PSYCHEDELIC SAFETY
UNDERSTANDING THE TOOLS The natural psychedelics have been in use for
thousands of years, and I anticipate that both synthetic and natural
psychedelics will still be used thousands of years from
now.
Contrary to being considered
dangerous, throughout most of history psychedelics have been considered
gifts of the Gods, and have been associated with the healing of the
body, mind and soul.
History is full of shamans and shamanesses who
consumed these substances hundreds of times each year for their entire
life and suffered no ill effects [1].
Likewise my thousand or so experiments with various psychedelics seem to
have done no harm. To the contrary, I feel I've received numerous
benefits from their use.
I suspect most of the psychedelic
scare stories published in the late Sixties and Seventies were generated
by people pursuing their own political or financial agendas, or by
people with fundamentalist morals who were afraid of losing their power,
or even seeing people feel too good. Other scare stories were written
purely for sensationalism to sell magazines and newspapers. Many of the
stories, such as LSD causing
chromosome damage, have been proven false. Other stories, such as the
CIA's dosing of unsuspecting people who went on to jump out of
windows... Well, as Robert Anton
Wilson says "They either didn't know what was happening to them,
they thought they were losing their minds, and they jumped out of the
window. Or they did realize what was happening, that the intelligence
agency of their own government was covertly giving them mind-altering
drugs..., and they jumped out of the window." A thorough review of
psychedelic history will show that problems encountered through
psychedelic use are rare, especially if you consider that in this
country alone, millions of doses of psychedelics are consumed each
month.
When I discuss psychedelic safety I
think it's important to separate physical safety from mental safety.
Physical safety deals primarily with the drugs and various combinations
thereof. Mental safety is a much more individual issue and must be
monitored and evaluated by each psychedelic user. This section deals
with general psychedelic safety. More information is given for specific
substances where appropriate
I consider ecstasy and
other synthetics of the
phenethylamine family exceptions in terms of psychedelic safety.
These are amphetamine relatives which can mess up one's equilibrium,
leaving one feelmg physically drained and mentally frizzled. I
definitely monitor my intake of these substances but have not found
occasional use of moderate doses to do any lasting harm. There have been
a few cases reported in which people died from dehydration after taking
ecstasy at hot, crowded dance clubs, and attempting to dance for several
hours straight without drinking any water. Extreme situations like this
have been avoided by most users by exercising some
forethought.
PHYSICAL SAFETY: Aside from the use of ecstasy and the
Belladonna alkaloids, I know of but one case where someone experienced
physical harm from psychedehc use. And this was with the ultimately
potent combination of Harmaline and 5-MeO-DMT.
Anxiety about physical illness is a frequent response the mind can
generate when undergoing the psychedelic transformation, and often the
increased awareness of bodily functions can cause one to feel sick. It's
useful to be able to distinguish whether a symptom is actually the
result of a substance, or just the mind's imagination. The book The
Psychedelic Experience describes this quite well. On
psychedelics it's also possible for one to become aware of the complex
body/mind relationship, and discover how to ease bodily discomfort by
releasing mental/emotional blocks.
Whenever working with a new
substance, the more cautious users will start with a small dose and work
their way up. During this period they can watch how their body and mind
responds to the drug and determine which dosage works for them. This can
be important since some people may have powerful reactions to amounts
which produce only minimal activity in most people. Some psychedelics,
such as LSD, have a wide margin between the active dose and the amount
which may be considered toxic. Other psychedelics, such as ecstasy, can
exhibit toxic effects at just twice the average dose. Unfortunately,
legal scientific research on these substances is practically
non-existent, and the maximum safe dosages have not been accurately
calculated.
It is not uncommon to feel nauseous
on many of the psychedelics. Users generally report that if they feel
the urge to vomit it's best to not resist it, and that they usually feel
better afterwards. Nausea is not an indication that there is something
wrong with one's trip. Indigenous people are known to say that Peyote, or Ayahuasca, acts as a purge, and
is cleansing the body and soul. They also say that when the body and
soul are purlfied one will no longer feel discomfort from the Peyote.
I've often noticed that psychedelics purge and cleanse my body in a
manner similar to fasting. Many users experiment with different diets or
fasting prior to tripping, which can eliminate or reduce nauseous
feelings during the trip.
Some people feel exhausted or out of
touch with reality the day after a psychedelic trip. This can be
expected since they went through so much during the experience. Many
users find it's good to have an extra day after the trip to recuperate
before returning to work, etc. Avoiding familiar routines for a day
allows people to retain more from their psychedelic
journeys.
Hopefully anybody using these
substances knows that while high, it is dangerous to drive, fly a plane,
etc. I'd like to emphasize this point since we live in a society where
driving while intoxicated on alcohol is fairly common.
Many people may have driven while
mildly high on a psychedelic without getting into accidents. However,
I'm sure there are some who drove while tripping and are no longer alive
to tell about it. If one were to take a large dose of a psychedelic they
would be in a state of mind where the world that appears before their
eyes is going through massive changes each moment. They may have
difficulty recalling their name, and driving would be totally out of the
question. Smaller doses of psychedelics produce similar but milder
changes in one's consciousness. The psychedelic experience is simply not
compatible with the split-second decisions and maneuvers one must
routinely make while driving around in a two-ton chunk of steel at 60
MPH.
I think that to get the most from a
psychedelic experience one must put aside time completely devoted to the
experience, and take a dose that significantly alters perception. The
"recreational" use of smaller amounts of psychedelics, as is common in
social settings such as raves, concerts, and parties, seldom provides
one with a full spectrum of the psychedelic experience. This is not to
say that using psychedelics in this context can not be beneficial or
enjoyable, but many people I have spoken with who have used psychedelics
in only this type of setting don't appear to have had deep or
powerfully transformational experiences. In a situation where
transportation is required, people should try to have a friend drive
them, take a cab, or simply beam themselves wherever they wish to
go!
Anyone who has any type of health
problem, or is taking prescription or over-the- counter medicines,
should be cautious using psychedelics. Most psychedelics increase pulse
rate and blood pressure. The effects of using psychedelics with medical
problems, or most prescription drugs, is largely unknown. Anyone in this
situation should find a knowledgeable and open-minded doctor to give
them some advice. Pregnant women should also consult such a doctor prior
to using psychedelics.
The main physical danger with
psychedelics is with those that are MAO inhibitors and with
combinations. Two psychedelics discussed in this book are MAO
inhibitors: 5-MeO-DMT and the Harmala alkaloids. Many prescription
anti-depressant drugs are also MAO inhibitors. MAO (Mono-Amine-Oxidase)
is an enzyme in the body which breaks down certain foods and chemicals.
If one has these foods or chemicals in their system while taking an MAO
inhibitor they will not be broken down, which can result in discomfort,
illness, or even death. Following this section is a list
of items not to be taken with MAO inhibitors. Prior to taking an MAO
inhibitor I review this list and do a double check on what's in my
system. I've also found it useful to memorize this list of items so that
I don't eat any foods that will make me sick while using MAO
inhibitors.
MENTAL SAFETY: Each person's mind and capacity for handling
psychedelics is different. Psychedelics are not for everybody, and some
of the substances discussed in this book are particularly heavy.
Although most psychedelic trips are experienced as baneficial, some
people have had experiences that left them distrurbed afterwards. The
main reason for these negative experiences is lack of preparation,
rather than anything inherent in the person or in the substance. One's
chances of having a bad trip, or not being able to reintegrate
themselves afterwards, can be sharply reduced by learning about the
experience.
A point I should note here is that
I've never heard of anyone experiencing long term adverse effects
through the use of natural psychedelics, such as psilocybin
mushrooms or mescaline-containing
cacti. When disturbing experiences are produced by these substances,
the users seem to take it in stride and come back to
center.
People with schizophrenia, or any
other type of mental disorder beyond the common neurosis, should
exercise extreme caution in using psychedelics. When psychedelic
research was widespread until 1966 there were many successful results
treating mental patients. However, people with mental imbalances have a
greater risk of a negative experience, especially without the guidance
of a therapist.
Psychedelics are much more than
recreational drugs. They have the ability to make significant changes in
us with a single use. Many advanced users consider this ability to
"reimprint the mind" as the most important benefit of psychedelics. If
examined closely, most psychedelic experiences will fit the following
model. Psychedelics will dissolve one's identity and perceptual
framework, a process commonly called "ego death." Next one experiences
the raw or undifferentiated energies flowmg through their senses from a
formless or unclefined state. They can tap into the vast banks of
imagery within their mind, addmg their creative powers to generate
limitless visions of intricacy beauty, and meaning. During this time one
may try on various "filters" through which everything is perceived, and
create hallucinations or expenence many personalities. The journeyer
will be outside of their normal conceptual framework and will be able to
look at their thought processes and personality from new angles. Later
in the experience they will re-assemble a new personality, based on
their old personality, but hopefully improved.
In some cases it takes users
numerous sessions to go through the process of ego death, and detach
from their familiar mode of perceiving things. This often occurs when
someone begins experimenting with small doses, and very gradually
increases the amount they consume. In these cases the psychedelic never
fully transports them out of routine awareness. When ego death is spread
over weeks or months, it can take on strange manifestations as one
experiences separation from various aspects of their familiar reality
tunnel.
Much of each person's experience is
based on SET and SETTING. Set refers to a person's mental
and emotional makeup expectations about the experience, cultural
upbringing, etc. Setting is the immediate environment and
stimulus present during the experience whether outdoors or in a
building, with friends or alone, the presence or absence of music,
artwork, etc.
If I had to choose one setting as
being the most conducive to a positive experience, I'd pick one which
most closely resembles the time honoured methods of using these
substances. This would involve taking a natural psychedelic like
mushrooms or Peyote. It would be done outdoors m nature, away from the
noise and activity of any city and with a group of respected friends or
family. For novices being initiated into the psychedelic world the
session would be guided by trusted and experienced
"elders."
People who try to manifest the
lessons learned through psychedelic use seem to benefit the most from
them. Examples of this are people who take psychedelics to modify their
personality or thinking process, use them as part of a healing process,
or have some creative outlet such as art or music. In addition to my
psychedelic research and writing, I find that psychedelics give me the
inspiration and ability to design and manufacture high tech audio/visual
equipment, work as a performance artist, pursue several artistic
hobbies, as well as hold a senior management position in the corporate
world. Often people who do not go through personal change with
psychedelics find that their experiences tend to stagnate and get into a
repetitive groove. I've seen people successfully move through this stage
by stopping for a while, pursuing other interests or means of
self-exploration, then trying psychedelics again at a later
date.
How often one can effectively use
psychedelics varies from person to person. Users must monitor their own
mind, body, and life, as well as listening to their friends and others
around them to determine if they are overdoing it. Psychedelics are best
enjoyed when the body and mind are in good health, properly nourished,
exercised, and rested. Taking psychedelics when exhausted tends to
produce more negative experiences. This can also lead to poor health
since when the body is in a state of exhaustion, the main things it
needs are nourishment and rest, and psychedelics disrupt the normal
patterns of appetite and sleep. A small percentage of users "abuse"
psychedelics by taking more than their psyche or body can integrate.
However, I've only seen this occur with people using synthetic
substances, such as ecstasy, Ketamine,
and LSD.
Traditionally, the only people that
use psychedelics on a "daily" basis are the shamans, curanderos, or folk
doctors. They use these substances in the capacity of helping and
healing the people in their communities. For the shaman the psychedelic
experience is like a well, into which he can enter to bring back
"healing water" and knowledge to cure people's physical ills, mental
dilemmas, and societal problems. I doubt that individuals who are
artists, inventors, or seekers of personal refinement or fun can
effectively use and assimilate these experiences on as frequent a
basis.
Psychedelics greatly amplify
everything the user experiences. This intensity can feel like a nuclear
bomb exploding inside the skull. And whether one is feeling brilliant
joy or a fearful hell it's going to be felt intensely on a good dose of
psychedelics.
Anyone who regularly uses
psychedelics stronger than ecstasy can expect an occasional unpleasant
experience. This can be much more unpleasant than anything experienced
in regular life, just as the joy experienced on psychedelics can be much
more intense than that of ordinary life. Even experienced trippers will
occasionally have a bad experience. I've had several trips during which
I thought I was dead, or could not tell whether I was alive or dead. If
one uses psychedelics frequently they will eventually confront nearly
all the skeletons buried within their psyche. One should approach these
substances with a willingness to deal with whatever issues come up. How
one integrates a frightening or dark experience is important. I
generally find that I learn more from the unpleasant trips than I do
from the average psychedelic session. One can use these experiences to
re-evaluate their identity and ideas about life. If an unpleasant
experience comes during a trip it's best to flow with it, try to learn
from it, and move on to the next phase of the experience. There's no
need to spend an entire psychedelic session wrapped up in one issue or
feeling.
One of the most important things to
remember during a trip is to flow with the experience. Don't try to hold
on to your former identity as it is being dissolved. Don't be afraid of
letting go of a beautiful feeling or vision if it starts to fade. If
you're having a frightful experience don't run away from it, but look at
it and see what you can learn. And when you recognize that you are
starting to come down, don't rush to reclaim a familiar identity.
Reflection and easing back to routine reality will allow you to retain
more from your trip.
The psychedelic drugs differ
significantly in intensity. The wiser users gradually move from the
milder to the more intense. For each psychedelic I've assigned an
intensity level from 1 to 10. (1 = mild, 10 = intense.) These intensity
levels are for an average experience on the substance. A high dose of
something like LSD can give one a level 10 intensity trip. And since the
experience is in the mind, one can even have a high intensity trip with
a small dose of a psychedelic.

MAO INHIBITORSThe
following psychedelics are MAO inhibitors: 5-MeO-DMT & the
HARMALA ALKALOIDS. Many prescription anti-depressant drugs are also
MAO inhibitors. These should not be taken in combination with the foods
or drugs listed below.
Items Not To Take In Combination With MAO
Inhibitors
VERY DANGEROUS |
Sedatives & Tranquilizers
Antihistamines Narcotics Amphetamines Asarone /
Calamus AGED CHEESE
RED WINE |
Tryptophan - large doses Tyrosine - large doses Phenylalanine - large doses Alcohol Ephedrine Macromerine Some
Anesthetics |
??? |
Prescription or Over-the-Counter
Medicines & Supplements Unless
one is certain that these can be taken with MAO inhibitors they
should discontinue use long enough for them to pass out of their
system before taking the MAO inhibitor. |
??? |
Ecstasy, Mescaline, 2C-B and other
Phenethylamines - See
discussion following this table. |
POTENTIALLY
DANGEROUS |
Beer Cocoa Yeast
Extract Pineapple
Sauerkraut Pickled Herring Soy
Sauce Cream Avocados (especially overripe) Bananas (especially overripe) |
White Wine Nutmeg - large doses Oil of
Dill - large doses Oil of Parsley -
large doses Liver
Coffee Figs &
Raisins Yogurt | This
information was obtained from several sources discussing MAO
inhibitors.

Ecstasy, Mescaline, 2C-B and other Phenethylamines -
(Combined with MAO Inhibitors)
There is conflicting information on
the compatibility of using phenethylamine drugs with MAO inhibitors.
Several books list them as incompatible and dangerous, but with no
explanation.
On the other extreme, I've heard
many first hand reports from people who've used these combinations
frequently and have had no problems.
Someone highly knowledgeable in this
field told me that phenethylamine drugs are not broken down in one's
system as quickly as normal if one has taken an MAO inhibitor. This
results in a much smaller amount of the phenethylamine substance being
required to achieve the same effects. This information corroborates with
my limited experiments using 2C-B with an MAO inhibitor. I found the
2C-B to be significantly intensified in these situations, necessitating
a high degree of caution when using combinations of this
type.
In all chapters that deal with
either phenethylamine substances or MAO inhibitors I have listed this
combination as significantly intensified, possibly
dangerous.

Above artwork by Ozric Tentacles
- An amazing progressive, psychedelic rock band from the U.K. Reprinted
by permission of Dovetail Records Ltd. (UK)
1. Maria Sabina, the shamaness who performed the
ceremony for R. Gordon Wasson's first mushroom voyage, died of old age
at 97, after some 67 years of regular mushroom use.

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