Page "Psychopharmacology" Paragraph 5

Often not mentioned or included in the field of study of psychopharmacology today, are psychoactive substances not identified as useful in modern mental health settings or references.

These substances are naturally occurring, but nonetheless psychoactive, and are compounds identified through the work of ethnobotanists and ethnomycologists ( and others who study the native use of naturally occurring psychoactive drugs ).

However, although these substances have been used throughout history by various cultures, and have a profound effect on mentality and brain function, they have not always attained the degree of scrutinous evaluation that lab-made compounds have.

Nevertheless, some, such as psilocybin and mescaline, have provided a basis of study for the compounds that are used and examined in the field today.

Hunter-gatherer societies tended to favor psychedelics, dissociatives and deliriants, and today their use can still be observed in many surviving tribal cultures.

The exact drug used depends on what the particular ecosystem a given tribe lives in can support, and are typically found growing wild.

Such drugs include various psychedelic mushrooms containing psilocybin, muscimol, and muscarine ( to name a few ), and cacti containing mescaline and other chemicals, along with myriad other psychoactive-chemical-containing plants.

These societies generally attach spiritual significance to such drug use, and often incorporate it into their religious practices.

With the dawn of the Neolithic and the proliferation of agriculture, new psychoactives came into use as a natural by-product of farming.

Among them were opium, cannabis, and alcohol derived from the fermentation of cereals and fruits.

Most societies began developing herblores, lists of herbs which were good for treating various physical and mental ailments.

For example, St. John's Wort was traditionally prescribed in parts of Europe for depression ( in addition to use as a general-purpose tea ), and Chinese medicine developed elaborate lists of herbs and preparations.

These and various other substances that have an effect on the brain are still used as remedies in many cultures.