A Philosophical Investigation of Healing with Psychedelic Medicine
Philosophy in the Contemporary World January 1, 2025 Candice L Shelby, A. Winfrey
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy aims to heal conditions such as depression, PTSD, addiction, anorexia nervosa, and end-of-life existential anxiety rather than merely treat symptoms. The paper outlines multi-level effects from molecular to phenomenological levels, describing how psychedelics influence gene expression, receptor molecules, neural networks, and brain plasticity. This approach helps patients re-orient themselves relative to their world, leading to symptom reduction or disappearance.