LSD (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

It is a thing of Beauty! -- Dr. Alexander & Ann Shulgin, March 6, 2004

Otto's books are read across the world by amateur and professional chemists, industry, attorneys, and forensic laboratories, including the DEA. -- Thomas Lyttle, Heads Magazine, Vol. 4, Issue 3

Product Description

At age 15, Otto developed hemi-paraesthesic migraine headaches. These cluster migraines resemble a stroke. He was given narcotics, barbiturates and ergot alkaloids. The drugs were making him ill. He learned of a new medication that might help. The drug was LSD-25 and it worked.

His physicians would not prescribe LSD so Otto entered the world of LSD. Several laboratories provided him and other patients with the medication. Included are comments and research from the greatest scientists of the twentieth century. Personal satori experiences. At nineteen, Otto discontinued his exploration of LSD.

LSD is the most comprehensive book ever written on the synthesis of LSD. Otto includes the reactions and the chemistry behind the reactions. Many simplified reactions (e.g. diethylamine from vodka, lysergic acid directly from Claviceps sugar culture, coupling agents from scratch). Extractions translated to English.

LSD is written by someone who has been there and knows the subject/chemistry first hand. LSD is as popular today as it was in the 1970s and 1960s. For many it is a party drug, for others it is a medication. The Decade of the Brain heralded in a new interest in psychedelics and their medical application.

The book is illustrated by Tulasne, Chase, Gill and others. LSD is packed with chemistry for future generations of neurochemists and explorers. 275+ references. UV laminated.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Thoth Press (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966312848
• ISBN-13: 978-0966312843
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #101,263 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book on LSD Synthesis Ever Written, May 10, 2004

By A Customer

LSD is truly an amazing book. No doubt the best book ever written on the subject of LSD synthesis. It is very comprehensive, describing the construction of all precursors from common materials. The illustrations are beautiful. There are quotes and descriptions from psychotherapists who personally used LSD in their practice. The text is small print, packed with multiple formulas that have been used by the actual manufacturers. Complete with graphic pictures of tablet machines and sheeting equipment. This first edition is sure to become a classic; collectible by all those interested in the subject of psychedelics. I really enjoy it and would recommend LSD (the book) to everyone.

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mistakes in previous review, October 15, 2004

By	A Kat Person (Bay Area) - See all my reviews

The effect of LSD and other psychedelics is a fascinating area of study, and unfortunately, due to the failure of the legal system to keep up with the pace of neuroscience, very little research has been done in this area since the advent of modern scientific technology such as the fMRI (and what a shame it is!)

It is with that caveat that I must say the previous reviewer is either mistaken or simply not up-to-date with the current hypotheses as to how LSD and other indoleamine psychedelics affect the brain. Perhaps the previous reviewer may be interested in checking out the latest research, what little of it there is.

The idea that LSD is merely affecting the retinal cells does not make any sense in that it does not account for most of the subjective effects of the drug. Since sustained firing of retinal cells may account for the visual short-term sensory store (an effect that causes some degree of "trails" in all people) then perhaps LSD's effect of elongated "trails" is caused by this. However, it cannot account for anything else, and LSD certainly has myriad other effects: visual, auditory, emotional, cognitive, you name it.

Current literature states that LSD acts on a variety of 5-HT type (serotonin) receptors. The serotonin pathways originate in the raphe nuclei and spread throughout the cortical and sub-cortical areas; consequently, LSD may act on these pathways throughout the brain. Not only that, but LSD and similar compounds have been shown to have noradrenergic and dopaminergic effects, including effects on the locus coeruleus, a system that also extends pathways throughout the brain and acts as a modulator for such functions as emotion and arousal.

And finally, for many people, LSD truly is a mind-expanding experience. The effect it has certainly depends on the person taking the drug, their mindset, their openness to new experiences, etc. But regardless, LSD has the potential to, at the very least, shock the user into experiencing a new way of perceiving the world and the self, shaking to the core any previous assumptions that the world is exactly as they see it and they see it exactly as it is. For many, this can be truly valuable.

All that being said, this book is chock-full of information and as such is an extremely welcome addition to current psychedelic literature. This is a vastly under-studied topic, and new information whether related to neuroscience, or pure chemistry, or potentials for psychotherapy, is all extremely helpful for the growing academic and spiritual interest in this subject.

3 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!, June 5, 2007

By	crippled1 - See all my reviews

"I am truly fascinating and will now convince you of it by explaining how lsd affects the brain." Please, I'm sure you are fascinating but, could you just review the book?