Dr. Anthony Bossis, a clinical psychologist and NYU professor, dives into the intriguing realm of psychedelics as revolutionary treatments for mental health issues like anxiety and the fear of death. He discusses the controlled use of psilocybin in clinical trials, highlighting its potential to reshape perceptions and alleviate existential fears. The conversation also touches on the historical context of psychedelics, exploring their therapeutic impact and the balance of science and spirituality in understanding these profound experiences.
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Late-Night Meeting
Dr. Hyman and Dr. Bossis met at a futuristic healthcare conference.
Dr. Bossis's discussion about psychedelics intrigued Dr. Hyman.
insights INSIGHT
Science and Religion's Shared History
Historically, science and religion were intertwined, both seeking to understand existence and transcendence.
This shared impulse to understand what we are has been lost as science and religion separated.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Path to Psychedelic Research
Dr. Bossis's interest in death, dying, and spirituality led him to research mystical experiences.
He was surprised to find scientific studies from the 60s using psychedelics to induce such experiences, showing clinical benefits.
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This Timeless Moment offers a personal and moving account of Aldous Huxley's later years, including his spiritual explorations and his final days. The book captures the essence of Huxley's intellectual and spiritual pursuits, providing insights into his life and work through Laura's unique perspective. It includes excerpts from his unfinished novel, notes, and letters, offering a glimpse into his profound thoughts on life and consciousness.
Varieties of Religious Experience
William James
This book is a collection of lectures delivered by William James at the University of Edinburgh between 1901 and 1902. It focuses on the personal and subjective aspects of religious experiences, rather than on theology or organized religion. James examines various types of religious experiences, including healthy-mindedness, the sick soul, conversion, mysticism, and saintliness. He emphasizes the importance of feeling and personal experience in religion, arguing that these experiences are the primary source of religious beliefs and practices. The book also discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of these experiences, highlighting their complexity and life-altering nature[2][3][4].
How to Change Your Mind
What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
Michael Pollan
In this book, Michael Pollan delves into the history of psychedelic drugs, from their rise in the 1960s to their current resurgence in medical research. He combines historical and scientific analysis with personal narratives of his own experiences with psychedelics, such as LSD and psilocybin. The book explores how these substances are being used to treat conditions like depression, addiction, and anxiety, and discusses their potential to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and consciousness. Pollan's work is a blend of science, memoir, and travel writing, offering a nuanced and engaging look at the therapeutic and spiritual benefits of psychedelics[1][2][4].
Doors of Perception
Aldous Huxley
In this book, Huxley recounts his first psychedelic experience with mescaline in May 1953. He describes how the drug altered his perception of the world, making ordinary objects and experiences take on profound aesthetic and philosophical significance. Huxley draws on various philosophical and spiritual traditions, including those of William Blake, Meister Eckhart, Plato, and Buddhism, to contextualize his insights. The book challenges conventional views on perception and reality, suggesting that certain substances can reveal deeper aspects of existence that are normally filtered out by the human brain's 'reducing valve'[1][2][4]
When it comes to medicine, many of us want immediate results. What if just one dose of medicine could dramatically shift your perception, decreasing anxiety, depression, fear of death, addictive tendencies, and so much more? It might sound too good to be true, but the therapeutic use of psychedelics is showing us it’s possible.
Now, I’m not talking about taking magic mushrooms at a Grateful Dead concert. The medicine used in psychedelic trials is created in a lab, carefully dosed for the patient, and administered in a specific setting with a trained guide who is present throughout the entire process. This highly controlled process can yield some pretty amazing results and we will be seeing much more science emerge on the safe use of psychedelics for a variety of disorders. This week on The Doctor’s Farmacy, Dr. Anthony Bossis joins me to elaborate on using psychedelics to expand our sensory abilities and relax our experience with death and illness. Anthony P. Bossis, Ph.D. conducts FDA-approved clinical trials in the reemerging field of psychedelic research. He is a clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine investigating the effects of psilocybin, a naturally occurring compound found in specific species of mushrooms.
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