In today’s 5-MeO-DMT patient experience episode, Mikey, a former Navy SEAL, shares his phenomenal story of how an experience with 5-MeO-DMT changed his life. Mikey explains what he experienced when he tried 5-MeO-DMT, and the effect that experience had on him. 5-MeO-DMT experiences have helped Mikey better understand and accept the presence of a higher power in his life, which has helped him accept his mistakes, grow as a person, and improve his outlook on life. Mikey also discusses how these experiences helped him come to a better understanding of acceptance and love for himself. In addition to accepting himself, he also discusses how this higher power and the concept of infinite love helped him learn to love and support others.   In this episode: How Mikey's journey led him to try using 5-MeO-DMT to get help. What a 5-MeO-DMT journey can be like and what Mikey experienced. How 5-MeO-DMT can help bring one to an understanding of a higher power. How changing one’s mindset can help promote healing and improve one’s outlook on life. Quotes: "Where I am at today, there is a peace about me. There is a willingness to want to think of others, and to be of service." [4:09] My arms, my brain-- everything is like drifting and kaleidoscoping away. I feel like I am being turned inside out. Not in a painful way, but in an awareness way." [27:16] "You have never been judged a day in your life. There is no wrong you can possibly do. There is no wrong you can possibly do because there is no judgment. This is the stuff that is coming out of me!" [29:21] "I was literally jettisoned right into the lap of God. There is no other way to put it." [30:12] “For every situation that we find ourselves in, it is not about any one of us, but it involves all of us. We are all the star players in our own movie. We're all the co-star of everyone else's." [32:45] "When we heal, we heal others." [36:02]   Links: Get 20% off everything at Proper Hempco CBD with coupon code “PLANTMEDICINE”  Music by Porangui

Dr. Thomas Kingsley Brown is back on the show to discuss the history and legality of ibogaine. With a master’s degree in chemistry and a Ph.D. in anthropology, he has conducted extensive research into altered states of consciousness, religious conversion, and the use of ibogaine in the treatment of opioid addiction. In this episode, Dr. Brown describes the origin of ibogaine which is derived from iboga, a plant indigenous to west-central Africa. Its bark has been sacramentally used by the Bwiti people for countless generations. At the turn of the 20th Century, ibogaine was first isolated from iboga. Various drugs were derived from this in Europe and North America throughout much of the century. During the war on drugs, this obscure psychedelic was regulated and criminalized in the United States in 1967. In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act declared ibogaine to be a Schedule 1 drug.  In the 1980s, efforts to explore ibogaine’s potential to treat chemical addiction got underway. With opioid use linked to the transmission of HIV/AIDS, various groups began looking at ibogaine as a tool for recovery.  There have always been a few countries where ibogaine remained unregulated. However, it wasn’t until 2009 that New Zealand became the first country to legalize it as a medicine for use in opioid recovery. In several US cities, such as Oakland, ibogaine was recently decriminalized. That said, its legal future remains uncertain.   In this episode: The natural African roots of ibogaine How ibogaine was used in various medications during the 20th Century What led to the criminalization and regulation of ibogaine The movement to explore ibogaine’s use in addiction recovery How and where ibogaine was legalized or decriminalized in recent years   Quotes: “It’s sort of a twisted history in a way. There are a lot of different things that go into it. But chemically ibogaine was first isolated and purified from the iboga shrub in 1901.”  [4:09] “Psychedelics are not addictive, ibogaine among them. Ibogaine is usually a difficult  trip, especially for people who are using it for getting off opioids.” [10:11] “I think it will be at least some time before we are able to see legal ibogaine treatment here in the US.” [24:03]   Links: Episode 34: Ibogaine Scientific Research Dora Weiner Foundation ACT UP Episode 28: Decriminalize Nature MAPS Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui

This week we discuss the upcoming Psychedelic Liberty Summit (April 25th and 26th) with Bia Labate, Ph.D. As the executive director of the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines, adjunct faculty at the California Institute of Integral Studies, public education and culture specialist at MAPS, co-founder of the Interdisciplinary Group for Psychoactive Studies in Brazil, editor of the Mexican blog Drugs, Politics, and Culture, and the author and editor of numerous books, special edition journals, and several peer-reviewed articles, Dr. Labate is a wealth of information and knowledge.   Dr. Labate explains how she started the Chacruna Institute in 2017 with the mission of promoting education around plant medicines. With a focus on the cultural side of plant medicines, Chacruna works to help spread the idea that these plants have a place in society. This involves creating a bridge between traditional uses of plant medicine and scientific advances being made in the field. Chacruna’s upcoming conference might be the largest virtual event of its kind. There will be a large focus on the emerging politics of plant medicines. Other themes include the responsibilities that practitioners and patients have to use them in an informed and ethical way. With more than 70 speakers and 35 community partners, this will be an inclusive and expansive event.   In this episode: The mission of the Chacruna Institute to bridge the gap between tradition and science The main focus and structure of the Psychedelic Liberty Summit  The wide variety of organizations that are part of the summit Some of the summit speakers and their topics   Quotes: “We’re trying to create legitimacy around the idea that these drugs are legitimate and should be respected as such and be incorporated into our legal and health systems.” [5:06] “We have activists, researchers, community leaders, lawyers, religious leaders, and practitioners. We have a really incredible lineup.” [22:00] “In the field of psychedelics science, we have often fetishized shamans from South America and forgotten the people of the land. So I’m really proud that we have a series of different Native American representatives.” [32:54]   Links: Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines MAPS Psychedelic Support The Psychedelic Society Psychedelic Seminars Horizons Wixárika Research Center Psychedelics Today Morning Star Conservation Sage Integrative Health Transform Drug Policy Foundation Drug Policy Alliance “The Emergence of a New Market: Psychedelic Science Conferences” by Bia Labate Ph.D. Episode: Decriminalization of Psilocybin with Attorney Sean McAllister Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui

Thanks to the current pandemic, most of the population is quarantined at home. During this time, some may want to consider using psychedelics. However, there are some additional considerations to keep in mind when deciding whether to undergo a psychedelic journey during the quarantine. Rebecca Kronman is a licensed therapist and the founder of Plant Parenthood, a community of parents who use psychedelics. She is a psychotherapist with a private practice in Brooklyn, NY where she works with clients to help them prepare for and integrate after psychedelic experiences.  In this episode, Rebecca discusses the concept of harm reduction. This means that no one is advocating what anyone else should or shouldn’t be doing. Rather, it is about asking that people explore the topic of psychedelics with all the information available. With the right knowledge and confidence, people will feel better prepared for whatever they decide to do. Given that hospitals are currently overtaxed and undersupplied,  considering what might happen if a psychedelic experience goes wrong is more important than ever. Rebecca talks about how heightened levels of anxiety are going to play into this and how is more crucial that someone is attuned to their mindset before undertaking a psychedelic experience. Rebecca shares some tools that people can use to listen to what their mind and body are telling them. If, after taking everything into account you decide this isn't the proper time to be journeying for you, then it can still be used to prepare for one in the future or integrate one from the past. That being said, for some individuals this time may be too overwhelming for that and it might be best to wait for another time. Rebecca stresses that everyone needs to evaluate their own situation and make an informed decision.   In this episode: What harm reduction means and how it relates to psychedelic use Important considerations if an experience goes awry Tools for evaluating mindset during times of heightened anxiety Using this time to prepare for a future experience or integrate a past one   Quotes: “Are we okay with the fact that the hospital might not be available to us right now?”  [6:20] “Any way that you can create space for yourself and pause - any kind of contemplative practice - is going to be extremely useful.” [11:10] “This is an entropic period for all of us. Our whole lives look different. We may be in a different place. Definitely, we’re doing different things. Our whole routine has shifted. Greater entropy gives us greater opportunity for shifting patterns. That’s what psychedelics are about.” [20:07] “If it feels accessible to us to add something new into our integration practices, this is a great time. If we’ve got too much on our plate, have compassion for ourselves and say ‘drop the technique.’” [22:27]   Links: Plant Parenthood Follow on Instagram The Psychedelics Integration Handbook by Ryan Westrum, Ph.D. Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui

In this week’s iboga patient experience episode, we hear from Eamon Armstrong. He is the creator and host of the Life is a Festival Podcast, promoting a lifestyle of adventure and personal development through the lens of festival culture. Eamon’s belief in the transformational power of psychedelics led him to take part in a traditional Bwiti initiation in Gabon. He has since become a trained sitter with MAPS’ Zendo Project. Eaman describes how his desire for personal metamorphosis led him to seek out an iboga experience in Africa. However, he doesn’t recommend that others go to Gabon to do what he did. Rather, a more clinical setting is much safer. At any rate, he found that it was a truly transformational journey. Eamon describes what he went through during his ten-day experience and how it led to new and important insights. Eamon’s journey revived many forgotten memories. These memories brought back some suppressed fear and trauma. He feels that it was a very healing experience overall. Eamon found that iboga led him to recognize the source of his traumas which ultimately helped him deal with addiction.   In this episode: Why it is safer to have an ibogaine experience in a clinical setting rather than elsewhere Preparation to take before an iboga journey The various steps to a traditional iboga experience How an iboga journey is a very personalized experience  The important role that an integration coach can play in any psychedelic journey The distinction between iboga and ibogaine   Quotes: “My pursuit of iboga had to do with certain aspects of myself that I wanted to transform. I wanted to transform them by going to the root.” [6:02] “It felt healing. I felt like I was moving through chunks of things that I had been carrying and holding inside me. It was hard work.” [26:28] “What iboga teaches you is that there is no such thing as addiction in the way that you think there is. There is only deep trauma and pain and patterns that you create to avoid them. Iboga goes to the root of that trauma and pain and shows you what it is.” [36:15]   Links: Life is a Festival Podcast Zendo Project Iron John by Robert Bly Ayahuasca Scientific Research with Dr. Dan Engle Ibogaine Scientific Research with Thomas Kingsley Brown, Ph.D Unlimited Sciences Maya Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui

As this episode airs, most of us are currently contained at home and much of the world has shifted online. This presents a very exciting opportunity to connect with MAPS. This organization is preparing to release its 2020 webinar series which runs April 9 through May 21.  If you are wondering what MAPS is and what this webinar is about, Brad Burge is on today to share that with you. Brad is the director of strategic communications who began working with MAPS in 2009 to help expand their international public education and communication programs. He engages daily with journalists and media producers around the world to enhance public knowledge about psychedelic research while also helping develop MAPS brand and outreach strategy.  In its upcoming online course, MAPS and the speakers will explore the latest advancements in psychedelic research, medicine, and policy. This will include talks by some of the foremost leaders in the psychedelic renaissance. They’ll provide insights into the latest research into the medical and therapeutic uses of psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, and more. It also includes a sneak-peek at key issues affecting the wider availability of psychedelics for healing and spirituality.     In this episode: Speakers and the topics they will cover in the webinar What is being discovered about the effect of psychedelics and the brain MAPS’ role in regulatory and decriminalization initiatives How MAPS provides peer support and harm-reduction Current research on the ability of MDMA to treat PTSD   Quotes: “The topics were chosen based on what’s timely in the field of psychedelic therapy and clinical trials.” [4:40] “MAPS is about the research and science, but we’re also about much more than that. We’re also looking at and supporting different initiates to regulate psychedelics.” [7:15] “If we can take these so-called bad trips and turn them into learning experiences, then we can do a lot of good. We can heal trauma and help people explore their consciousness.” [12:01] “Where in this when, not if, situation. We’re in a final push after 33 years of work to actually make MDMA a legal prescription treatment for PTSD.” [18:27]   Links: MAPS webinar signup Zendo Project Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines LSD Scientific Research with Dr. Katrin Preller MDMA Scientific Research with Marcela Ot'alora Ayahuasca History and Legality with Ismail Ali Decriminalization of Psilocybin with Attorney Sean McAllister MDMA Practitioner Methods with Shannon Carlin MAPS Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui

With a  master’s degree in chemistry and a Ph.D. in anthropology, Dr. Thomas Kingsley Brown takes a comprehensive approach to study topics of altered states of consciousness, religious conversion, and the uses of ibogaine in the treatment of opioid addiction. He joins us today to discuss the current research into ibogaine. Ibogaine is not one of the most well-known psychoactive compounds. Dr. Brown explains what this plant medicine is and what it is derived from. Ibogaine is most often derived from the root bark of the iboga shrub from west-central Africa. It was used by certain African populations in a ceremonial context for centuries. Dr. Brown delves into some of ibogaine’s more recent history as a treatment for opioid addiction. Its anti-addiction effects were anecdotally first discovered by accident in the 1960s by Howard Lotsof. After an experience with ibogaine, Lotsof found that he no longer desired heroin. This kicked off a career researching the anti-addiction effects of this compound.  Dr. Brown shares what his research has gleaned concerning ibogaine’s mechanism of action. The full mechanism is still not entirely clear. However, he has found that it acts in two ways. First, there is a biochemical action in the brain and body. There is also a powerful psychoactive effect. These two effects seem to work in tandem to eliminate opioid desire and withdrawal symptoms. Research participants have reported several intriguing observations besides a drop in drug use, particularly an improvement in social wellbeing.   In this episode: The natural and artificial sources of ibogaine How ibogaine became associated with opioid addiction recovery What is known about ibogaine’s mechanism of action Common experiences of people who have undergone ibogaine therapy Possible effects of ibogaine to promote neural health Thoughts on the efficacy of using medicines with tribal origins in a clinical setting   Quotes: “It seems that this would facilitate rewiring of the brain. You could look at this as being a potential mechanism for creating new pathways where you’re not automatically going into your addictive behavior.” [12:46] “Even if you’re not using it to treat addiction, it will force you to confront things you’ve been avoiding.” [17:05] “As an anthropologist, it seems to me that the more we can set our intentions going in, really being careful about the setting, then the better we’ll do with these psychedelic therapies.” [29:32]   Links: MAPS Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui

Ismail Lourido Ali is the Policy Fellow at MAPS where he helps develop and implement strategies to create legal access to psychedelic substances in medical, sacramental, and personal contexts. Licensed to practice law in California, Ismail sits on the advisory committee of the Ayahuasca Defense Fund.  In this episode, Ismail discusses the history and legality of ayahuasca. He explains how people in the Amazon have been using ayahuasca for thousands of years, often as part of religious, spiritual, and community ceremonies. In the mid-20th Century, ayahuasca found its way out of the jungle and into American and European popular consciousness. However, in just the past few years, ayahuasca has expanded to a near-global level. Naturally, these changes have led to a new context for this plant medicine. With the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, ayahuasca was swept up with other psychedelics for regulation. Interestingly, the plants themselves are not regulated under the 1971 International Convention on Psychotropic Substances, but the psychedelic compound it contains, DMT, is. Ismail explains why in the US, ayahuasca remains a Schedule I substance.  There are legal exemptions, however. As a result of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and a 2006 Supreme Court case, certain religious institutions are permitted to utilize ayahuasca in a sacramental context. The legality of ayahuasca use among other communities is still unclear.   The status of ayahuasca varies greatly outside of the United States. In theory, ayahuasca remains unregulated in any country that has not affirmatively regulated it. However, in general, ayahuasca is most commonly legally accepted in countries that have chosen to regulate it to a certain degree or permit it under particular laws.   With decriminalization movements taking hold across the United States, the status of ayahuasca has become as murky as ever. In cases like Denver and Oakland, ayahuasca still remains illegal. However, new statutes mean that enforcing laws against it are no longer a law enforcement priority. What this will mean in the long run is still unclear.   In this episode: How ayahuasca use has transformed from its origins in the Amazon to something that is known across the world How ayahuasca became a regulated substance in the United States Instances in which ayahuasca use is legally permitted The complexities involved in getting permission to legally use ayahuasca  The legality of ayahuasca in various countries around the world How current and recent decriminalization efforts are changing the legal status of ayahuasca    Quotes: “We’re in an interesting time. We’re looking at a case study in the expansion of something that is more than just a plant, drug, or medicine. It’s really a combination of so many different cultural, political, social, and historical realities.” [6:35] “Because there is really no effective structure to determine who does and doesn’t get an exemption, there are a lot of big questions that still need to be answered.” [15:58] “Right now, technically nothing has changed from a legal perspective. But it’s absolutely true that we’re experiencing a pretty significant conversation shift because of decriminalization.” [33:55] “It’s important to remember that part of the reason to do spiritual and healing work is so that we have the resilience to engage with the world as it is.” [36:51]   Links: Follow Ismail Ali on Instagram | Twitter MAPS Ayahuasca Defense Fund “From Shock to Awe” Decriminalize Nature Boom Festival “Colonization Laid the Groundwork for the Drug War” MAPS Policy Reform Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui

In today’s ayahuasca practitioner episode, Dr. Joe Tafur shares his vast experience learning about this plant medicine. For the last decade, family physician Dr. Tafur, author of The Fellowship of the River, has been exploring the role of spiritual healing and modern healthcare. In Peru, Dr. Tafur learned how the ceremonial use of ayahuasca could be used to heal the emotional body, and in turn, the mind and physical body. He is co-founder of Modern Spirit, a non-profit organization dedicated to demonstrating the value of spiritual healing in modern healthcare.  Dr. Tafur describes the traditional origins and uses of ayahuasca. Throughout the Amazonian basin, hundreds of tribes and religious groups incorporate ayahuasca in their healing and sacred practices. This naturally has led to quite a diversity in how this plant medicine is used. Many of these traditions stretch back countless generations and researches are still learning about their processes. There is a vast range of ailments that ayahuasca has been used to address. To treat these, ayahuasca is seldom used in isolation. With the diverse vegetation found in the Amazon, ayahuasca is often combined with specific plants to treat specific conditions. This has made it very versatile in its traditional uses.  Related to his work with ayahuasca, Dr. Tafur explains what is meant by the emotional body. He has recognized many spiritual healing techniques that have value beyond plant medicine treatments. Dr. Tafur explains that addressing the emotional needs of the individual can have a profound impact on many of their physical ailments.    In this episode: The traditional origins and uses of ayahuasca in South America What to expect during various traditional ayahuasca ceremonies The important role of music and communication during ayahuasca  ceremonies The many different conditions that ayahuasca has been used to treat Addressing the emotional needs of the patient in order to treat their physical conditions   Quotes: “In the wide world of nature, the plants, and tribal culture there’s a lot of variation. It’s very much dependant on the individuals.” [15:04] “It’s a very present practice. That’s part of the key to the engagement and the energy.” [28:29] “What the psychedelic therapeutic experience opens up for a lot of people is an opportunity to work through the emotional and spiritual dimensions of their health.” [44:50]   Links: Modern Spirit The Fellowship of the River “From Shock to Awe” 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.