Psychedelic Medicine Podcast with Dr. Lynn Marie Morski

This episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast features a conversation with Erica Siegal about the intricacies of harm reduction. Erica is a licensed clinical social worker and a professional harm reductionist, as well as an MDMA-assisted psychotherapy researcher. She is the founder of NEST Harm Reduction, a California-based clinical practice that offers private therapy, harm reduction training, workplace consulting, and direct care of workers on the frontlines of secondary trauma.  In this discussion, Erica shares the basic principles underlying harm reduction while also unpacking the nuances involved in providing care. The four principles Erica shares from the Zendo project are: 1) creating a safe space, 2) sitting, not guiding, 3) talking through rather than talking down, and 4) remembering difficult is not the same as bad. These principles provide a basic framework for providing harm reduction services for someone who has chosen to experiment with psychoactive substances.  Erica also discussed the acronym SPACE, which stands for sustainable, patient, authentic, consensual, and empathetic, with each of these terms playing a crucial role in effective harm reduction work. Sustainable refers to the emotional and energetic toll this work can take, and ensuring one isn't spread too thin and heading towards burnout. Patience is necessary when engaging with someone who is going through a challenging experience, especially when their needs are shifting or they are having difficulties communicating.  Erica describes authenticity in the harm reduction context as staying grounded in one's training and expertise and not trying to improvise modalities while sitting. Consent is also crucial when providing care, and Erica explains how to approach this topic both in the context of a pre-planned psychedelic experience and when the opportunity for harm reduction arises more spontaneously. Finally the harm reductionist should strive to be empathetic, providing proactive support through open communication and attempting to meet needs as they arise. In this episode: The four guiding principles of psychedelic harm reduction Why romantic partners often don't make the best trip sitters The intricacies of consent in a harm reduction setting Dealing with burnout as a harm reduction professional  How to hold space in an authentic, empathetic way Gamifying harm reduction Quotes: "Harm reduction is a movement for people who believe in human rights and dignity for anybody, including people who are actively using drugs." [5:31] "When we go into an altered state or use psychedelics, we are obviously shifting our perspective and therefore we need to make sure we have some safe things that can ground us back into our bodies and our experiences." [11:57] "If you are burning out and you are becoming someone who needs help, you're not actually holding the space to do the work." [19:32] "I think all psychedelic practitioners, whether you are above ground or underground, should provide informed consent to clients." [30:23] "The only things that we do with somebody who is that significantly altered is be patient with them, and wait for them to be able to make decisions for themselves." [36:29] "Make sure you're checking in about peoples' basic needs because they forget. And that could be the thing that shifts it onto the right direction for them." [49:54] Links: NEST Harm Reduction Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

This first episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast in 2021 features a conversation with Dr. Reid Robison, discussing the potentials of using psychedelics to treat eating disorders. Dr. Robison is a board-certified psychiatrist and the chief medical officer at Novamind. He is also the co-founder of Cedar Psychiatry, founder of the Polizzi Free Clinic, and adjunct faculty at the University of Utah. Dr. Robison serves as the medical director of Center for Change—a top eating disorder treatment center—and he is currently the coordinating investigator for the upcoming MAPS study looking at the potential for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a treatment for eating disorders. In this conversation, Dr. Robison dissects the intricacies of various eating disorders and shares his experience using ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. At Center for Change, Dr. Robison conducted an IRB-approved study looking at the use of ketamine as a potential treatment for eating disorders. In the study, participants were regularly administered ketamine in a small group setting with therapeutic and integration work happening between sessions. Dr. Robison shares some anecdotal reports as well as the objective data from the study, both of which show promising results. In particular, Dr. Robison notes how ketamine can promote a sense of embodiment for individuals struggling with eating disorders, helping them return to a more intuitive connection with food and eating.  Additionally, Dr. Robison discusses topics such as neuroplasticity and the default mode network as potential key factors explaining why this type of treatment could be effective. Since compounds such as ketamine can promote neuroplasticity and downregulate the default mode network, this gives the therapist a window to do particularly effective work with the patient, as they are in a more malleable state and less burdened by routines and habitual thought patterns. Dr. Robison closes with a discussion of the upcoming MAPS study which will look at the possible efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for anorexia and binge eating disorders.  In this episode: Dr. Robison's study of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for eating disorders The therapeutic modalities Dr. Robison's team uses alongside ketamine for addressing eating disorders Psycholytic vs transformative applications of ketamine in psychotherapy The co-occurrence of eating disorders and conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD Details of the upcoming MAPS study on MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for anorexia and binge eating disorder. Quotes: "If you look at eating disorders, they're pretty underfunded and there are no FDA approved medicine treatment options for anorexia, for example." [3:25] "Ketamine and other psychedelic medicines are therapy aids, therapy boosters, accelerators, or catalysts to the therapeutic process." [10:42] "But I do believe that there are lasting benefits, especially when you pair it with the psychotherapy—when you have this window of opportunity of neuroplasticity to do some deeper work." [21:07] "Healing can be disruptive sometimes and you do feel worse before you feel better in some cases." [25:23] "Downregulation of the default mode is such a powerful and welcome break from the day-to-day patterns in these conditions." [37:43] Links: Novamind Cedar Psychiatry Center for Change Upcoming MAPS study on MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for Eating Disorders Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui  

Today’s episode is the first in our series focusing on psilocybin’s potential uses as medicine. You are going to hear from one of the premier researchers into this drug, how he runs his studies, and what he has discovered concerning its effects and uses as a medicine. Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu is a member of the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences faculty at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a Guest Researcher at the National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Neuroimaging Research Branch. There, he studies the effects of psychedelic drugs in humans with a particular focus of psilocybin as a potential aid in the treatment of addiction. Dr. Garcia-Romeu explains the biochemical effects of psilocybin in the human body. He delves into what his research has uncovered about the drug’s potential to treat addiction disorders. What is noteworthy about his research is that is has shown that psychedelic treatments have been able to help some people make lasting changes in regard to alcohol and nicotine addiction. Dr. Garcia-Romeu also discusses psilocybin’s use in treating anxiety and depression. The research has shown that psilocybin has the potential to help patients with life-threatening and terminal illnesses cope with the psychological burdens of their disease. He also explains some of the ongoing research into the efficacy of psilocybin to have a lasting impact on depression in general.   In this episode: How psilocybin works at a biochemical level What the research is saying about the uses of psilocybin to treat addiction disorders Possible reasons why some people respond more significantly to psilocybin treatments than others Psilocybin’s effect on treating mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression Safeguards to avoid possible adverse effects during psilocybin studies   Quotes: “Administering high doses of drugs like psilocybin and LSD seemed to really help people make some breakthroughs into having greater insight into their alcohol abuse and having more plasticity in their ability to change their behavior going forward.” [7:06] “The more mystical effects that people are having, the better outcomes you’re seeing.” [23:25] “These were real improvements in the quality of life that were measurable, statistically significant, and enduring.” [28:42]   Links: Get 20% off everything at Octogon Biolabs with coupon code 'plantmedicine’ Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research clinicaltrials.gov   Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui

Dr. Dan Engle is a psychiatrist with a clinical practice that combines aspects of regenerative medicine, psychedelic research, integrative spirituality, and peak performance.  His medical degree is from the University of Texas at San Antonio. His psychiatry residency degree is from the University of Colorado in Denver, and his child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship degree is from Oregon Health & Science University.  Dr. Engle is an international consultant to several global healing centers facilitating the use of long-standing indigenous plant medicines for healing and awakening.  He is the Founder and Medical Director of Kuya Institute for Transformational Medicine in Austin, Texas; Full Spectrum Medicine, a psychedelic integration and educational platform; and Thank You Life, a non-profit funding stream supporting access to psychedelic therapies.  Dr. Engle is the author of The Concussion Repair Manual: A Practical Guide to Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries, as well as his new book, A Dose of Hope: A Story of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy. Dr. Engle shares how he sees ayahuasca and other plant medicines as a bridge between traditional medical practices and contemporary medicine. This is particularly the case in the field of psychology. Ayahuasca can have the ability to create visionary states that lend insight into what individuals find most important at a deep subconscious level. There are ongoing efforts to understand the possible uses of ayahuasca as a tool in integrative therapy. Dr. Engle has particular experience applying it in TBI therapies. He describes what he has observed in how ayahuasca can create synaptic genesis and stimulate the growth of brain cells. This has huge implications for treating neurodegenerative conditions.  Dr. Engle goes on to describe some of the scientific research surrounding ayahuasca. Its ability to treat a number of conditions has been closely examined in recent decades. This includes its effects on such a large range of issues including chronic inflammatory bowel conditions, addiction, depression, and brain injury.    In this episode: The potential of ayahuasca to lend insight into unconscious desires Uses of ayahuasca in integrative psychology and TBI treatments What ayahuasca is and the active chemicals it contains Known contraindications of ayahuasca  The findings of many of the research projects focusing on ayahuasca  Ayahuasca’s potential to treat addiction The lasting positive and negative effects of ayahuasca use   Quotes: “The opening that happens when medicines are facilitated well is orders of magnitude more powerful than the opening that I had experienced in talk therapy.” [6:30] “If you have brain trauma, or a neuro deficit or hypoactivity, many people feel like their brains come back online.” [19:16] “We started studying it. But we’re still in our infancy of understanding, whereas the traditional cultures have been working with this medicine for thousands of years.” [31:14] “The medicines are not here to save us. They aren’t here to fix us. The medicines are here to show us truth in our path. It’s still our work to do.”  [50:05]   Links: The Concussion Repair Manual “Fantastic Fungi” DMT: The Spirit Molecule “Embrace of the Serpent” Fellowship of the River Takiwasi Center Revive Centers Being True to You The Third Wave Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui   The information provided in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical recommendation, diagnosis, or treatment. The use of information in this podcast is at one’s own discretion, and is not an endorsement of use given the complexity inherent in these medicines, and the current variable widespread illegality of their usage. 

This episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast features a conversation with Dr. Mark Braunstein discussing the potentials of cannabis-assisted psychotherapy. Dr. Braunstein is a whole-health psychiatrist with 22 years of clinical experience. He is the medical director for multiple mental health and psychedelic psychotherapy clinics in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah and he also runs in-patient and out-patient programs for addiction. In his own practice as a psychiatrist, Dr. Braunstein employs both cannabis and ketamine to meet the individual needs of his patients. Dr. Braunstein stresses how he came to these modalities after becoming disillusioned with the predominant model of psychiatry and its emphasis on treating symptoms with pharmaceuticals without much consideration for the patient as an individual. With cannabis-assisted psychotherapy, Dr. Braunstein started to notice real changes in his patients, allowing them to begin living more fulfilling lives.  In this conversation, Dr. Braunstein discusses many of the intricacies of using cannabis in his practice as a psychiatrist, giving particular attention to the intake process he uses to determine which method of ingestion and what dosage would be appropriate for a particular patient given their specific condition and history. Dr. Braunstein also distinguishes between psycholytic and psychedelic applications of cannabis, explaining that the low dose, psycholytic approach is suited to the context of talk therapy, where cannabis helps encourage new insights without being too disorienting, whereas the psychedelic modality uses higher doses to allow the patient to explore their psyche on their own within a safe, supportive context.  In this episode: How wilderness therapy made Dr. Braunstein reevaluate his understanding of psychiatry Psycholytic vs psychedelic uses of cannabis for therapeutic purposes How Dr. Braunstein approaches patients as unique individuals when considering treatment options Using cannabis to help patients encounter buried traumas in a safe, therapeutic setting Contradictions for cannabis-assisted psychotherapy Quotes: "It increases someone's ability to be more productive in psychotherapy-you're able to talk, see things in a different way, have different perceptions." [13:15] "Cannabis is so readily accessible for so many people and they can safely do it in the comfort of their home while they engage in teletherapy." [14:40] "We want to put people into categories of usage to help come up with a protocol of what dose we're going to start them on." [19:18] "Sometimes we'll actually do some cannabis-assisted psychotherapy first to help them process and move through some of the trauma, and then we'll move on to the ketamine to work on the depression." [26:20] "Yes, guidelines are important, but I think that having well-educated physicians, having extensive, well-educated conversations with our patients, and making the right decisions is the best way to go." [34:08] Links: Reconscious Medical Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui  

In this episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast, Dr. James Fadiman and Adam Bramlage join to discuss the finer points of microdosing and their upcoming Microdosing Movement course. Dr. Fadiman is a world-renowned psychedelic researcher and transpersonal psychologist who has made seminal contributions to the contemporary understanding of microdosing coach with clients from a wide range of backgrounds to help craft individualized protocols to best harness the potentials of microdosing. Together with the San Francisco Psychedelic Society and Jakobien & Hein of The Microdosing Institute, they will be leading the upcoming six-week Microdosing Movement course.  In this discussion, Dr. Fadiman and Adam touch on many nuanced topics relating to microdosing, ranging from individualized protocols to current research. Dr. Fadiman tells of his experience gathering information on microdosing through his own study and how this originated what became known as the Fadiman protocol for microdosing. Dr. Fadiman also discusses some conclusions that can be drawn from experience reports, such as the efficacy of microdosing for combatting conditions such as addiction or depression.  Additionally, Adam shares the details of the Microdosing Movement course, emphasizing how building community is foregrounded in the course design. In addition to lectures by experts like Dr. Fadiman, participants will have the opportunity to socialize with other students, integrate the content, and ask questions at weekly communiTEA gatherings over Zoom. The microdosing movement course runs from Sunday, December 13th through Tuesday, January 19th. Additional information and registration linked below: Dr. Fadiman can be reached at jfadiman@gmail.com. In this episode: How Dr. Fadiman developed his microdosing protocol What we know about tolerance when it comes to psychedelics Recent research findings suggesting microdosing could also be effective in treating pain Details of the upcoming microdosing movement course How community enriches microdosing outcomes Quotes "The most important thing to get across is that each person is an individual and no one protocol is going to work for everybody. Everybody has different needs." [12:42] "And particularly people are saying, not that meditation improves your microdosing, but that microdosing absolutely improves your meditation." [15:36] "We're just seeing extremely positive results across the board, and we're seeing that the longer people microdose, the less often they need to microdose." [41:40] "There's so many different applications for this, with so many different conditions, and each day I get new emails or new contracts from people who are using it for totally new things." [43:54] Links The Microdosing Movement Course Microdosing Psychedelics Website Dr. Fadiman's Website Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

This week's episode of the Plant Medicine podcast focuses on the new Fireside Project. Joining to discuss the launch of this peer-to-peer psychedelic hotline are the founder and director Joshua White and cultivator of beloved community Hanifa Nayo Washington. Joshua is a trial lawyer with experience both as a hotline crisis counselor and as a psychedelic peer support volunteer at the Zendo Project. Hanifa is a certified Usui/Holy Fire Reiki Master Practitioner with over twenty years of experience developing community-serving initiatives. Together with the rest of the Fireside Project team, they are working towards the April 14th launch of the world's first psychedelic hotline.  Fireside Project aims to offer broad support for people using psychedelic substances, with volunteers able to both assist during difficult experiences and offer integration assistance after the fact. Users will also be able to choose between a phone call, texting, or a live chat to connect with a volunteer, allowing individuals in the midst of a vulnerable experience the ability to choose whatever form of communication they find most comfortable.  In addition to this crucial support, Fireside Project also hopes to contribute to the psychedelic movement by imagining a more equitable future. Through efforts to recruit a diverse group of volunteers from groups often under-represented in the psychedelic community, Fireside Project hopes to contribute to building a new generation of diverse healers. This is the impetus behind the Fireside Equity Fund, which provides scholarships to volunteers who wish to pursue careers in psychedelic healing.  Fireside Project launches April 14th, 2021 and the number is 1-833-2FIRESIDE. in the meantime, they are recruiting volunteers. If you are interested in being a volunteer, there are A&A sessions on December 9th at 5 p.m. PST and January 9th at 10:00 a.m. PST- register at https://firesideproject.org. In this episode: What services the Fireside Project will provide How Fireside Project will make psychedelic integration more accessible What it means to "cultivate beloved community" How Fireside Project will promote diversity within the psychedelic movement How to become a volunteer for Fireside Project. Quotes: "Volunteering at the Fireside Project...will provide an opportunity to have a much longer-term experience helping people with their psychedelic experiences." [10:30] "We open up this opportunity for continued support, continued deepening, by following up the next week." [12:49] "It's just simply so beautiful to be with someone during such a moment of deep need and to provide support for them." [23:28] "And maybe you're having a beautiful psychedelic experience and your heart is just bursting to connect with someone, please reach out to us in that circumstance as well." [27:34] "Our hope is to compassionately hold someone in a space so that they can figure out the meaning of the medicine and so that they can feel empowered and comfortable." [33:06] Links: Fireside Project Website Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui  

Dr. Chris Timmerman, researcher at Imperial College, discusses the neurology of DMT, including how brainwaves change and the pattern of cortical activation. He explores the similarities between DMT experiences and near-death experiences, and the difficulties of studying the phenomena. Dr. Timmerman also shares his research on the impact of music in psychedelic therapy.

This week's episode of the Plant Medicine podcast features a discussion of what to look for in a psychedelic retreat center or facilitator to ensure the experience is as safe, comfortable, and effective as possible. Joining the conversation is Joël Brierre, who shares his expertise as a 5-MeO-DMT facilitator to provide some concrete tips. Joël is the founder and CEO of Kaivalya Kollectiv, an educational platform that offers transformational retreats and training for plant medicines, yoga, meditation, and more. Joël has spent two decades studying yogic practice and has been a teacher for 15 of those years.    In this conversation, Joël shares personal stories and his expertise as a facilitator to help guide you in making good decisions when choosing psychedelic services. Joël starts by bringing up the idea of the "container," which is a term to describe the atmosphere, preparation, and expertise involved in the facilitation of psychedelic experiences. The idea of a container is helpful for evaluating what situations facilitators would be prepared to navigate: Do the providers have training to respond in case of an emergency? Do they have systems in place to prevent emergencies from happening in the first place?  Joël then dives into the specifics of what makes for a good container. As safety is always important, especially when working with a substance as powerful as 5-MeO-DMT, Joël recommends facilitators have training to ensure they are able to respond to medical emergencies should they arise. Similarly, retreat centers should have professionals available to respond to any psychological emergencies, both during and after ceremonies. Joël also suggests that facilitators ought to have grounding in some practice or philosophy which allows them to respond with wisdom. And of course, facilitators should have deep personal familiarity with the substances they facilitate. In this episode: What you should look out for when choosing a retreat center How to verify that a facilitator is qualified and experienced The importance of the intake process for retreats and facilitators How standards of practice developed around 5-MeO-DMT Quotes: "I think people being extremely mindful of and holding space for those traumas and how they come up is really important." [8:03] "There is nothing more dangerous than an ego that thinks it's enlightened." [22:43] "Ask them what their preparation protocol is and ask them what their aftercare and integration protocol is. And they should have an answer ready for you." [24:57] "Discussion and boundaries are quite essential for a safe container." [35:50] Links: Joël's Website Kaivalya Kollectiv 5-MEO-DMT: A Recommended Model for Best Practices from The Conclave Psychedelic Medicine Association Get 20% off everything at Octagon Biolabs with coupon code 'plantmedicine' Porangui

This week's episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast offers an overview of the three psychedelic ballot measures which passed this past election cycle. Attorney Noah Potter joins to share his expertise in psychedelic law and describes the details of Initiative 81 in DC and Measures 109 and 110 in Oregon. Noah is a New York-based attorney, media commentator, and psychedelic legalization strategist who has been discussing topics of psychedelic law on his blog for the past decade. Noah has also advised Decriminalize Denver with their successful Denver Psilocybin Mushroom Initiative and is involved in policy reform advocacy in New York for 2021.  In this conversation, Noah describes the details of these three psychedelic measures, sharing what is accomplished by each. In DC, Noah explains how Initiative 81, Entheogenic Plants and Fungus Measure, follows the example of previous successful ballot measures dealing with psychedelics by focusing on a decriminalization approach that places activity involving entheogenic plants among the Metropolitan Police Department's lowest law enforcement priorities.  Along with this success on the east coast, Oregon saw two psychedelic ballot measures pass on election day: Measure 109, Psilocybin Mushroom Services Program Initiative, and Measure 110, Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment INitiative. In terms of Measure 109, Noah explains how the broad nature of the ballot initiative leaves many of the specifics to be determined by the Oregon Health Authority, with the measure focusing on determining a legal structure for providing psilocybin-based therapeutics services. This measure does not, however, legalize or decriminalize psilocybin for personal use. Measure 110, on the other hand, does focus on the decriminalization of a wide array of substances, as well as addiction treatment. In the last minutes of the conversation, Noah describes the interplay between these two intiatives as well as some of the objections given for the particular approaches they take.  In This Episode: Learn the details of the three psychedelic measures which passed this election cycle The difference between decriminalization and legalization How the DC measure is more limited due to city funding being controlled by Congress What Measure 109 in Oregan will allow in terms of psilocybin therapy The interplay between Measure 109 and Measure 110 in Oregon. Quotes: "Decriminalization is a far narrower approach. You're simply either removing criminal penalties or you're downgrading criminal penalties." [5:24] "[Measure 109] is a model for clinical, on-site consumption —you don't walk into a dispensary and take your medicine home. It's very narrowly focused on that inpatient clinical model." [13:15] "The [Oregon] health authority isn't even going to start accepting applications for any of the license categories until January 2nd, 2023." [19:50] "So you've got a fairly limited decriminalization and it doesn't apply to sale or distribution...that's the very simple version of [Measure] 110." [23:59] Links: Noah's Blog on Psychedelic Law Noah's Website Psychedelic Medicine Association Get 20% off everything at Octagon Biolabs with coupon code 'plantmedicine' Porangui