In today’s society, “self-help” is frequently advertised as a preferential, fulfilling form of self-improvement. Budgeting the family budget without the assistance of a financial advisor would be considered economical self-help while exercising and healthy eating would be physical self-help, and so on. While these practices are commendable, there are areas where these DIY methods should…
What is 12- Step Therapy? A common and traditional therapeutic method, 12-step therapy typically addresses substance abuse and dependency. This therapy is organized into 12 steps that confront the cognitive process in which individuals decide to continue use. Within this model, it is taught that addiction is a decision made by an individual’s entire essence,…
What is Motivational Interview Therapy? Motivational interviewing is a therapeutic method that assists clients in channeling the motivation they need in order to change their behavior. This form of therapy practices functionality and compassion as it acknowledges the difficulty in making life changes. In motivational interviewing, the therapist is accepting and patient while providing clarity…
What is Nature Immersion Therapy? Nature Immersion Therapy, or Nature Therapy, has grown increasingly common within treatment centers in the past few years. This therapeutic approach stems from ecopsychology, a type of psychology that nurtures an individual’s connection to the earth. Nature Immersion Therapy is typically comprised of various techniques and methods that involve an…
What Is Tianeptine? A new drug has recently been making headlines due to the ongoing battle surrounding its legality. The drug in question is Tianeptine, commonly sold under the name Tianna. First synthesized in the 1960s by the French Society of Medical Research, Tianeptine was established as an atypical antidepressant and anxiety medication. Although legal…
History of Kratom Clinically known as mitragyna speciosa, kratom is derived from a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. The plant produces both opioid and stimulant substances that have been used in holistic medicine since the 1800s. Traditionally, the leaves are chewed to relieve musculoskeletal pain and increase energy, whereas different extracts from the leaves…
History of Amyl Nitrite First synthesized in 1844 by French chemist Antoine Jerome Balard, amyl nitrite was introduced to medicine as an effective treatment for chest pain. The substance originally came in a round, pearl form and the drug would be administered by crushing the pearl and inhaling its vapor. Due to this method of…
History of Psilocybin Mushrooms Commonly known as “mushrooms”, “magic mushrooms”, or “shrooms”, these fungi have been used in religious rituals for over 6,000 years due to their psychedelic properties. Psilocybin mushrooms were first mentioned in medical literature in 1799, but it wasn’t until 1958 that French botanist, Roger Heim, identified the hallucinogenic substances in the…
History of Ritalin Ritalin, clinically known as methylphenidate, is a stimulant commonly prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy disorders. The drug was first synthesized in 1944 by chemist Leandro Panizzon who named the drug after his wife Rita. By 1955, Ritalin was identified as a stimulant and approved for medical use in the United States. Prescriptions…
History of Mescaline Mescaline, more commonly known as peyote, has been used for over 5,000 years by Native Americans in the American southwest and Mexico, pre-succession. Mescaline is an organic compound found in different species of cacti native to the area and is revered for its psychedelic properties and commonly relied on during religious rituals….