MushMaps
2020-11-17

LSD

Substance Abuse

Anxiety

Stress

Lysergic acid diethylamide, best known as LSD, is derived from a chemical found in rye ergot fungus. It was discovered in 1938 when Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann created LSD-25, his 25th ergot-based compound, in an attempt to stimulate the respiratory and circulatory systems. The effects LSD has on the central nervous system (CNS) were unknown until 1943, when he accidentally tested it on himself. This discovery led to a deeper understanding of the brain’s neurochemistry and helped therapists effectively treat a wide range of conditions. After his profound experience with the substance, it was tested and studied for its therapeutic benefits by psychologists, researchers, and scientists throughout the 1950s. During that time, LSD was prescribed to tens of thousands of patients and over 1,000 research papers were produced. By the height of the 60s and 70s counterculture movement, the substance became synonymous with hippies and social outcasts. In 1971, the US government declared LSD a Schedule I substance and effectively ended research and development for several decades.

Related News