What is your opinion on psychoplastogens and other novel forms of “psychedelic” therapy?

[trippingmantis]

Hello everyone, currently writing a new article about novel forms of “psychedelic” therapy. Right now, I’m just doing a short survey about the opinion of psychoplastogens. Do you believe the psychedelic experience and psychedelic intake are needed for healing? Or do you believe that the same can be achieved using psychoplastogens and or other forms of neuroplasticity-induced tools? (Ps, This is specifically on psychedelic-assisted therapy or “psychedelic” therapy, not forms of typical therapy.)

 

[red22]

I think it's great. Psychoplastogens are chemicals that psychedelic derivatives that have had their psychedelic properties removed. If you google non-hallucinogenic psychedelics, you'll get many results.

This excerpt from a recent conversation I had with ChatGPT conveys the benefits that can be attained by tweaking natural molecules:

Herbal sedatives = evolutionary hint molecules

Plants don’t need high potency like pharmaceuticals. They evolve low-dose behavioral modifiers, not knockout drugs.

[Example:]

Melissa officinalis (lemon balm)

Contains:
• rosmarinic acid
• terpenoids

Actions:
• weak GABA-T inhibition
• mild GABA-A modulation

Medicinal chemistry view: scaffold already touches GABA system
tighten binding, increase BBB penetration → real sedative

How weak blueprints become real drugs

Chemists usually:

1. Lock the active conformation
(rigidify the molecule so it always fits the receptor)

2. Add binding anchors
(aromatic rings, H-bonds, ion pairs)

3. Tune solubility & brain entry

4. Strip off off-target activity

Natural molecules are:

🏗 rough architectural sketches
not finished skyscrapers

They show:
• where the doors are
• how big the rooms are
• what shapes fit

Modern chemistry finishes the building.

 

[trippingmantis]

Thanks for your take! Sending love