Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Effects of LSD on the human body
Lsd in the 60s
Effects of LSD on the human body
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Effects of LSD on the human body
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide is a product of a mad scientist. The combination of different chemicals form a dangerously potent drug that cause visual hallucinations and loss of control from using it. It is used as a recreational drug to take the users on a “psychedelic trip.” L.S.D stands for Lysergic Acid Diethylamide. To break down the mean of the drug, Lysergic Acid is a substance that could grow organically and can also be manufactured. Lysergic Acid normally occurs in ergot, which is a plant disease caused by fungus, and is chemically produced by a specific type of fungus that grows on grains like rye and wheat. If this ergot is ingested, it could cause unusual behavior and violent physical consequences. The potency of ergot causes harmful side effects such as vomiting, delusions, hallucinations, crawling sensations of the skin, and severe muscle spasms. As for diethylamide, it is just a component of the drug LSD. Scientist Albert Hofmann worked for a pharmaceutical company called Sandoz and was working on a research project concerning ergot. After exploring and researching ergot, he decided to isolate the lysergic acid from it and discovered different types of medicines to help lower someone’s blood pressure and sharpen the brain functions of …show more content…
The chemicals found in LSD are not physically addictive, but the user could experience a psychological need for the drug. A person could use the drug once and enjoy what they felt or saw and would want to continue that feeling. “On LSD, which is often taken in tab form, an intense, altered state transforms into disassociation and despair. Often there is no stopping “bad trips,” which can go on for up to twelve hours (drugfreeworld.org).” A person may not believe that the drug is mentally or physically harming them because the side effects did not surface immediately. However, extreme use could cause the body to react negatively to chemicals that does not belong in the
Although farmers were aware of the fungus ergot, they did not know that ergot is the result of a mold that’s very toxic and fatal to humans. (Clark 2). They called it cockspurs, because the fact that ergot looks like black whole grains, they believed that it was just grains cooked by the sun and that they were completely harmless. (Clark 2). But they were wrong. Ergot contains alkaloids including lysergic acid isoergine (the main ingredient in LSD) so when ingested, the fungus begins to affect the central nervous system and can cause vasoconstriction. (Vogel 1 and Clark 3). It can lead to sudden death, limit fertility, and it damages the immune system making the body more susceptible to get other diseases because it’s too weak to fight off infection. (“5.1 Poisons of the Past/Ergotism.” 1). Symptoms caused by ergot are feelings of numbness, hallucinations, and feelings of suffoca...
Erika Dyck provides the reader and interesting view of early historical psychological research on LSD, lysergic acid diethyl-amide. This book is composed of Dyck’s scientific interpretation and dissection of earlier psychedelic psychiatry research by Humphry Osmond, and Abraham Hoffer. A Swiss biochemist named Albert Hofmann dissolved a minimal amount of d-lysergic acid diethyl-amide in a glass of water and digested this new synthetic drug in April 1943. Three hours later he begins to feel dizzy and his vision was distorted. Hofmann recollects this as a surreal journey as if what he saw was created by the famous paintings of Salvador Dali unexplained carnivalesque or at some moments even nightmarish hallucinations. The drug began gaining support from pharmaceutical companies as something that can possibly be beneficial for future scientific study. Saskatchewan soon became one of the epicenters harvesting break through biochemical innovation and experimentation with LSD from the 1950s to 1960s.
LSD-25 or Lysergic Acid Diethylamide was first synthesized and used by pharmaceutical chemist Albert Hoffman. LSD-25 is an illegal drug belonging to the hallucinogen category. The physical effects are eye enlargement, pupil dilation and sweating. However the common psychological effects are euphoria, no recollection of time, visual distortions, and mentally visualizing geometric patterns and shapes, which lasts about 6-9 hours or sometimes longer. Though non-addictive LSD-25 can induce anxiety, paranoia, negative perceptions such as frightening visuals and sounds, feelings of insanity, and produce long-term effects such as flashbacks.
The most notorious MKULTRA experiments were the CIA’s pioneering studies of the drug that would years later feed the heads of millions: lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD. The CIA was intrigued by the drug and harbored hopes that acid, or a similar drug, could be used to clandestinely disorient and manipulate target foreign leaders. (The Agency would consider several such schemes in its pursuit of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who they wanted to send into a drug-induced stupor or tirade during a public or live radio speech.) LSD was also viewed as a way to loosen tongues in CIA interrogations.
LSD has proved that the mind contains much higher powers and energies, beyond the average 10% of the brain that a typical human uses. These powers and energies, under the right circumstances, can be taken advantage of to benefit humankind spiritually, creatively, therapeutically, and intellectually. LSD has given humans the option to chemically trigger mental energies and powers. Arguments that LSD is potentially a dangerous discovery and mind control should be strictly prohibited by the government hold much validity, although there are benefits and arguments of personal freedom of neurology to consider. Whether LSD reflects negativity as a weapon and mind control drug, or radiates euphoria as a mind-expanding chemical and sacrament, the choice to engage in such an experience should be through personal reasoning.
Surprisingly, some people actually take this drug on purpose for the euphoric high that it produces. This practice is also extremely dangerous because in addition to the side effects, the drug can be addictive. This means that the longer you use it, you need to use more and more to reach the same level of “high” and if you stop taking it, you go through withdrawal.
Hofmann, A. (1970, January 1). The Discovery of LSD. The Discovery of LSD. Retrieved May 12, 2014, from http://www.psychedelic-library.org/hofmann.htm
These may include sleeplessness, trembling, and raised heart rate, and blood pressure. LSD users may feel several emotions at once (including extreme terror), and their senses may seem to get crossed, giving the feeling of hearing colors and seeing sounds. Even a tiny speck of LSD can trigger these effects. Many LSD users have flashbacks: sudden repetitions of their LSD experiences, days or months after they stop using the drug. LSD has a slightly bitter taste.
You may ask, what is LSD? LSD is a type of acid or known by its scientific name Lysergic Acid Diethylamide which is a psychedelic. It was discovered by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann in 1943. Although researched, scientist could not find a medical use for it.
A psychedelic drug is one that alters the brains perception and cognition. Drugs of this sort can cause visual hallucinations. People have said it feels as though everything is alive, breathing, dancing. Of course, like any drug, there is the possibility of having a “bad trip.” This is where things seemingly go wrong. The person tripping feels trapped, frightened, and extremely uncomfortable. The
Schmied, L. A., Steinberg, H., & Sykes, E. A. B. (2006). Psychopharmacology's debt to experimental psychology. History of Psychology, 9, 144-157.
Nichols, D. E., & Chemel, B. R. (2011). LSD and the serotonin system's effects on human
Hippocrates' authority lasted throughout the Middle Ages and reminded alchemists and medical experimenters of the potential of inorganic drugs. In fact, a distant descendant of Hippocrates' prescriptions was the use of antimony salts in elixirs (alcoholic solutions) advocated by Basilius Valentius in the middle of the 15th century and by the medical alchemist Phillippus Aureolus Paracelsus (born Theophrastus Bombast von Hohenheim, in Switzerland, 1493-1541).
1. The labels have fallen off of three bottles thought to contain hydrochloric acid, or sodium chloride solution, or sodium hydroxide solution. Describe a simple experiment which would allow you to determine which bottle contains which solution.