connection, and more open to new experiences.
New Study Shows Psychedelics Can Enhance Your Sex Life
Plenty of readers already know that a good trip can have ego-busting effects, but did you know it can also positively impact your sex life? And now, there’s even more science to back it up. According to a recent study featured in Scientific Reports, psychedelics like magic mushrooms and LSD may have potential benefits for enhancing sexual function. PsyPost reports that participants in the study reported multifaceted improvements in their sexual well-being that lasted for weeks after their psychedelic experiences.
Beyond the Trip: Long-Term Benefits of Psychedelics
While psychedelics are known for their immediate psychoactive effects, this study suggests that they can also provide sustained benefits for sexual function. And it’s not just in the bedroom where these substances can have a positive impact. As the National Institutes of Health report, psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA have shown potential as effective treatments for mental health conditions such as treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. This is because they work by facilitating the formation of new neural connections in the brain, a process known as plasticity.
A Better Alternative to Traditional Antidepressants
Unlike traditional antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft, which can come with sexual dysfunction as a side effect, psychedelics have shown promise in improving both mental health and sexual satisfaction. As the New York Times reports, the long-term efficacy of traditional antidepressants is uncertain and for some people, they may not even help with depression at all. This, coupled with the fact that sexual dysfunction caused by these medications can worsen depression symptoms, is why researchers are turning to psychedelics as a potential alternative.
The Study: How Psychedelics Can Enhance Sexual Satisfaction
A team from Imperial College London conducted a study to examine the effects of psychedelics on sexual satisfaction. They gathered participants who were planning on taking psychedelics in a private setting or as part of a formal ceremony. This included classical psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, ayahuasca, DMT, and San Pedro cactus. The participants filled out questionnaires one week before their psychedelic experience to establish a baseline, and then again at four weeks and six months after the experience. The study included 261 adults, primarily from the United States.
The Sacred and the Profane: How Spirituality Plays a Role
One of the most interesting findings from the study was that participants cited the spirituality of the experience as a major reason why sex became better. Spiritual experiences can heighten intimacy, make one feel more comfortable in their own body, more aware of the beauty of human connection, and more open to new experiences. So, it seems that psychedelics not only have the potential to enhance sexual function, but also to deepen the spiritual and emotional connection between partners.
