Khat chewing has a long history in the culture and society of the Horn of Africa and Yemen. Extracts of leaves from khat have similar actions to that of amphetamines and contain the major psychostimulant cathinone, but also the mainly peripherally acting stimulants cathine and norephedrine. Fresh khat is rich in the major stimulant cathinone. In dried khat, cathinone content is greatly reduced,...
This chapter is designed to offer a comprehensive overview of five core psychedelic medicines—ketamine, psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and ayahuasca—highlighting their distinct pharmacological properties, cultural origins, therapeutic applications, and clinical research. Although each substance offers a unique entry point into expanded states of consciousness, they share a common potential to catalyze...
Recent literature suggests potential associations between hallucinogen use and valvular heart disease (VHD) due to prolonged activation of serotonin 5-HT2B receptors, which may lead to valvular fibrosis – a condition also linked to drugs including fenfluramine and pergolide. Despite these concerns, epidemiological studies exploring this association are lacking. This exploratory analysis...
ULAKES JOURNAL OF MEDICINEMay 13, 2026Maria Eduarda Marquezi Machioni, Giulia Argueles de Oliveira, Ana Luísa da Silva Rueda et al.
Diante da crescente prevalência dos diagnósticos de transtornos ansiosos no Brasil e no mundo, o presente artigo visa analisar as contribuições das substâncias psicodélicas no tratamento dos transtornos. Por meio de uma revisão narrativa, foram examinados estudos sobre o potencial terapêutico de compostos como LSD, psilocibina, ayahuasca e MDMA. Os resultados colhidos apontam que essas...
Zusammenfassung Die Psychedelika-assistierte Therapie (PAT) hat sich in den letzten Jahren zu einem der dynamischsten Forschungsfelder der Psychiatrie entwickelt. Während die beste Evidenz bisher für depressive Störungen und posttraumatische Belastungsstörungen vorliegt, wird PAT zunehmend auch bei anderen nicht-psychotischen Störungen untersucht. Jenseits der Symptomlinderung rückt die...
Recreational (“party”) drug use is prevalent in social environments and is increasingly relevant in ophthalmic care. While the neurological and cardiovascular consequences of these subokstances are well documented, their ocular and visual effects may not be fully recognized or consistently reported in clinical practice. This invited narrative review summarizes clinical observations and...
Background: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) affects a significant proportion of individuals with major depressive disorder and remains difficult to manage with conventional treatments. Psychedelic-assisted therapies and neuromodulation have emerged as innovative interventions targeting neurobiological mechanisms beyond traditional antidepressant approaches. Objectives: This scoping review...
Rates of mental illness in young people are increasing, whereas the development of novel mental health treatments has not significantly progressed. Psychedelic-assisted therapy, using substances such as psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), has shown potential in the treatment of mental illnesses in the adult population, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress...
Major depressive disorder (MDD) remains a global health burden, with over 60% of patients failing to respond adequately to current treatments. Treatment-resistant depression (TRD), a form of MDD, highlights the urgent need for mechanistically novel antidepressants. Psychoplastogens—a class of fast-acting compounds that promote neuroplasticity—are emerging as promising alternatives to...
In his commentary on the Magnificat, Martin Luther identifies experientia as the “school of the Holy Spirit.” By weaving together Pauline cruciformity with the evocative strains of the Psalms, prophets, and sapiential literature, Luther presents Mary's Spirit-wrought ecstasy not merely as private rapture, but as prophetic witness—a mystical upheaval that unmasks God's subversive activity in the...