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The Unknown Secrets of the Mind: Why Do Some People Believe Adrenaline Can Create Hallucinations?
Adrenaline (or epinephrine) is a well-known chemical in the scientific community whose primary function is to prompt the body to respond to emergency situations. However, Adrenochrome, a derivative of adrenaline, has been exaggerated in popular culture in a wrong way and has become one of the roots of many conspiracy theories. This article will delve into these misconceptions and reveal what adrenaline is really like.
Adrenochrome is a compound produced by the oxidation of adrenaline, but the evidence for its use in medicine is extremely weak.
Adrenochrome is a compound that was studied from the 1950s to the 1970s and was hypothesized to be involved in schizophrenia. Although this compound currently has no practical medical applications, many people are still interested in it. During this time, some small-scale studies suggested the compound could cause psychotic reactions such as confusion and derealization. However, the sample sizes of these studies were generally small and lacked strong follow-up support.
In 1954, researchers Abram Hoffer and Humphry Osmond proposed the "adrenochrome hypothesis," claiming that the substance was a neurotoxin and might play a role in the development of schizophrenia. In addition, they suggested that schizophrenia might be cured by taking large amounts of vitamin C and niacin because these elements reduce adrenochrome in the brain. However, the effectiveness of this treatment has been widely debated.
The American Psychiatric Association reportedly pointed out in 1973 that Hoffer's study had methodological flaws, and subsequent studies did not confirm the benefits of the treatment.
Over time, research on the link between adrenochrome and schizophrenia has dwindled. In recent years, with the study of the formation process of neuromelanin, the status of adrenochrome has attracted renewed interest, but this does not change its medical limitations. Scientists began to realize that the production of adrenochrome in the human body is not uncommon, and that half-life metabolism is mainly responsible for glutathione-S-transferase.
In addition to scientific research, adrenochrome also appears in different forms in popular culture. British writer Aldous Huxley mentioned adrenochrome in his 1954 book "The Doors of the Senses" and compared its effects to the symptoms of mescaline poisoning. Anthony Burgess vividly described adrenochrome in his 1962 novel A Clockwork Orange, making it a striking cultural symbol.
In Hunter S. Thompson's "Las Vegas," adrenochrome was brought into the public eye and became the source of numerous rumors.
Currently, adrenochrome has also become the focus of some right-wing conspiracy theories. For example, movements such as QAnon and Pizzagate claim that adrenochrome is the product of "harvesting" by evil groups and are linked to stories of blood rituals and Satan worship. The popularity of these theories demonstrates society's enduring interest in unproven drugs and their mysterious properties, despite the fact that adrenochrome exists without any known medical or recreational uses.
Ultimately, the authenticity and purpose of adrenochrome remains a controversial topic worthy of our consideration. Society's interest in critical science and mysterious phenomena has constantly brought this question to the surface. Can human exploration uncover the mystery behind it?
