In "Higher Wisdom," 14 eminent thinkers offer their fascinating anecdotes, invaluable knowledge, and hard-won wisdom--the culmination of 50 years of research and reflection--on the subject of psychedelics, one of the most intriguing and challenging topics of our time. "A reminder of the remarkable promise and peril of what are broadly called psychedelics."--Ken Wilber, author of "A Brief History of Everything."

This handbook reviews promising applications of psychedelics in treatment of such challenging psychiatric problems as posttraumatic stress disorder, major depression, substance use disorders, and end-of-life anxiety. Experts from multiple disciplines synthesize current knowledge on psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, and other medical hallucinogens. The volume comprehensively examines these substances' neurobiological mechanisms, clinical effects, therapeutic potential, risks, and anthropological and historical contexts. Coverage ranges from basic science to practical clinical considerations, including patient screening and selection, dosages and routes of administration, how psychedelic-assisted sessions are structured and conducted, and management of adverse reactions.

For half a century psychedelics have rumbled through the Western world, seeding a subculture, titillating the media, fascinating youth, terrifying parents, enraging politicians, and intriguing researchers. Not surprisingly, these curious chemicals fascinated some of the foremost thinkers of the twentieth century, fourteen of whom were interviewed for this book. Because no further human research can be done, these researchers constitute an irreplaceable resource. Higher Wisdom offers their fascinating anecdotes, invaluable knowledge, and hard-won wisdom--the culmination of fifty years of research and reflection on one of the most intriguing and challenging topics of our time.