A psychedelic drug known as the ‘spiritual molecule’ can ease—and even reverse–major depression.
DMT (dimethyltryptamine)—the active ingredient in ayahuasca—is similar to LSD and magic mushrooms, which have also helped ease depression.
The difference is that DMT gives people a ‘short trip’ of just 20 minutes or so, although they still have hallucinations and out-of-body experiences.
It’s been tested on a group of 32 people with moderate to severe depression who had just one session of DMT followed by a 90-minute therapy session. Eighteen had such profound changes that they were no longer classified as depressed 12 weeks later.
The biotech start-up Small Pharma is testing the benefits of DMT—its own product is currently called SPL026—on depression, and the latest trial is a step towards gaining full approval as a prescription drug.
The researchers tested it against a placebo, or dummy drug, and it achieved an 11-point drop in a standard depression rating score compared to a 3.6 fall in the placebo group.
They gave a 21.5 mg infusion of SPL026, which resulted in a 20-to-30-minute psychedelic experience.
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