BBC News
By Rachel Schraer
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A powerful hallucinogenic drug known for its part in shamanic rituals is being trialled as a potential cure for depression for the first time.
Participants will be given the drug DMT, followed by talking therapy.
It is hoped this could offer an alternative for the significant number of people who don t respond to conventional pills for depression.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy might offer longer-term relief from symptoms, some researchers believe.
A growing body of evidence indicates other psychedelic drugs, particularly alongside talking therapy, are safe and can be effective for treating a range of mental illnesses.
A powerful hallucinogenic drug that has been used in shamanic rituals is being trialled by a British firm as a potential cure for depression.
Small Pharma will give volunteers suffering from depression DMT, a hallucinogenic tryptamine with similar psychedelic effects to LSD and magic mushrooms.
The developers hope the drug will help a significant number of people who don t currently respond to conventional treatments or medication for depression.
One of the active ingredients of DMT is ayahuasca which is a traditional Amazonian plant medicine used ritually by some tribes to bring spiritual enlightenment .
An increasing body of evidence has shown that when combined with talking therapy, hallucinogenic drugs can be a safe treatment for a range of mental illnesses.
The psychoactive drug DMT, or N, N-dimethyltryptamine, produces effects similar to those of psychedelics, like LSD and magic mushrooms, with its capability to cure.
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Psychedelic therapy could 'reset' depressed brain bbc.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bbc.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.