Tommy Aceto, a former Navy SEAL and trauma medic, now advocates for veteran mental health. In a captivating discussion, he reveals how psychedelics can enhance overall wellness beyond just healing. He emphasizes body awareness and breathwork as tools for personal growth, sharing his transformative 5-MeO-DMT experience that deepened his connection with the divine. Aceto also discusses the importance of surrendering to change, the significance of gratitude in rewiring the brain, and how cold exposure can prepare one for profound psychedelic journeys.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Kentucky Ibogaine Bill
Tommy Aceto worked with Kentucky's Opioid Settlement Commission, advocating for ibogaine research funding.
The initial success was overturned due to political maneuvering, highlighting challenges in psychedelic advocacy.
insights INSIGHT
Psychedelics and Holistic Health
Psychedelics impact the nervous system, influencing thoughts, actions, and feelings, potentially improving overall well-being beyond mental health.
Increased awareness from psychedelics can positively affect various health aspects, including diet and cardiovascular health.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Ibogaine for Athletes
Dr. Martin Polanco, a friend of Tommy Aceto, uses ibogaine to treat athletes with TBI, as there are limited effective treatments.
This highlights the potential of psychedelics for physical healing and performance enhancement.
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In 'Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art,' James Nestor delves into the history and science of breathing, revealing how modern humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly. The book takes readers on a global journey to ancient burial sites, secret Soviet facilities, and other unusual locations to uncover the hidden science behind ancient breathing practices like Pranayama, Sudarshan Kriya, and Tummo. Nestor collaborates with pulmonary experts to test long-held beliefs about breathing and presents evidence that slight adjustments in breathing can significantly improve athletic performance, rejuvenate internal organs, and alleviate various health issues such as snoring, asthma, and autoimmune diseases.
The Body Keeps the Score
Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Bessel van der Kolk
In this book, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma reshapes both the body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores various treatments, including neurofeedback, meditation, sports, drama, and yoga, which activate the brain’s natural neuroplasticity to aid in recovery. The book emphasizes the power of relationships in both causing and healing trauma and offers hope through descriptions of novel approaches to treatment. It is based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists in the field[1][2][5].
The untethered soul
Michael A. Singer
In 'The Untethered Soul', Michael A. Singer explores the nature of the self and how to achieve spiritual growth by recognizing and releasing the inner blockages that prevent us from experiencing true happiness. The book emphasizes the importance of accepting reality as it is, rather than trying to control or resist it. Singer provides practical advice on how to manage negative thoughts, cultivate a positive mindset, and live in harmony with the natural flow of life.
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].
In this episode, Kyle interviews Tommy Aceto: former Navy Seal and trauma medic, and now, ambassador for the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition and advisor at Beond Ibogaine.
He talks about how much the psychedelic space focuses on healing and mental health, but doesn’t talk enough about the overall wellness that can come from a consistent practice: that the more you become aware of your body, emotions, and breath, the more robust your neural pathways will become – and that you can actually change your neurochemistry and build a more energetically powerful system. With these pathways being opened, fewer psychedelic experiences are necessary, and with practice, these mind states can be achieved simply through meditation or breathwork. The idea of surrender and entering a state of receivership is scary, but he believes the most important skill to begin that transformation is to learn how to truly let go.
He also talks about:
What the psychedelic scene is like in Nashville and the south
His work with the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission and what happened with the bill to grant 42 million for ibogaine research
His most powerful 5-MeO-DMT experience and how it reconnected him with the divine
The science and practice of gratitude: how reframing painful experiences can actually rewire the brain
How cold exposure (notably ice baths) can prepare your system for a psychedelic experience
and more! Happy New Year from all of us at Psychedelics Today. Let's hope for big psychedelic wins in 2025!
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