{"id":15326,"date":"2022-01-06T14:00:55","date_gmt":"2022-01-06T19:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=15326"},"modified":"2023-11-01T13:52:18","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T17:52:18","slug":"researchers-weigh-in-on-the-hype-about-mdma-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/researchers-weigh-in-on-the-hype-about-mdma-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Researchers Weigh In on the Hype About MDMA Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can you imagine what it is like to be overcome with intense feelings of euphoria? In the midst of all the madness caused by the motions of life, you take a pill and suddenly everything is brighter, more magical, and just feels so darn good?<\/span> It turns out that this blissful drug, MDMA, has the potential to be used effectively as a treatment for certain conditions- some of which are in urgent need of effective medical assistance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is MDMA?<\/b><\/h2>\n

MDMA is short for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, which is a synthetic drug that has the ability to act as a stimulant and hallucinogen, <\/span>according to the NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse<\/span><\/a>. It is also known in some circles as ecstasy or Molly depending on what form it is in. MDMA is derived from amphetamines which are classified as a group of stimulant drugs that increase certain chemicals in the brain like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and more. Importantly, there are <\/span>key structural elements<\/span><\/a> that make MDMA more structurally similar to hallucinogenic <\/span>mescaline<\/span><\/a> than to amphetamine or methamphetamine. Effects that can be expected from this substance include stimulation, arousal, and energy enhancement. In other words, one can expect an increase in awareness of the self and the body, intensified sensory perception, increased endurance, a more open disposition, reduced <\/span>anxiety<\/span><\/a>, distortion of time and space as well as rapidly elevating the mood – making one happy or euphoric.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The NIH goes on to explain that MDMA is also available in the form of Molly. Molly is slang and short for molecular and is the crystalline powder form of MDMA. Molly can be consumed in the form of a capsule or powder while MDMA\/ecstasy is consumed in the form of a tablet or capsule (<\/span>12<\/span><\/a>). However, Molly that has been seized by law enforcement has been found to contain other types of drugs too, some also contained no MDMA at all despite supposedly being the crystalline form of MDMA. Drugs like MDMA are derived from methamphetamines and often co-synthesized with other MDMA-like and mescaline-like drugs that are collectively called \u201cdesigner drugs (6<\/a>).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While this article has been written for educational purposes, it is important to remember that this substance is listed as a Schedule 1 narcotic in the US. Purchasing this substance is therefore illegal and when accessed through illegal channels, is associated with multiple legal and health risks due to unregulated production.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Does MDMA Work?<\/b><\/h2>\n

MDMA triggers the immediate release of many neurotransmitters – which are the chemical messengers in the brain which inform changes in brain activity. The release of neurotransmitters includes dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, oxytocin, prolactin, cortisol, and vasopressin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

MDMA is also a potent reuptake inhibitor of these compounds, which means they are not returned to the cells for breakdown and thus continue enhancing their effects. The release of these neurotransmitters is the reason for the following benefits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits:<\/b><\/h3>\n

MDMA research has been given the green light by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to assess its potential and efficacy for the treatment of <\/span>post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)<\/span><\/a>. But what are the medicinal benefits associated with this synthetic substance which led to the FDA\u2019s support? Well, let\u2019s have a look at the following benefits which could be expected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n