WHOOP Podcast

Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris: An Expert’s Guide to the Medicinal Potential of Psychedelics

Jul 26, 2023

Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, a distinguished professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, discusses the potential of psychedelics for treating mental health challenges. Topics include altered states of consciousness, changing attitudes towards psychedelics, physiological markers impacted by psychedelics, and performance-enhancing possibilities. They also touch on the legality of psychedelics in the U.S., what Robin is currently obsessing over, and the biggest benefits of psychedelics.

55:05

Episode guests

Robin Carhart-Harris

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT can effectively treat mental health challenges such as depression, anorexia, OCD, and addiction, revealing hidden aspects of the mind and leading to self-discovery and improved mental well-being.

In a therapeutic setting, the controlled and supervised use of psychedelics, combined with psychological support, can result in gaining insights into past experiences and behaviors, leading to clarity, emotional release, and healing.

Deep dives

Overview of Psychedelics and Their Potential

Psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and DMT have the potential to impact the human brain and effectively treat mental health challenges like depression, anorexia, OCD, and addiction. These substances reveal aspects of the mind or soul that are normally inaccessible and can lead to self-discovery and improvements in mental health. While recreational use of psychedelics can be risky, controlled and supervised clinical use shows promise as a medicinal treatment. The therapeutic effects include gaining insights into one's past experiences and behaviors, leading to clarity and healing. Psychedelics also hold potential for enhancing performance and promoting overall well-being.

Introduction

2min

Exploring the Origins and Types of Psychedelics

29min

Exploring the Timing and Readiness for Alternative Type of Treatment

5min

Letting Go and the Direction of Information Flow in Psychedelic Experience

4min

Exploring the Potential of Psychedelics for Well-being and Performance Enhancement

12min

The Benefits of Psychedelics and Future Research

4min

On this week’s episode, WHOOP VP of Performance Science, Principal Scientist, Kristen Holmes is joined by Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, a distinguished professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. He is one of the leading researchers in the study of how psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and DMT can change the human brain and in doing so, be used to successfully treat various mental health challenges such as major depression, anorexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and addiction. Kristen and Robin discuss the etymology of psychedelics (2:30), researching altered states and altered consciousness (6:35), recreational use of psychedelics (12:53), how attitudes around psychedelics are changing (16:00), the most promising and exciting aspects of psychedelic research (19:11), physiological markers impacted by psychedelics (24:20), the optimal time to explore psychedelic treatment (31:00), what it means to biologically “let go” (35:35), the performance-enhancing possibilities of psychedelics (39:57), legality in the U.S. (45:11), what Robin is obsessing over (50:20), and the biggest benefits of psychedelics (51:35).

Resources:
Psychedelics and the Impact on Veterans and PTSD
Dr. Carhart-Harris on Twitter

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