Spencer Heath Archive

Item 3174

Typed transcription by Spencer MacCallum from conversation with Heath at Winchester VA

June 25, 1955

So far as a drug has physiological effects as opposed to mere corrosiveness or structural destructiveness, it does not act upon the body at all but rather upon that part of the psyche, so-called, which is more or less autonomous and independent of the conscious mind. A drug which acts upon one part of the psyche puts the body to sleep; another drug or dosage acting upon another part of the psyche sets the body dancing, and so on. It may be that all drug therapy is in reality psycho-therapy. This shows us drugs only as one kind of the agencies or influences that can greatly affect the bodily estate through the mind. A narcotic may be a special form of lullaby, and the drug that gives courage may be only a special form of counsel or advice that revives faith and confidence. So that drugs may be only one of the many kinds of environmental and also mental influence that have determinate influence upon bodily well-being. This would seem to tear down any marked division between drug medication and mental therapy.

This is only a hypothesis, it is true, but one which I think quite probably will in time become established as a fact.