LSD, the Brain, and the Gut

A Holistic Approach to Mental Health

Introduction: What is LSD and Why Does it Matter?

LSD, or Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, is a well-known psychedelic that’s been used and studied for decades. While most people associate it with altered perceptions and consciousness, there’s a lot more to this substance than meets the eye. In recent years, research has uncovered fascinating insights into how psychedelics like LSD can impact mental health, sparking interest in their therapeutic potential for conditions like depression and anxiety.

But here’s the thing: we still don’t fully understand how LSD works in the brain—or beyond it. Most discussions around LSD focus on its effects on perception and mood, but what if it does more than just alter how we think and feel? What if it reaches deeper, affecting systems in the body that influence everything from our social interactions to our overall well-being?

This brings us to a fascinating new study that explores how repeated use of LSD impacts not only the brain, but also the gut—a connection many might not have considered. As we dive into the findings, you’ll see how LSD may influence areas of our biology that could have far-reaching implications for mental health and beyond.

What Was This Study About?

The brain-gut connection is a concept that’s gained a lot of popularity in recent years. Simply stated, it posits that there exists a two-way connection between our gut and brain where what we consume has a much greater impact on our emotions and mental well-being than we once thought. In his book, “The Mind-Gut Connection: How the Astonishing Dialogue Taking Place in Our Bodies Impacts Health, Weight, and Mood” , gastroenterologist Emeran Meyer explores the latest research on the subject of the brain-gut connection. One quote from the book that stands out is as follows:

“Recent studies suggest that in close interactions with its resident microbes, the gut can influence our basic emotions, our pain sensitivity, and our social interactions, and even guide many of our decisions—and not just those about our food preferences and meal sizes.”

This serves as the perfect segue into the study we’ll explore, titled, “Effects of repeated lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on the mouse brain endocannabinoidome and gut microbiome”. The study set out to explore something unexpected: how repeated doses of LSD might affect not only the brain but also the gut. While we usually think of LSD’s effects in terms of altered mental states, this research aimed to examine changes in brain chemistry and gut bacteria—two systems that, as we’ve seen, are more interconnected than once believed.

Study breakdown

The study involved administering LSD to mice every day for a week. Researchers would then study how it affected their social behaviour, brain chemicals known as endocannabinoids, and the balance of bacteria in their gut, also called the gut microbiome. Research into the brain-gut connection has revealed that these areas are constantly communicating through what’s called the “gut-brain axis.”

The Surprising Effects on Social Behavior

One of the most striking findings from the study was how LSD influenced social behaviour in the mice. After just a week of daily doses, the mice became noticeably more social. In various tests designed to measure their interaction with other mice, the ones given LSD spent significantly more time engaging with unfamiliar mice than those that didn’t receive the drug.

This might seem like a small detail, but it opens up fascinating possibilities. LSD didn’t just alter their perception or movement—it made them more interested in socializing, more curious about novelty, and less withdrawn.

Although this study was conducted on mice, the results suggest that LSD could have broader effects on social behaviour. This might even help explain why many people report feeling more open, connected, and empathetic after taking psychedelics. If these findings translate to humans, they could pave the way for new treatments that address the social isolation experienced in many mental health conditions. We’ll get into that in more depth later in this article.

The Connection Between the Gut and the Brain

Here’s where the study takes an unexpected turn: LSD doesn’t just affect the brain—it also has an impact on the gut. You’ve probably heard people talk about the “gut feeling” or how certain foods can affect mood. That’s because the gut and brain are deeply connected, communicating through what scientists call the gut-brain axis. This connection is so powerful that changes in your gut bacteria can actually influence your mood, stress levels, and even behaviour.

In this study, the researchers found that repeated LSD use altered the balance of gut bacteria in mice. Specifically, LSD decreased the diversity of bacteria in the gut but also increased the levels of certain types of bacteria, like Bifidobacterium, which is often linked to gut health. These changes suggest that LSD might have the ability to reshape the gut microbiome in ways that could affect overall health and well-being.

Why does this matter?

Because a healthy gut microbiome plays a key role in mental health.

Studies have shown that people with anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders often have imbalances in their gut bacteria. So, by influencing the gut, LSD might have indirect effects on mood and mental health as well.

This finding points to the potential for psychedelics like LSD to impact both brain and gut health simultaneously. It’s a reminder that mental health isn’t just in the mind—it’s deeply connected to the body. This research opens up exciting possibilities for future studies to take a more holistic approach to understanding how LSD affects us.

What Does This Mean for Humans? A New Frontier for Psychedelics in Mental Health

Although this study was conducted on mice, the implications for humans are intriguing. The fact that LSD not only influenced brain chemistry but also reshaped the gut microbiome suggests that its effects are much more complex than we might have thought. These findings hint that psychedelics like LSD could have the potential to treat mental health conditions in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

For example, we know that many mental health issues—like depression, anxiety, and PTSD—are often accompanied by both brain chemistry imbalances and gut health problems. This study opens the door to the possibility that psychedelics could address both areas simultaneously. By affecting the brain’s endocannabinoid system, which regulates mood and behaviour, and the gut, which plays a critical role in mental well-being, LSD could offer a more holistic approach to treatment.

This is particularly exciting when we think about the future of mental health care. Traditional treatments for conditions like depression often focus solely on the brain. But what if we could develop therapies that target both the brain and the gut? Psychedelics might one day be used not just to help people feel better emotionally, but to improve their overall physical and mental health in ways we’re only beginning to explore.

Of course, it’s important to note that this research is still in its early stages. While the results are promising, more studies are needed to confirm whether these findings translate to humans. However, the potential is clear. As more research is conducted, psychedelics like LSD could play a groundbreaking role in treating complex mental health conditions that affect both the mind and body.

And if you’re interested in trying LSD, check out our Flow LSD Tincture. It offers a safe and easy way to consume measured and accurate doses of LSD. Learn more here. Lastly, if you’re looking for a crash course on LSD and its effects, then check out our comprehensive, Beginner’s Guide To LSD article.

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