Hi, and welcome to Your Health Quickly, a scientific American podcast series.

On this show, we highlight the latest vital health news, discoveries that affect your body and your mind.

Every episode, we dive into one topic.

We discuss diseases, treatments, and some controversies.

And we demystify the medical research in ways you can use to stay healthy.

I'm Tony Lewis.

I'm Josh Fishman.

We're a scientific American senior health editors.

Today, we're talking about MDMA.

It's a well-known party drug, but it is also showing real promise for treating intractable PTSD.

The flashbacks, depression, and other symptoms that recur long after a traumatic event.

And it might help other conditions too.

The medication could soon be headed for FDA approval.

Just a quick disclaimer, MDMA is currently an illegal drug.

Although we'll be talking about its potential therapeutic applications, we are not condoning or advocating its use.

Josh, what do you know about MDMA?

Well, I know it got a reputation as a party drug in the 1980s, making people excited and giddy on the dance floor.

And that's where it got the nicknames Ecstasy and Molly.

But before that, some psychiatrists were using it during talk therapy.

They thought that it helped patients open up in sessions.

Yeah, that's the gist of it.

MDMA is a psychoactive drug with both stimulant and mood enhancing effects.

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