Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of psychedelics are we talking about here? Synthetic or natural? Submitted by N.K.

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Both! Both natural and synthetic psychedelics are the same in pharmacological terms - that is they are substances that interact with the human brain to produce psychedelic effects. Generally speaking, more research has been performed on the natural psychedelics as they have been available for longer and have a longer history of use.

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Synthetic compounds were really the domain of Alexander Shulgin, who synthesized tens of these compounds based off the backbone of the naturally-occurring psychedelics. Some synthetic compounds like the NBOMe series have been associated with medical complications and it would require significant amounts of research to even begin to proceed with the therapeutic use of these substances. Some have the potential to be safer than their ancestors. Such is the case with MDMA, which, while synthetic to begin with, can be associated with neurotoxic effects in high, repeated doses. Investigation into alternatives like MDAI will be required for conclusive findings on their efficacy as a replacement.