Go inside LSD
After a short break, Psychedelic Documentary Thursday is back with the classic National Geographic “Inside LSD” documentary.
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) originated in 1938 as part of an experiment by Albert Hofmann. Dr. Albert Hofmann, born in Switzerland, studied chemistry in Zurich and his focus was the chemistry of plants and animals. After graduating, he was working at the pharmaceutical-chemical department of the company Sandoz Laboratories, where he research ergot fungus lysergic acid, which eventually led to the synthesis of LSD-25. After 5 years, in 1943, Albert actually discovered the psychedelic effects, after a small amount of LSD was absorbed into his body through the skin of the fingers. Three days later he deliberately tested on himself the amount of 250 micrograms and on the way home cycling he experienced very strong effects of LSD, and that’s how the first LSD trip took place.
By 1965 more than 2,000 articles on LSD were published , and 40 000 patients were given the substance. Even the CIA and the military experiented with LSD on soldiers, hoping to gain brain control and create a better soldier, but obviously failed.
James Fadiman tested a group of scientists who used LSD on a daily basis and then under the influence tried to solve problems that concerned them. “We gave them a psychedelic, we gave them some hours to just relax and be with themselves and then we got them up and said that now is time to work on your problems and they do it,” says James in video below the text.
Each subject confirmed that with the assistance and focus that LSD gave them, they got a completely different perspective and the freedom to explore ideas with open mind.
See more on this very informative National Geographic documentary about LSD:
