April 16th, 1943: the first acid trip

[n2doc]

By Tony Long April 15, 2010 | 8:00 pm | Categories: 20th century, Chemistry, Discoveries


1943: Albert Hofmann accidentally discovers the psychedelic properties of LSD.

Hofmann, a Swiss chemist, was researching the synthesis of a lysergic acid compound, LSD-25, when he inadvertently absorbed a bit through his fingertips. Intrigued by the stimulating effects on his perception, Hofmann decided further exploration was warranted. Three days later he ingested 250 micrograms of LSD, embarking on the first full-fledged acid trip.

In his autobiography, LSD, My Problem Child, Hofmann remembered his discovery this way:

I was forced to interrupt my work in the laboratory in the middle of the afternoon and proceed home, being affected by a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness. At home I lay down and sank into a not unpleasant intoxicated-like condition, characterized by an extremely stimulated imagination. In a dreamlike state, with eyes closed (I found the daylight to be unpleasantly glaring), I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors. After some two hours this condition faded away.



Read More http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2010/04/0416hofmann-discovers-lsd

[htuttle]

1. The World's Strangest Bicycle Ride

[MrMickeysMom]

3. Geez, I thought you had a story...

Trip of the tongue?

[htuttle]

5. Actually, I do have a couple

But I was thinking of Albert's.

He couldn't know what to expect when he took enough acid to keep Jefferson Airplane peaking for a week...

[MrMickeysMom]

7. Funny... it only lasted two hours...

But, that's science!

[htuttle]

14. Honestly, I suspect it was quite a bit longer than that

He says it was 'some two hours', but I have never experienced an acid trip that lasted less than 6 hours, and that was from far less LSD. Perhaps he was only referring to a particular part of the trip.

:shrug:

[MrMickeysMom]

15. I remember the "shroom incident", someone's party -

... and thought the host said, Well, yeah, drink the whole glass.

Not only did it last a good 8 hours, I had NO IDEA you could carry on conversations with inanimate objects. Alternative universe meets girl. It could have been the female version of Billy Jack and that snake dance...

[hvn_nbr_2]

20. You're probably right, if I read the snippet in the OP correctly.

It sounds to me like the two hours is referring to the time when he was lying down at home. But he had already been experiencing phenomena at the lab long enough to decide to go home, plus the time for the bike ride too. So I interpret the whole experience to have been a good bit longer than two hours.

[MrMickeysMom]

2. I'm sure this could stimulate trips down memory lane...

... if you'll pardon my pun.

Pretty Paisley Horsey... (Firesign Theater)

[stevedeshazer]

4. Man, this isn't anything like that Blue Öyster Cult concert.

:crazy:

[MrMickeysMom]

8. ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdXfkkyI1nQ

[xchrom]

6. Ah yes -- LSD - a trip down memory lane. Nt

[hobbit709]

9. Bicycle Day as it is known.

[MrMickeysMom]

16. Why is it know that way?

Inquiring, burnt out psychies want to know!

[hobbit709]

17. Because of his bicycle ride home that day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_LSD

[Webster Green]

10. One of my heroes.

I've often thought about what that must have felt like for him discovering the amazing properties of LSD.

When I first did it, at least I had an idea of what I was in for, and it was still utterly amazing beyond belief. :hippie:

[Berserker]

11. Berserker

accidentally discovers acid in 1970 at sea.

[inna]

12. K&R! And...

...n2doc, I LOVE your posts.

:yourock:

[AnArmyVeteran]

13. I've seen the breathtaking sights of leaves glowing in perfect darkness...

In the middle of a forest with absolutely no lights, all the leaves on the trees were illuminated lighting the path where I was walking. It was truly an amazing sight, one I'll never forget. No movie could ever capture the visual magic I saw that night.

[PinkFloyd]

18. I saw today where psychadelics are making a comeback to treat disorders

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/12/health/main6388003.shtml

I just hope law-enforcement and the government stays out of it. It gets so old hearing out outraged people are about medications that have side-effects like euphoria or mild hallucinations vs something like diarrhea, headache, rectal bleeding, hives, throat swelling, diabetes, etc. Its sad that everything that puts you in a better mood is taboo yet something that makes you miserable is an acceptable side-effect.

[proteus_lives]

19. I never understood why anyone would want to do that to themselves.

Pointless.

[MajorChode]

21. No more so than lots of other activities

...video games, comic books, porn, Woody Allen movies, prank phone calls, modern art, DU, etc.

[Webster Green]

26. How can you possibly know that it is pointless?

Unless you try it?

It's not too late. Don't be scared. You'll come back down in a 8 hours or so.

It is an amazing experience! Pointless is the most inaccurate description I can imagine.

[The Midway Rebel]

22. At the same time Albert was doing his bold research...

The Manhattan project was underway to deliver the worlds first nuclear weapons, Hilter was clearing the Jewish ghettos in Krakow, Poland, and the worlds largest office building, the Pentagon, was completed.

The Lord worketh in mysterious ways.

Can I get an amen?

[MrMickeysMom]

25. ...

AMEN!

(yes, the Lord sure does work in mysterious ways)

[B Calm]

23. My first acid trip was out at sea in the US Navy.

My second acid trip was at a red light district in Rotterdam, Holland.

[MrMickeysMom]

24. Okay, so the question is...

Which bike-ride was better?

:-)

[B Calm]

28. The one out at sea! On a clear night in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean

The stars were unbelievable. The movement of the ship with the waves, and the phosphorus in the water just about blew my mind away in a good way!

The red light district was fun too! This was when I discovered that acid was a great aphrodisiac. I was amazed at my sexual power. That one night cost me a great deal of money, but a lot of great memories!

[MrMickeysMom]

31. Groovy...

nod, wink.. (I would think on board under the heaven would put you at ONE with the universe)

[B Calm]

32. The heavens above you and below you.

You could see the curvature of the earth and I couldn't help but notice that I was a passenger on a globe floating in space.

[leveymg]

27. The trip to now wouldn't have been nearly as much fun without the other Doctors:

[mdmc]

33. yesyes

[greencharlie]

29. lolz.... I think??? nt

[pipoman]

30. Oh, it makes my joints hurt and my jaw muscles ache to think of it....