ACID / LSD

 ACiD / LSD

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)

Medicine Name : LSD 

What Is LSD?

Commonly known as “Acid” amongst its recreational consumers is Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) used as a hallucinogenic drug as well as for medicinal and spiritual reasons.  Effects typically include visionary hallucinations, altered thoughts, feelings and awareness of one’s surroundings and typically begin within half an hour and can last up to 8 to 12 hours depending on one’s dose. Many claim to see and hear things that do not exist in an alternate reality.  The consumers will experience dilated pupils, increased blood pressure, and increased body temperature as the symptomatic results of taking LSD shared with mystical visions.

Active Ingredients

The occurrence of the effects of LSD are believed to be the result from alterations in the serotonin system.  A dose as little as 20 micrograms can produce these effects.  Although a tolerance may occur with increasing doses with the consumer, LSD does not appear to be addictive. Tolerance builds up with consistent use as well as cross-tolerance has been experienced between LSD, mescaline (peyote), and psilocybin. Researches claim that ones tolerance returns to baseline after 2 weeks sober from the drug. 

In its pure form, LSD is crystalline, clear or a white color, and has no smell. It also breaks down if exposed to ultraviolet light.

Formula : C20H25N3O

Other names : LSD, LSD-25, Acid, Delysid and others

Molar mass : 323.440 g*mol-1

Melting point : 80-85 degrees C (176 to 185 F)

Dependence liability: low

Addiction liability: low, rare

Drug class: Hallucinogen (serotonergic psychedelic)

With the exclusion of 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors, LSD binds to most serotonin receptor subtypes.  Exactly how LSD produces its effects is currently unknown, although it is believed other than the bindings of serotonin receptors that  it works by increasing glutamate release in the crebral cortex. LSD enhances dopamine D2 receptor protomer recognition and signaling of D2-5HT2A receptor complexes, which may be the contributor to its psychotic effects. 

One may have adverse effects on LSD, psychiatric reactions are possible, such as anxiety, delusions, and paranoia.  Death from consumption of LSD is extremely rare, although it has happened as the result of reckless behavior, or an accident, and is not the result of the drug itself.  

History of LSD

The “Father of LSD” as he would be named later is a Swiss Chemist by the name of Albert Hofmann.  Hofmann first made LSD in 1938 from lysergic acid, a chemical from the fungus ergot. He discovered its hallucinogenic properties in the year 1943 with an experiment done on himself that became infamous throughout the psychedelic culture as “Bicycle Day”.

Bicycle Day, was the day Albert Hofmann discovered LSD as a powerful psychedelic.  On this day, April 19th 1943 he purposely consumed 250 micrograms of LSD and went on an infamous bike ride.  Still today, many years later, it marks on iconic holiday in the psychedelic community. 

Later in the 1950s, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) believed that Hofmann’s discovery might be a powerful and useful tool for mind control, so they began testing it on people, some without their knowledge, in a program called MKUltra. Also in the 1950’s and 60’s, LSD was sold as a medicine for research purposes under its trade-name Delysid.  In 1971, it was listed as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance by the United Nations and til this day has no approved medical use.  However, that has not stopped some from continuing their studies on this powerful medicine. 

Current Use

LSD, most commonly used as a recreational drug, is normally swallowed, held under the tongue or is dropped on sugar cubes (or sweet tarts) and consumed orally. Its sold in liquid form, or on blotter paper more so than as tablets or “gelatin squares”.  The “trip” will usually commence within 30 minutes, peak 3 to 5 hours after ingestion, and last for up to 12 hours. 

Effects:

For a duration of 6 to 12 hours, a consumer of LSD will have an animated sensory experience of emotions, memories, senses, time, and awareness, depending on the tolerance and dose consumed. The user may experience a range from subtile changes in perception to overwhelming cognitive shifts.  Visual and auditory enhancements are typical. Some effects of LSD may include objects and surfaces appearing to “breathe”, radiant (vibrant) colors, altered senses in time, geometric patterns overlaying walls and objects (some call this “the matrix effect”), morphing objects, as well as colored patterns behind closed eye lids. Visually, its as our inanimate world begins to animate in inexplicable ways. Auditory effects, may be echo-like distortions of sounds and tones and an intensifying experience of music. Higher doses of LSD will even greater enhance these effects. 

Mental :

Visual hallucinations and illusions, or commonly know “trips”, can vary depending on the dose and how the individual responds.  Negative emotions, fears, anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings and paranoia are some of the negative experiences one may have, or as its been referred, the “bad trip”.  It is impossible to predict when a “bad trip” will occur, so it is very important that when under the influence you are surrounded by good energy and if in a group do not leave anyone behind, “no tripping gypsies left behind”.  Good trips are pleasurable, visual and stimulating experiences of a disconnection to reality, feelings of euphoria as one is floating, as well as extreme mental clarity. 

Physical:

Reported physical symptoms of LSD are : 

• numbness
• weakness
• elevated blood sugar
• increase in heart rate
• goose bumps, nausea
• dryness of the mouth
• profuse sweating
• jaw clenching
• pupil dilation
• reduced appetite
• hypothermia or hyperthermia
• and tremors

All of these effects are normal and documented by its consumers, however the real experiences are the psychological effects. 

Medicinal Benefits

There was a meta analysis done that concluded that a single dose of LSD was effective at reducing alcohol consumption. LSD has been studied for treatments in alcoholism, drug dependance, depression, anxiety, all with positive preliminary results.  However, LSD is presently not approved as use in medicine. Hoping time and extensive research will change over time. 

Ceremonial Traditions

The League for Spiritual Discovery (LSD), established by Timothy Leary as LSD as its sacrament.  While under the influence of LSD there has been observers such as Stanislav Grof, whom has written religious and mystical experiences during his LSD sessions which appeared to be phenomenologically indistinguishable from similar descriptions in sacred scriptures from the great religions of the world .  

As a catalyst for intense spiritual experiences, thus considered an entheogen, LSD has found use in the spiritual communities to grant clarity and healing to those who seek to use it in this manner. The consumers sometimes report “out of body” experiences. 

My Experience

The experiences that I have had on LSD have been the same, but different every time.  The vast majority of my experiences were extremely beautiful.  Vibrant colors, morphing, walls breathing, the matrix, dancing, euphoria - I felt them all intensely. I mostly never experienced paranoia, or anxiety, mainly because I was careful in choosing my environment and people that I was around.  I however did have 1 “bad trip” that was triggered by my fear of spiders. I when I was younger was bit by a brown recluse spider, causing the removal of a chunk of my flesh and skin.  I once under the influence of LSD saw a spider and then saw it jump on me, lifting its legs so that it was standing on its tip toes and then inject himself under my skin.  I began to scratch my skin trying to get him off of me, and I scratched so hard that I was bleeding.  My friend had to put oven mitts on my hands to stop me from that action.  Thankfully, my friend was calm, in good energy and coached me into breath work and I was pulled out in not so long of time as I remember mainly enjoying my journey on that trip.  As well in every trip I become overly fascinated with starring at my hands (lol)

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I have another tale that I shared with you all in this book behind my “Hippie Trips” recipe, entitled “Maggot Brain”, from one of my most beautiful and memorable experiences had on acid, as well as the funniest. I hope you all enjoy!  This concludes the breakdown on LSD, now lets take our journey to another well know “party drug”, Molly /Ecstacy.