Sleepy History - Psychedelics

Episode Date: July 30, 2026

✨Sleepy History is written and narrated by humans. ✨ Narrated By: Arif Hodzic Written By: Alexandra Turney In tonight's episode, learn about the role of hallucinogenic substances in ancient rituals, and discover the surprising history of LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and ayahuasca. Voiced by our talented Arif Hodzic, you can rest assured that this dreamy episode will lull you right to sleep. Includes mentions of: Hallucinogens, Drugs, US History, Archaeology, Religious Traditions, Addiction. #History #Sleep #drugs #LSD #mushrooms #acid #hallucinogens #peyote About Sleepy HistoryExplore history's most intriguing stories, people, places, events, and mysteries, delivered in a supremely calming atmosphere. If you struggle to fall asleep and you have a curious mind, Sleepy History is the perfect bedtime companion. Our stories will gently grasp your attention, pulling your mind away from any racing thoughts, making room for the soothing music and calming narration to guide you into a peaceful sleep. Want to enjoy Sleepy History ad-free? Start your 7-day free trial of Sleepy History Premium: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sleepyhistory.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Have feedback or an episode request? Let us know at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠slumberstudios.com/contact⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sleepy History is a production of Slumber Studios. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.slumberstudios.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Extraordinary shapes with intense kaleidoscopic play of colors. These are the words of the Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman, describing the effects of a drug he'd taken accidentally. This was the first LSD trip. in history, and it was entirely unintentional. Tonight, we'll be exploring the story of LSD and other psychedelic substances, including so-called magic mushrooms and ayahuasca. We'll find out why hallucinogenic drugs have often been used in rituals, and we'll look at

some controversial theories. As such, please be aware that we'll be discussing drugs and drug use throughout the episode. an open exploration of a complicated history. So just relax and let your mind drift as we explore the sleepy history of psychedelics. LSD, Maskelin, D.M.T., silocybin, ayahuasca. These substances are all considered psychedelics. The word psychedelic was invented in the 19,

by the psychiatrist Humphrey Osmond. It derives from ancient Greek and translates roughly as mind manifesting. Osmond was looking for a word that encapsulated the unique qualities of hallucinogenic substances and their distinctive effects on the human mind. Some people prefer other terms, such as hallucinogenic substances, such as hallucinogenic substances, and their distinctive effects on the human mind. such as hallucinogen or entheogen, but to keep things simple, will mainly be referring to these drugs as psychedelics. They differ substantially from other psychoactive substances.

Depending on the dose, people who use psychedelics might experience changes in mood, cognition, and perception. under the effects of the drug, some users have vivid hallucinations and what they describe as mystical experiences. They may temporarily lose their sense of self, something known as ego death. Unlike many other drugs, psychedelics are generally considered to be non-addictive. However, as we're not-addictive,

we'll see later, that doesn't mean they're without risk. The history of psychedelics is a fascinating one, full of twists and turns and controversies. These drugs have been feared and blamed for ruining young minds, but they've also been viewed as medicine, as tools for exploring consciousness, and, in some cultures, as a way of communing with the divine, widespread recreational use of psychedelics didn't become common until the 1960s, but the history of these substances is much older. Given that many of them occur naturally

in plants such as cacti and mushrooms, it's possible that they've been used since the dawn of human. In the 1990s, the American philosopher Terence McKenna proposed the stoned ape theory. According to this theory, humans began to consume silocybin mushrooms about 100,000 years ago, leading to a cognitive revolution. While McKenna's theory has largely been dismissed as non-scientific, it certainly thought provoking. At what point in history did humans first discover hallucinogenic plants, and how did this affect them, both individually and on a societal level? Unfortunately,

in most parts of the world, we don't have the evidence. But in Central and South America, the historic use of certain substances is relatively well documented. For instance, in the Andes, there's a cactus commonly known as the San Pedro cactus. It contains the chemical mescaline, which has hallucinogenic effects. Archaeologists believe that the San Pedro cactus has been used by communities in the Andes for at least 2,000 years. It's played a part in traditional medicine and spiritual ceremonies. In Peru, for example, shamans boil the cactus and turn it into a drink.

Under its effects, the shaman may experience powerful visions, which are interpreted as spiritual insights or guidance. The San Pedro cactus isn't the only plant with hallucinogenic properties. Other varieties of cacti that contain mescaline, such as peyote, grow in different regions of the Americas, including the southern United States, Mexico, and parts of South America. From archaeological evidence, it seems that humans have been consuming these cats, cacti for around 6,000 years. While some use may have been recreational, these plants have long been associated with rituals, healing, and spiritual experiences. In some cultures, the plants themselves seem to have been revered. But to what extent exactly is something that's still debated? We know that the

Maya and the Aztecs used a variety of psychoactive substances, often in the form of psilocybin mushrooms, or the seeds of certain flowers. What hasn't been confirmed, however, is the definite existence of a so-called mushroom cult among the Maya. Still, there have been some interesting findings. For instance, stone effigies of mushrooms in Guatemala and artwork that appears to depict the ritual use of plants. The plants may not have been worshipped necessarily, but they appear to have played an important role in some rituals. Another intriguing theory takes us to a different part of the world, ancient Greece. Did the Greeks part take? and psychedelics? According to some scholars, it's a possibility. More than 2,000 years ago,

pilgrims used to travel to a sanctuary not far from Athens in order to take part in religious rituals. These rituals were known as the L. Eucinian Mysteries. We don't know exactly what went on, as participants were forbidden from sharing details. But we do know that whatever happened, it was something powerful, something life-changing. It's thought that one initiate was the philosopher Plato. He may have had the mysteries in mind when he wrote cryptically about blessed sight and vision and experiencing a state of perfection. Participants drank a mysterious brew known as the Kukion.

Some researchers have suggested that it may have contained a psychedelic substance, such as Ergut. Ergit is a kind of fungus that grows on grains such as rye and barley. It contains alkaloids that were later used to synthesize LS. So, if the Kukayan had chemical similarities to LSD, that might explain why the Lucinian mysteries were so powerful, that's why participants found the experience transformative. It's worth pointing out that at the moment, this theory is just that, a theory. But it's a possibility that researchers continue to explore.

and there have been some findings that hint at a connection. For instance, there's an archaeological site in Spain, which is believed to have associations with L.U.Cinian rights. Tests on a human jawbone and cup found at the site revealed traces of Urget, that psychedelic substance. Of course, this evidence is indirect. it doesn't prove that the drink in Greece contained Urget. Still, perhaps it's worthy of further investigation.

In recent years, another more controversial theory has emerged about the ancient use of psychedelics. In 2020, Brian Morarescu, an independent scholar, published a book called The Immortality Key, In this book, he speculates about the origins of one of the most important Christian rights, the Holy Communion or the Eucharist. This is a ceremony that commemorates the Last Supper, where the bread and wine represent the body and blood of Christ.

According to Moro, early versions of the ceremony may have been psychedelic. Perhaps the participants drank wine with hallucinogenic additives, which gave them a spiritual experience, or heightened it. It's true that many people who use psychedelics have profound experiences, often described as spiritual or mystical. Some people claim to feel a divine presence, given the role of psychedelics in other rituals, the notion of a psychedelic Eucharist isn't totally far-fetched. Or is it? Many scholars are skeptical, pointing to the lack of evidence. As thought-provoking as the theory may be,

it's a long way from being proved. When discussing the history of psychedelics, Paul sometimes get carried away. There is a tendency to make sweeping claims that can't be backed up, or at least, not yet. Let's look at some more recent history as we turn our attention to a different drug. Lysergic acid diethelamide, or LSD, is perhaps the best known of the psychedelics. It entered popular culture in the 1960s and has stayed there ever since, albeit to a lesser

degree. But where did it come from in the first place? Right at the beginning of this episode, we mentioned Albert Hoffman, the Swiss chemist who discovered LSD in the 1930s. He was working in a laboratory, doing research on derivatives of ergot. That's the fungus we mentioned earlier, which can be used to synthesize LSD. Although Hoffman first synthesized LSD in 1938, he had no idea about its effects until five years later. Having set the compound aside, he had another look in 1943.

While examining it, Hoffman accidentally absorbed a small amount. He then experienced some strange, though not altogether unpleasant, sensations. In his words, he felt intoxicated and his imagination became extremely stimulated, intrigued. He decided to ingest some more a few days later. He took what he thought was a small dose, 250 micrograms. In fact, it was a substantial amount. Hoffman then had what would come to be known as a bad trip.

Under the influence of the LSD, he just about managed to cycle home from work. Everything seemed to become distorted, with pieces of furniture appearing grotesque and threatening got worse. Hoffman felt as though he was being taken over by his. a demon. At one point, he thought he might be dying. As the drug started to wear off, Hoffman experienced a kind of afterglow. When he went out into his garden, it seemed that the world sparkled, as if it had just been created. Over the following years, words spread about the unique properties of LSD.

Other than a memorable afternoon at home, what else could this drug be used for? Some thought it had potential in psychiatry and psychotherapy. Perhaps it could be used to treat addictions or to better understand conditions such as schizophrenia. Experimental treatments were carried out in the U.S. and Europe, with varying degrees of success. Some were controversial at the time and seemed even more problematic now. For example, LSD was used in conversion therapy with the extremely unethical aim of curing homosexuality. US intelligence also took an interest in the potential of LSD. In the 1950s, in the early days of the Cold War, the CIA

launched a top-secret project known as MK Ultra. Among other things, this project involved people being administered high doses of LSD, in many cases without their consent. Essentially, these were mind control experiments. The CIA wanted to see if people could be manipulated while under the influence of LSD. and other psychoactive substances.

Given the strong, mind-altering effects of LSD, these experiments were highly unethical. It's almost hard to believe that M.K. Ultra really happened, and that the project continued until 1973. Some of the stories sound made up. For instance, fake brothels, where clients were tricked into taking LSD, while CIA researchers watched through a two-way mirror.

But when it comes to the history of psychedelics and history in general, truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. For much of the 1960s, LSD was legal at a federal level in the United States. And while researchers and, government agencies were carrying out their dubious experiments. Some Americans chose to experiment on themselves. LSD became associated with counterculture, in particular hippies and people trying

to expand their consciousness. Some proponents became what might be called psychedelic influencers. Timothy Leary was a lecturer in psychology at Harvard, who first experimented with psilocybin mushrooms, then LSD. Leary conducted experiments involving hallucinogens, both on himself and others, alongside a colleague, Richard Elpert. After the research became controversial and concerns were raised, the two men. lost their jobs at Harvard. Nonetheless, they went on to have interesting careers.

Albert as the spiritual teacher Ram Dass and Leary as the psychedelic spokesman of a generation. Throughout the 60s, Leary promoted the use of LSD and other psychedelics. At one hippie gathering in San Francisco, he famously encouraged his audience to turn on, tune in, drop out. It was an invitation to people to change their lives,

to question conventions, and embrace new mindsets. But for the authorities, these kinds of attitudes and lifestyles were incompatible with American values. LSD was seen as a threat. President Richard Nixon, once called Leary, the most dangerous man in America.

Consider the fact that during this time, the U.S. was in the midst of the Vietnam War. If young people were using psychedelic drugs, questioning authority, and dropping out of society, that wasn't going to help the war effort. This, among other factors, led to LSD being made illegal in 1968. some think that people like Leary actually harmed the psychedelic cause by going too far.

To some extent, LSD advocates helped to give the drug the mixed reputation it still has today. The criminalization of LSD didn't put an end to DIY experiments, but it had a significant impact on scientific and medical research. Once LSD became illegal, research largely ground to a halt. It's only in recent years that people have begun to take another look at LSD and to consider whether it may have therapeutic value. Researchers are interested in the drug's potential to treat addictions and conditions such as anxiety and depression. But as LSD currently remains illegal in most of the world,

it may be a while before there are any developments. The history of LSD is still fresh in people's memories. A cautionary tale of what can happen when drugs are misused. Before Timothy Larry got into LSD, he was interested in the therapeutic effects of another drug, silocybin. He had first tried silascybin mushrooms or magic mushrooms in Mexico in 1960. At this time, silocybin mushrooms were only just starting to enter the public consciousness, in the United States at least. Other cultures had long known of the mushroom's unique properties.

Silocybin is a chemical compound found in many varieties of mushrooms which grow throughout the world. When ingested, silocybin has effects similar to LSD, though they tend to be less intense and of shorter duration. An LSD trip lasts six to 12 hours. The effects of psilocybin last for about four to six hours. It's likely that people have been consuming psilocybin mushrooms for thousands of years. Earlier, we mentioned stone statues of mushrooms that were found in Guatemala.

Some think that this may indicate the ritual use of psilocybin mushrooms in Maya culture. With the Aztecs, the evidence is stronger. They are known to have used mushrooms in ceremonial. settings. Spanish chroniclers referred to a mushroom known as Teanacatl. This name has often been translated as divine mushroom. One of the best sources we have is a text known as the Florentine Codex. It was created by a Spanish friar in the 16th century and contains contributions from indigenous people in Mexico, describing their religion and culture. It also features a description of a ritual with psilocybin mushrooms. Apparently, people would drink chocolate and eat mushrooms with honey.

Under the effect of the mushrooms, people would dance, weep, and experience visions. Afterwards, they would discuss what they had seen. It seems to have been, an introspective experience and something that was taken seriously. Another piece of evidence is a statue of the Aztec deity, Sochi Pili. His name translates as flower prints. The statue, which is housed in a museum in Mexico, appears to show the god in an ecstatic trance. The body of the god and the base beneath are covered in.

carvings. Some researchers believe they depict psychotropic flowers and plants, including mushrooms. Some of the evidence from Mesoamerica is quite compelling. But what about the rest of the world? After all, silocybin mushrooms can be found all over the place. There have been some suggestive finds in other parts of the world, including rock paintings and carvings in. Algeria. Some people believe the artwork shows humans holding silocybin mushrooms. However, many findings are a little ambiguous and up for interpretation. In Europe, an early description of silocybin mushrooms comes from an English medical journal in 1799. But what it describes is not intentional, ritual use, but rather an accident.

A family collected some mushrooms in Green Park, London, and ate them for breakfast. They soon began to experience some unexpected effects. According to the doctor's report, the eight-year-old boy was attacked with fits of immoderate laughter, nor could the threats of his father or mother restrain him. Other members of the family experienced a range of symptoms, including vertigo and delirium. Although they recovered, it seems to have been a frightening ordeal for all involved.

At high doses, silocybin can be intense. And of course, it's one thing if a person is ingesting it intentionally, and quite another if they're aware. In Europe and the United States, most people were oblivious to the existence of psilocybin mushrooms. This only changed from the 1950s onwards, and the story of how this happened is somewhat troubling. In 1955, R. Gordon Wasson, an American banker and mushroom enthusiast, took a trip to Mexico. He wanted to learn about the indigenous use of mushrooms and religious rituals. In the town in Wahaka, he met a woman named Maria Sabina from the Mazatec community.

Maria Sabina was revered for her wisdom, her poetry, and her use of psilocybin mushrooms in healing ceremonies. Wassen took part in one of these ceremonies, guided by Maria Sabina, and was amazed by what he experienced. Two years later, he wrote a 10-page article entitled Seeking the Magic Mushroom, which was published in Life magazine. In the article, Wausen described his experiences at length, how those who participated in the ceremony saw visions, and he said, emerged Ostruck. Wasson's enthusiastic account helped to popularize magic mushrooms in the United States. Others, keen to experience the mushrooms for themselves, went in search of Maria Sabina. Unfortunately, this sudden, unwanted attention had a devastating impact on Maria Sabina, her family and her community.

She regretted her encounter with Wasson and felt that people were misusing the mushrooms. She's reported to have said, before Wasson, nobody took the children simply to find God. They were always taken to cure the sick. Maria Sabina referred to the mushrooms as Los Ninos, her children, or Saint-Chilis. children. Wasson also claimed to respect the mushrooms, but clearly his use and promotion of

the magic mushrooms was something quite different. It might be argued that everyone has the right to use silocybin mushrooms as they wish. They're a natural resource. On the other hand, some would say that Wasson's actions were problematic, to put it mildly. Words like cultural appropriation may come to mind. Before we move on, there's a twist worth mentioning. Wasson's trip to Mexico was paid for by a medical research fund. It later emerged that this fund was connected to a CIA project, M.K. Ultra. To this day, silocybin mushrooms are still known as magic mushrooms.

the name Wasson gave them. While psilocybin is illegal in much of the world, the mushrooms remain popular and widely used. Although they're not without risk, they're often perceived as being lighter or safer than other psychedelics, like LSD or DMT. Recently, there's also been increasing interest in the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin.

It's thought that it may improve mental health, relieving symptoms of anxiety and depression. Interestingly, even in a clinical setting, it seems that psilocybin can induce profound experiences, which are perceived as mystical or divine. In 2006, researchers published the results, of a study conducted at Johns Hopkins University. The participants were given doses of psilocybin.

Many ranked this experience as one of the most meaningful and spiritually significant in their entire lives. In recent years, people have been looking for alternative sources of meaning and spirituality outside of traditional religion. This may help to explain the rise in popularity of ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew from South America. The story of ayahuasca is an interesting one, with some parallels to LSD and psilocybin. Let's start with an understanding of what it is exactly before we trace the history of its usage.

Ayahuasca is a brew made from a vine that grows in the Amazon. Another plant containing the psychoactive compound DMT is added to the mix. The vine contains compounds that allow the DMT to become active when taken orally. When ayahuasca is drunk, usually in a ceremonial setting, the user often undergoes an intense experience. Some people report spiritual insights and therapeutic effects. For instance, some say that their experience with ayahuasca has helped them to process personal traumas.

But what was ayahuasca originally used for? And when, exactly? This is something that scholars, are still looking into. There's a popular conception that ayahuasca has in ancient history, that it's something indigenous people in the Amazon have been using for many hundreds, if not, thousands of years. However, clear archaeological evidence is limited. Some scholars have suggested that widespread use of ayahuasca may only date back a few years. few hundred years. There is a history of ritual use among indigenous people, such as the

Shipibo-Konebo. For these people, ayahuasca is a sacred plant to be used for healing and spiritual purposes. Question is, how far back does this history go? There doesn't seem to be much archaeological evidence for the ayahuasca brew itself. Also, some suspect that the story of ayahuasca may sometimes be mythologized, particularly in the context of tourism. For some visitors to the Amazon, the idea of taking part in an ancient ritual is an alluring one. So, the ayahuasca tradition may be more recent

and perhaps less widespread than popularly believed. However, there appear to be occasional references to ayahuasca in texts from the late 17th century onwards. The earliest accounts don't use this name, but later ones do. Reports by Jesuit missionaries describe ayahuasca ceremonies in the Amazon. The drink was used to treat illnesses or for the purpose of divination. We don't know exactly how and when these ceremonies first originated. Scholars have differing opinions, and it's something that's still being debated. The history of ayahuasca is rather like the vine itself, in all its twisted complexity.

Still, a more well-documented from the 19th century, as botanists and other researchers took an interest, That being said, outside of the Amazon and the world of plant experts, ayahuasca remained quite obscure. Gradually, however, more and more people learned of its existence. In the 1950s, this included the American beat writer William S. Burroughs. He traveled to the Amazon in search of ayahuasca, which he knew by the name Yahweh. in the hopes that it could cure his opiate addiction. Accounts by burrows and other adventurous spirits helped to increase awareness of ayahuasca in the U.S. and Europe.

But for a long time, the average person probably hadn't heard of it, and that wouldn't change until the early 21st century. It was around this time that celebrities and other public figures began to talk about their experiences. The musician Sting was perhaps one of the first celebrities to talk publicly about ayahuasca in a Rolling Stone interview. Others have also discussed their experiences, including Paul Simon, Madonna, and Prince Harry.

These public figures have helped to spark interest in ayahuasca, but the main driver is likely something else. The Internet, thanks to the Internet, people with an interest in psychedelics, spirituality, or alternative forms of healing, have been able to learn about ayahuasca, what it is, and how to experience it for themselves. In recent years, a whole industry has developed around ayahuasca.

Some people travel to the Amazon for what they perceive to be an authentic experience. Others take part in ceremonies at luxury resorts in Costa Rica. In a way, it's similar to what happened with psilocybin mushrooms. Westerners experienced indigenous rituals in Central and South America, then spread the word. ayahuasca has become much more accessible, which some would see as a positive change, but others have concerns about the ayahuasca industry for many reasons. Some object to what they see as the commercialization of ayahuasca. There are also concerns about vulnerable people being exploited while under the effects of the drug.

With the internet, discussions of psychedelics have become more mainstream and accessible. There's increasing awareness of other previously obscure drugs. Ibogaine, for instance, comes from a shrub native to Central Africa. There's also a hallucinogenic venom produced by the Colorado River Toad, which lives in Mexico and the southwestern United States. The only way to know about such substances, let alone try them, was to live in the area or to be deeply immersed in the psychedelic subculture. Things have changed.

Even though most psychedelics remain illegal in most parts of the world, the knowledge is out there. Psychedelic drugs mean different things to different people. For some, their dangerous substances to be avoided and kept illegal. For others, they're a form of medicine, a tool for self-knowledge, or even a conduit to the divine. When people reflect on their psychedelic experiences, some think of them as fun adventures or misadventures. Others say that these experiences were some of the most. significant of their lives. Either way, it's a conversation that's likely to continue. Scientific interest in psychedelics continues to grow, particularly in the field of mental health.

And from looking at the history of psychedelics, we can see a pattern. It seems that throughout history and across different cultures, people have been drawn to psychoactive substance. Not everyone, of course, but a sizable minority of the population. For whatever reason, some people want to experience an altered state of consciousness. They want to see colors, to feel something different, and perhaps to transcend their sense of self. A psychedelic experience is known as a trip because it feels like a journey. There's a sense of going somewhere, then coming back.

Whether it's a trip worth taking, with all its potential risks and rewards, is an individual choice. But for those who choose not to, learning about the history of psychedelics and other people's experience might be a middle ground. It can give us some insights into the breadth of human experience. and with some words from another early experimenter, the American neurologist Silas Weir Mitchell. 96. Mitchell wrote a report for the British Medical Journal on his experience with peyote,

a cactus that contains mescaline. As he lay down in a dark room, his perception began to change. He wrote, I saw the stars. Of a sudden, here and there, delicate floating films of color, usually delightful neutral purples and pinks. Came and went.

Now here, a sh of countless points of white light, swept across the field of view, as if the unseen millions of the Milky Way were to flow a sparkling river before the eye.