Psychedelic Medicine
Psychedelic Medicine Ed. Michael Winkelman, Thomas Roberts It is said that a medicine’s power can heal or hurt in equal proportion. Rarely is the sentiment more appropriate than in the study of psychedelic medicines. The insights presented in the two-volume set, Psychedelic Medicine, edited by Michael Winkelman and Thomas Roberts, stand for the healing capacity of such medicine. For those outside the field of clinical / therapeutic treatment of addiction, and whom may assume that all addiction is inherently linked to drugs, will find these books illuminating. The authors are clean in presenting that they do not condone, nor even intimate guidelines for the public consumption of psychedelic medicines. Rather, they frame what attempts have been made to define the best practices for their use within the setting of experienced and professional care. As such, this works sets itself as a touchstone in the proper research and development of new medical practices. It is, in this early stage of the field, an encyclopedia and bibliography of the most significant scientific studies into psychedelic medicines. Volume one reviews social context, history, applications and legality. Volume two carries through numerous reviews of clinical work with an object toward best-practices. The researcher will find it indispensable. For those that have used these substances outside of professional contexts, it is an illuminated look into the future framework by which such substances may gain acceptance. The authors offer several important ideas in their writings. One is the notion of “psychointegrator technologies.” The concept is intended to highlight any technology, from a medical drug to digital media, that has a specific range of affect upon consciousness. This forward-thinking idea is founded upon work ranging from the application of psilocybin for depression to the use of virtual reality systems in the treatment of phobias and post traumatic stress disorder. Furthermore, the authors go so far as to propose a business plan for the establishment of a institute that leads the cultural application and advancement of psychedelic medicine and psychointegrative technology models. The only real want for improvement in the books is in having Robert’s last chapter of volume 2 - profound in its history and perspective on the future - become the introductory text to each volume. These works simultaneous are a banner for harm-reduction and best practices within the field of psychedelic medicine, and a roadmap for how the knowledge from psychedelics research will go beyond their use to impact culture and technologies broadly.
