Watch From Neurons to Nirvana: The Great Medicines

From Neurons to Nirvana: The Great Medicines is a documentary film that explores the potential of psychedelic drugs in treating various mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. The film was released in 2013 and features interviews with leading experts and researchers in the field of psychedelic medicine.

The film begins by providing an overview of the history of psychedelic drugs, including their use in indigenous cultures for thousands of years, and their more recent popularity in the Western world in the mid-twentieth century. The film argues that despite their potential to be beneficial to human health, these drugs have been unfairly stigmatized and criminalized.

From Neurons to Nirvana features interviews with various experts. Among those interviewed is Dr. Gabor Maté, a renowned physician and author who has extensively researched the connection between childhood trauma and addiction. After years of working with patients struggling with addiction, Dr. Maté began to explore the potential of ayahuasca, a powerful psychedelic plant medicine used in traditional Amazonian healing ceremonies. He found that the use of ayahuasca could help people address the root causes of their addiction by providing a transformative and healing experience.

Another expert interviewed in the film is Dr. Dennis McKenna, a renowned ethnopharmacologist who has dedicated his career to studying the pharmacology and cultural context of ayahuasca and other plant medicines. Dr. McKenna discusses the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction.

The film also features interviews with other experts who speak to the potential of psychedelic medicines, such as Dr. Rick Doblin, founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). MAPS is a non-profit research organization focused on developing medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics. Doblin and his team are currently conducting clinical studies on MDMA-assisted therapy for treating PTSD, with the hope that it may one day be approved by the FDA.

From Neurons to Nirvana also explores the potential of other psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin mushrooms and LSD. The film features interviewees who discuss their own transformative experiences with these substances and the impact they had on their mental health and personal lives. They talk about the value of having a safe, guided experience with these drugs in a therapeutic setting.

Throughout the film, experts emphasize the importance of responsible use and proper education when it comes to the use of psychedelic drugs. They argue that these drugs are not a silver bullet for mental health conditions, but rather one tool among many that can be used to address a range of mental health conditions. The film argues that the potential benefits of these drugs should be explored further through scientific research, and that their use should be properly regulated and made available to those who could benefit from them.

From Neurons to Nirvana is a thought-provoking documentary that highlights the potential of psychedelic drugs in treating mental health conditions. Though the film does not shy away from the controversy surrounding these drugs, it advocates for a more nuanced and informed discussion about their potential benefits. Through interviews with leading experts, the film raises questions about the criminalization of these drugs and the potential for their use in a therapeutic context. Overall, the film makes a compelling case for further research into the therapeutic potential of these drugs, and encourages viewers to look beyond the stigma to explore their possibilities.

From Neurons to Nirvana: The Great Medicines is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 47 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.