Magic Medicine

With the steady increase in suicide rates, it is no surprise that scientists and the like are exploring methods outside the realm of modern medicine to treat disorders such as clinical depression. The research of the effects of hallucinogenic drugs on the brain have gone as far back as the mid 20th century, where psychiatrists recognised the positives but were shot down due to the social rejection of the hippy culture at the time.

Documentarian Monty Wates has made a film exploring this idea once again. Magic Medicine follows scientist Robin Carhart-Harris, who after three years of trying, finally receives permission to trial 12 sufferers with the controversial treatment. In his documentary, three of them were followed. Each volunteer has a different backstory: one is a single man living alone; another is a married man with a traumatic childhood; and another has no significant memory of an experience that could explain his debilitating condition.

Carhart-Harris provides each volunteer with a dose of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic component of what we call magic mushrooms. With the radical outcry of how society views mind-altering drugs, it came as a surprise to see how subtle the effects were on the three men under supervision. Positioned in a dimly lit room with calming music, candles and an eye mask – it resulted in the volunteers unlocking memories, rather than creating radical new surroundings, one of the core side effects of the recreational drug. It is a fascinating topic to explore; the use of illegal substances to treat medical conditions – and society’s view has unfortunately played a part in the study not moving forward.

Magic Medicine is not a loud film. It quietly follows the three subjects from before the trial through to months later to see the overall effect it had on them. There are moments where you can feel the anguish of the subjects who have battled depression for decades, and the struggles it imposes on their loved ones. It is an intriguing study which had my attention from the beginning – and what was fascinating was how different each one reacted to the treatment. Some are positive, some are negative.

Like any medical study, this was never going to end with a clear answer to the big problem. Carhart-Harris isn’t going out and claiming to cure depression with his groundbreaking new treatment. However, it’s clear that he has put the spotlight on how medicinal psychedelics could be considered a game-changer in the future. And Magic Medicine sparks the debate about why they’re not moving at a faster pace. 

It doesn’t delve too deep into the scientific aspects of the trial and it fails to explore what makes psilocybin so effective in unblocking the chemical imbalance and trauma involved with depression. But it is an intriguing project that needs to be seen and talked about. 

It is recommended viewing, even if just to broaden horizons on such a taboo topic.

Rating: 🥛🥛🥛

Transitions Film Festival 
Till Friday, 6 March 2020
transitionsfilmfestival.com/event/magic-medicine