Can Psychedelics Increase Sexual Interest And Satisfaction? Study Says Yes And Effects Can Last Months
A new study suggests a potential link between the use of psychedelics like magic mushrooms and LSD and improved sexual function up to six months after they have been consumed.
Believed to be the first scientific research into the effects of psychedelics on sex, the new findings combine responses from nearly 300 participants who reported overall improvements after a psychedelic experience.
Conducted by a group of researchers from Imperial College Center for Psychedelic Research and published in Nature, the study gathered responses from two groups: people independently taking psychedelics for recreational, wellness or ceremonial purposes and a small group participating in a psychedelic clinical trial for depression treatment.
Led by researcher Tommaso Barba, the team combined online survey responses from the two groups, completed before their psychedelic experience, four weeks after and six months after.
People belonging to the naturalistic group took a set of substances including psilocybin mushrooms/truffles, ayahuasca, DMT, San Pedro and LSD, while the clinical trial group took psilocybin.
What They Found
Of the 250 people in group one, responses showed overall improvements across all areas of sexual functions for up to six months after the psychedelic experience. These included enjoyment of sex, sexual arousal, attraction to a partner, satisfaction with sex and with …