the research is still underway, it may help those who suffer from schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease.

However, the stigma put on the use of psychedelic drugs hinders many promising scientific ideas, Nichols says.

LSD was discovered in 1943 and immediately attracted attention due to its chemical similarity to serotonin, the “happiness hormone”. However, after the 1960s social revolution, its “bad” reputation stopped serious research.

Nichols said: “Imagine if someone invented the transistor but does not use it“.

Nichols, who has a license to work with substances considered illegal by the government, does not support the use of psychedelics for fun. This is subject to what people consider as a past time or use that’s done for the sake of making personal discoveries and reaching enlightenment, however. LSD affects so many aspects that it’s hard to understand them all.

I think we need to understand with what purpose they have to be used,” he said. “I believe that psychedelics have a medical future, just they are not studied enough“.

Regardless of Nichols’s beliefs and discoveries, society will continue to experiment with LSD. There are, more than likely, many other aspects of this substance that is yet to be found – maybe even more astounding benefits that can improve life for us all! We will just have to wait and see for ourselves.


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