Magic Medicine: A Trip Through the Intoxicating History and Modern-Day Use of Psychedelic Plants and Substances

by Cody Johnson

Cody Johnson beautifully balances historical knowledge with cutting-edge science to produce a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening read which paints a holistic picture of the risks and benefits of psychedelic use in modern day medicine and culture.
--Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).


The history of psychedelic plants and substances is full of colorful, fascinating facts and stories, and intriguing questions.

Did U.S. Army Intelligence really use LSD as an enhanced military interrogation technique? Why does Ayahuasca have such a long history of use in Peru? Science is beginning to research what traditional cultures have told us for years: psychelics have transformative healing properties.

Many psychedelic plants and substances have a long history of being incorporated into various healing traditions -- such as cannabis and opium in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This Magic Medicine explores the fascinating history of psychedelic substances and provides a contemporary update about their growing inclusion modern medicine, science, and culture.  

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Science, Psychology, Audiobook, Cultural, Self Help

232 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Cody Johnson is a blogger, humanist, and consciousness explorer who writes about mind-expanding plants and compounds. His book, Magic Medicine, offers a whirlwind tour of 23 of the most fascinating psychedelics on the planet, from ayahuasca and magic mushrooms to MDMA (Ecstasy) and 5-MeO-DMT.

You can also find Cody at PsychedelicFrontier.com where he writes about all things psychedelic: their fascinating history, cutting-edge scientific research, and their therapeutic and spiritual potential. Modern science is beginning to confirm what traditional cultures have told us for centuries: Psychedelics have transformative healing properties.

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough an excellent romp through the use of psychedelics from the dawn of time right through to the 21st century. There are intriguing stories, historical facts and curious questions as to the use of these banned substances. The question this book really seeks to answer is whether there is an argument for the use of these substances in the medical profession, potentially bringing relief to a number of people suffering a variety of illnesses. I really appreciated that Johnson not only discussed the history of these substances but also added information as to their growing inclusion in modern medicine, science and culture.

"Magic Medicine" is a dense and detailed read which will be of interest to a wide audience. Johnson makes the topic accessible and includes stories that really make you think about the ethics surrounding the use of these drugs. I do feel as though we have lost many years in which we could've been researching these plants due to the banning of research decades ago. Although quietly this research has now begun again it will take us many more years to discover whether these substances can be effective for particular medical conditions or whether they are simply, as many people proclaim, dangerous. Only recently have I heard about the potential benefits of psilocybin in fighting depression and as time goes on I expect many more benefits of using psychedelics to come to the fore.

I appreciate that this book will not be for everyone but I found it so interesting. I can honestly see these sort of things being useful in the future for selected medical conditions. Unfortunately, we are still an awful long way away from finding out what they can be useful in treating. A well-researched title that I imagine would've taken a substantial amount of time to compile.

Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Fair Winds Press for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄

MAGIC MEDICINE is a comprehensive and very entertaining Magical Mystery Tour of psychedelic plants, their history and use as psychotropic and healing substances. Includes current medical application for reduction of suicide, stress, alcoholism, and post traumatic stress disorder. Extensively researched and well presented. 5/5

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Fair Winds Press and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#MagicMedicine #NetGalley

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered how a certain drug/psychedelic/herb might work? Or where its origin of use comes from? This book offers the answers. Apart from that, there is a lot of background information about certain psychedelics, e.g. cannabis and spirituality, cannabis as a healing herb.

[Cav · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It’s Tuesday morning, and you wander into your local Psychedelic Clinic. At the front desk they take your name: “Yes,” says the receptionist, “we’re expecting you. Right this way.” You’re whisked into a comfortable room where an open window bathes a wall of bookshelves in yellow light.
The therapist enters, but looks more like a neighborly professor —horn-rim glasses, brown vest, a pair of loafers. “Have a seat,” he says, nodding toward a cozy-looking couch. He hands you a glass of water and a small pill containing 150 milligrams of pure MDMA (Ecstasy). You take it and lean back. The session begins..."

Magic Medicine was a decent primer to the realm of psychedelic drugs. The author opens the book with the quote above, in which he envisions a future where psychedelics are accepted into modern medical practice.

Author Cody Johnson is a blogger, humanist, and consciousness explorer who writes about mind-expanding plants and compounds.

Cody Johnson:


As touched on above, this book is a cursory look into most of the known psychedelic compounds. Long labeled schedule 1 narcotics, these substances have not been able to be researched properly, as other compounds have been. At least not in the US. Despite some promising potential medical and medicinal uses as well as positive performances, these substances have been largely shunned in popular modern Western culture. This was partially tied to the temperance movement in the early 20s and its related anti "drug" culture.

The author explores some of the therapeutic effects of these compounds here. Many positive associations are found; with varying degrees of epistemological rigour. Ketamine has been shown to improve mood disorders, including anxiety and depression. Pylosibin-containing mushrooms are used in end-of-life care in cancer patients. They don't cure the cancer, but they help alleviate the anxiety and existential dread that people coming to terms with the end of their life face. More research is presented here, and the above points are just a few examples.

The emerging research around psychedelic drugs is very promising, and many more clinical applications could be adopted in the future (pending requisite testing, of course). One of the major problems with the Nixon-era (and up) war on drugs, is that the benifits of these compounds remain unattainable for millions of people whose lives they could greatly benefit.

Sadly (and almost unbelievably), to this day, the DEA still classifies cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning "Schedule I drugs have a high potential for abuse and the potential to create severe psychological and/or physical dependence." While benzodiazepines, like Valium, Xanax, and Ativan are classified as Schedule 4, meaning "Schedule IV drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a low potential for abuse and low risk of dependence." These people think cannabis is more addictive than Valium?? They need a top-down restructuring of their entire paradigm, IMO. But, I digress... Back to the book.

The author notes that psychedelic compounds can be broken (broadly speaking) into four distinct categories. They are:

"1. The aforementioned serotonin-oriented compounds, of which there are hundreds
2. “Dissociatives,” such as ketamine and salvia, which produce the sensation of detachment from one’s body
3. “Empathogens,” such as MDMA, which, although less overtly “trippy” than other substances, still amplify emotions and insights in a decidedly psychedelic way
4. “Unique” substances that can’t easily be categorized, including cannabinoids such as THC, which, in high doses, can induce visionary reveries"

He also makes a note on how the book will be presented:

"This book is not stuffy and academic. No background in botany, chemistry, or medicine is necessary—come as you are and learn about some of the most fascinating plants and molecules on the planet. Nor is this an instruction manual—for information on how to use these substances, readers will have to look elsewhere..."

True to the above promise the book is written in plain language, without the use of esoteric jargon. It is more reference material than it is academic text. Which is a good thing, because some books on pharmacology can be incredibly dry and tedious. Thankfully, this was not the case here. The author covers the material in a matter-of-fact, no-frills fashion that I felt worked. There are chemical diagrams at the start of each blurb of writing, for those interested in the chemistry.

Here are the contents of the book (mainly for my own future reference). Apologies for the all caps, this text was pasted from my PDF version:

1 CLASSICAL PSYCHEDELICS
*2C-B AND THE 2C FAMILY
*5-MEO-DMT
*AYAHUASCA
*DMT
*DOM AND THE DOX FAMILY
*LSD
*MORNING GLORY
*PEYOTE
*PSILOCYBIN MUSHROOMS
*SAN PEDRO
*YOPO AND VILCA BEANS

2 EMPATHOGENIC PSYCHEDELICS
*MDA
*MDMA

3 DISSOCIATIVE PSYCHEDELICS
*DXM
*KETAMINE
*NITROUS OXIDE
*SALVIA

4 UNIQUE PSYCHEDELICS
*AMANITA MUSCARIA
*CANNABIS
*DIPT
*FISH AND SEA SPONGES
*IBOGA
*MAD HONEY

***********************

I enjoyed this presentation. It makes for a great reference guide. I would recommend it to anyone looking to increase their knowledge and understanding of psychedelic compounds.
4.5 stars.

[Lora Milton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that this is a bold book for both the author and the publisher. Most of the substances covered are things that have never and would never enter my body, but I found it interesting to read about them in such a straightforward way.

It's divided into four sections. Classical Psychedelics has things like Peyote, DMT, LSD and a few less familiar substances. Empathogenics covers MDA and MDNA (Ecstasy). Dissociative Psychedelics includes Ketamine, Salvia and Nitrous Oxide as well as one I never heard of called DMX. Unique Psychedelics covers Cannabis, which I wouldn't class as a psychedelic at all, and a few weird things like fish and sea sponges and mad honey. It appears to be the miscellaneous chapter.

The Introduction on the future of psychedelic medicine points out that many of these substances were invented for medicinal use, or in the case of natural substances like Cannabis and Peyote, used historically by Shamen. I hadn't known there was actually an organization called MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, that advocates proper research on psychedelics and is pushing to have them accepted into mainstream medicine.

The author is undeniably pro-psychedelics and I think even glosses over some of the down sides, but he cites research I've read about elsewhere of substances like MDMA being used successfully to treat PTSD and some forms of depression. The overall tone of the book is mostly scientific.

The history of where each substance came from and chemical compound information is covered, followed by a relation of what the experience is like, keeping in mind that such experiences are subjective. Famous names like Timothy Leary crop up in appropriate places as well as some lesser known names of researchers like Sasha Shulgin, who may be well known among those who study this subject but new to people like myself.

Therapeutic use of some substances is also explained as well as follow-on recreational use. The refreshing, no holds barred approach allows complete information regardless of legal status or morality police opinion.

Extensive references and index are included. The book would be appropriate to a medical library, though I found it very interesting for personal reading.

[Ma'Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I already knew quite a bit about entheogens aka psychedelics, including some I won't mess with myself, but I sure learned a lot from this book, and it was written in a very clear, digestible format.

For example, I already knew about indigenous Sámi people and the reindeer that have been central to their culture for thousands of years eating both mushrooms and the yellow snow from one another after an animal or person has consumed those mushrooms and then peed. But I had no idea the infamous amanita muscara aka fly agaric mushroom fruiting body is so potent that in some indigenous communities it will be recycled four to five times via different people drinking the urine of the person who has gone flying from it already! It's so powerful it can get that many people high from one mushroom and the body breaking it down and pissing it out actually filters certain unwanted qualities and allegedly makes it more potent than eating the raw mushroom! Damn.

[Richard Archambault · Rating 3 out of 5]

The descriptions of the various drugs and their effects were moderately interesting, though it felt padded in parts, an extra paragraph or sentence here or there, just to add a bit of length. Although I have never experimented with any of the drugs discussed (except for a paranoia-filled evening after eating a couple of edibles), I'm certainly curious. Maybe one day... Overall, some of the chapters were more interesting and more detailed than others, but I still feel like I learned some things.

My biggest complaint with this book, though, was with the extra small type. So small! Maybe 8pt, or smaller! Made the book difficult to read unless the light was very good. Why would you print a book with such small type! Horrible decision by the publishers.

[Bridgette · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

What an explorative book! Reading this will take you through an expansive list of psychedelics and share a wealth of knowledge such as their region of origin, history, use, and even progress in science. This book will answer so many questions if you are curious about this type of drug. Learning about how these substances were found, regulated, and studied made me question the true reason some substances are illegal in the US. Johnson does well in combining the history and science as well as interweaving the complex culture of recreational users. For what this book is, which is a dictionary of the psychedelic realm, I was intrigued and entertained. This book is an educational read to say the least, but if this subject piques your interest, you will walk away with new knowledge and possibly a desire to travel to far regions of the Amazon or Nepal. What happens on vacation, you don't have to tell me.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually pretty interesting. Yeah, there's a bit of the expected "recreational user" slang and weirdness, but there's also quite a bit of history and science here, which makes this book worth a serious read. Especially interesting are the parts describing how some of these substances have been shown to help with very difficult afflictions, like addiction and PTSD; it's sad that the research was shut down for decades because people got out of control "recreationally" (and also maybe the secret MKUltra mind control experiments?). Humans, man, we just ruin everything we touch.

*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, provided by the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Audrey Stars in Her Eye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic Medicine opened my eyes to a variety of new plants and animals that are used as psychedelics. While I was less interested in their experiences, the information on research for these as true medicines was fascinating. I knew some of these worked but I know that the war on Drugs has changed how they can be used for treatment. I can speak from experience about the relief from cannabis oil and have seen a health and spiritual revolution of a friend who went through the ibogaine ritual. I am glad that these medicines aren't being forgotten and I hope we see real response to their medical value.


I received an ARC through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

[Aleksandar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview, history and future of practically every psychedelic substance currently known. You could argue that all this information has been freely available online, particularly on Erowid and similar websites which have been doing a fine job of documenting psychedelic substances for decades. However, the information in this book is presented clearly and in a beautiful package. Definitely worth having around for a quick reference, as well as to initiate new explorers into the psychedelic Renaissance.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

#MagicMedicine #NetGalley

A very educational book about the natural psychedelic plants. The catalog is large and contains a complete historical and chemistry profile of each plant. Recent research focus on the use of psychedelic plants in the domain modern psychiatry. I think that this book will be a good reference book for medical school students and pharmacology.

[Annarella · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and somewhat unusual book. I was expecting more on the magical side and less on the psychedelic one.
Recommended to those who are interested in the psychelic plants and their usage.
Many thanks to Quarto Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing and eye-opening survey of psychedelic drugs, ancient and modern, natural and synthetic, by the blogger at PsychedelicFrontier.com. I gained some perspective on how much my own views of drugs have been shaped by the propaganda of the "war on drugs." Many of the psychedelics have, among other things, promising therapeutic potential, but Western society has inherited the knee-jerk aversion expressed by the Spanish conquistadors when they condemned American intoxicants as things of the Devil. The book itself is beautifully produced.

[Belen Cespedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy buen acercamiento al mundo de la medicina asociada a las drogas psicodélicas (en general). Entrega información relevante y contextualizada, además de una recolección histórica asociada a cada una de las sustancias.

[Sosanna Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today I'm reviewing Magic Medicine - A Trip Through the Intoxicating History & Modern Day Use of Psychedelic Plants & Substances by Cody Johnson.

Generally I like to start out with a disclaimer. I am an atheist witch. I look for the connection between magic and science without the need for a deity. I receive no compensation for these reviews and all my links are standard Amazon links and not affiliate links. I am a practicing photo reader and have spent the last 13 years honing my craft. I offer personal readings by request and have a strong online history that boasts nearly 400,000 views.

As usually I'll start this view with a general look at the physical book. I am one of those folks who doesn't get the same enjoyment from e-books as I do from holding a physical book in my hands. While I may be in the minority, I really like a book that feels good to hold. I like to smell the pages and feel the texture of the pages beneath my fingers as I devour the book word by word. To me, there is just something missing a bit from an e-book. This book is solid. When you pick it up, you'll know you have a book in your hands. The cover is fantastic. With the images of magical mushrooms and molecular symbols the excruciatingly long title is less offensive. The pages are smooth, however they lack images. I would expect a book providing information on medicinal herbs would have more photos.

My favorite part of most books like this is the index. Generally a strong index will help the reader locate information quickly if the book is intended to be used as reference. This book has one page, front and back for an index. The book however is heavily referenced. The reference section includes three pages, both front and back, that thoroughly provide the supporting information for the reader. I found this extremely helpful for many of the chapters.

I won't go into all the chapters here, but will go into one in particular. Page 185 begins the section on Cannabis. This is of particular interest to me as my husband has Glaucoma and I have Bipolar & Borderline Personality disorders. The author tells us that this herb is one of the most commonly used drug in history yet, has not been responsible for a single death or overdose. The author takes us through the three species of cannabis and the assorted methods of ingestion. These methods range from eating, smoking, vaping to oils and tinctures.

I like the fact that the author also talks about the spiritual aspects of using cannabis. Along with the medicinal, there are times when the brain just needs to slow down. In order to connect with oneself, at times we need to just stop. As a person with bipolar disorder, I can tell you, this mind rarely slows down. I am going 24/7. I figure out problems in my sleep. My brain works on projects and fills out the process for solutions while I sleep. I'll wake in the middle of the night and need to jot things down. This of course is a disruption. The ability to sit down and SLOOOOW down is something that escapes me. Being able to sit and be ok with not doing anything is a struggle and as one would expect, doing any work on meditation or visualizations are a struggle. Mood stabilization and nausea cures are just two of the amazing benefits of this herb.

Each chapter is taken on withe the same care. Beginning with the origin and background of each herb, the author takes us through the experience of the herb as well as any toxicity related to it. I found the information both informative and useful.

While to me, the index was lacking, the rest of the book is full of extremely useful information and I believe most will find instrumental in discovering the magic at our fingertips in the garden.

[Ashley Osborne · Rating 2 out of 5]

(I read the audio book, which might not be the best way to do this one.) I found this book more of an encyclopedia, complete with headers and categories. There are a few excellent chapters or sections exploring the consumption, history, individual people, or philosophy behind the use of psychedelic substances, but overall the audio book of this work is a slog. I found myself having to re-listen to large chunks because I got lost in the wording or the long lists of details. I also was disappointed in the complete lack of a conclusion - there are no "final thoughts" or summary, the book simply ends after one of the entries. I did learn some things about the history and research of many of these substances, and I liked the connections made between modern-day use and older native cultures, but all the stuff in between those interesting sections is dry and frankly boring. Maybe if I had read the text version, where I could flip back and forth to references, I might have enjoyed it more.

[Kristian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book rather useless. It tries to give an overview of the most important psychedelic substances but fails to provide anything concrete for those looking to use these compounds. The book is very broad and lacks detailed information. There is no research presented, no first-hand experiences, and no guide for obtaining or dosing any of the substances. It is basically a list of compounds with a brief history of their discovery and introduction into Western society. At best, it may serve as an introduction for total novices, but even then, I am not sure what they would gain from reading it.

[Andrei Radu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to understand language, balanced amounts of information and different kinds of substances from all over the world and throughout time - I believe this book is a great introduction to the world of psychoactive substances and that it leaves the readers with enough info to search for more by themselves. Really enjoyed it.

[Anacalypsis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and interesting book.
I wish that there was space to go more in depth with each plant, but it's styled more as a brief introduction of each substance. It's more like something curious you'd leave on a coffee table, like a magazine.

[Omar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book showing you the experiences and side effects of psychedelics and the history and making of some of them. Its a spiritual journey in entheogen, empathogens and psychedelics as well.

[Erlend Thonstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book w lots of funfacts! Learned alot, from Salvia to Mad Honey to psychoactive fish and sponges- nature is cool(and trippy)! 🌻🐸

[Irina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise and informative. Mini encyclopedia.

[Jill Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic Medicine is an excellent mix of history of psychedelic substances, including many tribal rituals, and modern day uses for both psychedelic exploration and medical uses. It has a good flow and is very engaging for the reader.

[MKF]

DNF

[Andrea Romano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy informativo, bien contrastado y además el diseño es precioso.

[April Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book. It is filled with all kinds of cool historical facts on the medicinal uses of all kinds of psychedelic drugs. I had hoped this would be a little less educational and a little more fun but overall it made for a good read.