Strikingly, over 17 million people in the United States, and over 330 million people worldwide are affected by depression. While psilocybin is getting some attention as a means of treating depression in the mental health community, many people are curious about the experience, and desire the anti-depressant effect, but prefer not to encounter the possibly terrifying visions, nausea, vomiting, and anxiety that often accompanies the ingestion of psychedelic substances. Interestingly, unlike the multitude of studies that reveal the benefits of acupuncture for depression, there are only a couple of psilocybin studies that are making headlines for treatment-resistant depression. 

It is time to bring the research about the remarkable similarity of both psychedelics and acupuncture’s effects on the brain into full view and possibly to rebrand acupuncture as a psychedelic experience. Based on the dramatic results published in many studies about acupuncture for improving neurotransmission, functional connectivity, and neuroplasticity in the brain, all medical professionals should promote the therapeutic use of acupuncture - especially for depression et al. mental health conditions. 

The Acupuncture Trip introduces a novel hybrid of neuroplastic therapies that can lead not only to the deactivation of brain networks but also to a mystical-type experience that results in positive effects on mood and behavior. The Acupuncture Trip model hopes to prove that under a controlled set and setting, acupuncture can offer a genuine drug-free mystical experience. In my opinion, acupuncturists are in a pivotal position to create the conditions for this kind of peak experience for patients suffering from depression and other mental health issues. This guide is for licensed acupuncturists who would like to provide this kind of synaptic enrichment and mystical-type experience for their patients.