Psychedelic Medicine Podcast with Dr. Lynn Marie Morski

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.   

Today, Jesse Gould, the founder of Heroic Hearts Project, is here to share his story... Jesse is a former Army Ranger with a background in finance. After struggling with mental health issues stemming from his military career and finding little support at home, Jesse left it all behind and went to Peru. Hoping to find the answers he was searching for, Jesse discovered the therapeutic uses of ayahuasca.   Jesse describes how his search for help eventually pointed him towards ayahuasca. While in Peru, Jesse spent a week at an ayahuasca retreat. He found that, although he was nervous and the process was difficult, the therapeutic supports throughout helped bring a new sense of clarity. In the end, Jesse found that the whole experience gave him useful tools for handling the anxiety that he previously found crippling. Once he came home, Jesse was inspired to share this experience with others like him. He started the Heroic Hearts Project with the intention of helping other veterans connect with reputable ayahuasca retreats and support their path towards healing. Over the past few years, Jesse has worked with many veterans who have experienced profound results from ayahuasca therapies.   In this episode: The struggles that Jesse experienced as a veteran seeking mental health support  What to expect from a week-long ayahuasca retreat The lessons of learning to surrender and give over control Helping veterans take advantage of ayahuasca therapies What many veterans are saying about the use of psychedelics to help treat PTSD   Quotes: “I knew it was a big change. I knew the small changes I was making weren’t having an impact. I might as well try something and I’m glad I did.” [8:51] “You just come to the realization that you are not in control and that’s okay.” [11:13] “The psychedelic process can bring profound changes and some answers. But the person still has to implement these changes and make some hard life decisions for it to fully take effect.” [22:35]   Links: Save 20% at Proper Hemp Co with the code “plant medicine”. Heroic Hearts Project Follow Heroic Hearts Project on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui

On today’s history and legality of LSD episode, we’re joined by Dr. Erika Dyck. As a professor in the Department of History at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Dyck focuses her research on 20th Century medical history with a particular interest in psychedelics, psychiatry, eugenics, and population control. Her books include Psychedelic Psychiatry: LSD from Clinic to Campus. She is also editor of A Culture’s Catalyst and Psychadelic Prophets. Dr. Dyck begins by explaining how LSD was first synthesized in 1938. By the end of the 1950s, LSD had been widely studied by numerous researchers who were interested in what this new compound might offer as a model psychosis or for treatment of alcohol addiction. During the mid-20th Century, it was used in multiple settings to help treat numerous conditions. It was even studied by the US military in a failed attempt to create a truth serum. During the 1960s, LSD found its way out of the labs and into the counter-culture of the era. Dr. Dyck tells the story of how this was largely due to the efforts of Timothy Leary who advocated for its widespread use. At this point, LSD had irreversibly left the clinical medical setting and became firmly entrenched in the world of illicit drug use. With a look to the future, Dr. Dyck examines recent changes in attitudes and laws surrounding LSD and other psychedelics. For the first time in over a generation, extensive research is being conducted into the potential therapeutic uses of these drugs. This is a significant shift that leaves open new possibilities for their future legal status.   In this episode: What led to the original creation of LSD The early uses of LSD to treat and understand certain psychoses The origin of the term “psychedelic” How LSD became part of the counter-culture movement in the 1960s The use of LSD in secret military experiments What led to the criminalization of LSD in the United States and Canada What has changed in recent years surrounding attitudes towards the use of psychedelics   Quotes: “One of these experiences of LSD was later described as worth ten years of psychotherapy.” [11:43] “Historians have tried to understand the relationship between the rising tide of social unease and frustration and civil rights protests that start to challenge the government and how the government responded by criminalizing these drugs.” [22:10] “Things have really changed in the last decade. There’s a return to questions around whether Schedule 1 is, in fact, the appropriate place for these.” [27:23] “This is a moment where there is a desire to think about those colonial tensions that have shaped our history. That might be another feature that will help us to reconcile, or at least appreciate, a different kind of relationship going forward.” [35:16]   Links: Save 20% at Proper Hemp Co with the code “plant medicine”. Psychedelic Psychiatry: LSD from Clinic to Campus A Culture’s Catalyst Psychadelic Prophets The Search for the Manchurian Candidate The Trials of Psychadelic Therapy Episode: Psilocybin Research with Dr. Garcia-Romeu Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui

In today’s special bonus episode, we’re talking with the co-founders of Decriminalize Nature, Carlos Plazola and Larry Norris. Their mission is to promote human health and wellbeing by decriminalizing and expanding access to entheogenic plants and fungi. By utilizing political and community organizing, education, and advocacy, they are closer than ever to their goal. Carlos and Larry discuss how their organization began as an effort to help people reconnect with nature by way of using plants for their healing properties. This naturally led to them advocating for the removal of plants from their Schedule 1 status so that people can once again rediscover and utilize them as medicine. For anyone who is interested in organizing change in their community, Carlos and Larry share their advice on how to get started. It begins by gathering a small group of like-minded community members and developing a resolution. From there, it can be shared with a broader coalition of people from various parts of the community. Once it has gained wider support, it can be brought before the local government.  As this movement increasingly spreads around the country, more and more organizations and individuals are getting involved. We talk about recent changes in attitudes that have taken place to make this possible and how this might lead to further developments in the near future.   In this episode: The grassroots mission of Decriminalize Nature and how it has spread all over the country How Carlos and Larry became involved in advocating for decriminalization efforts Practical advice on how to organize for decriminalization at the community level What decriminalization means on the local and federal levels How the decriminalization movement has spread to cities around the United States Lessons learned from the decriminalization of cannabis How the decriminalization movement has become more diverse than ever   Quotes: “This is a moment when we can stand up and say that these are important for us to be able to work with, on a personal level, a spiritual level, and healing level. And now the science is showing that.” [3:51] “This is not a fear-based movement. This is a movement about liberation, equitable access, and remembering our connection to nature.” [12:17] “The more news that comes out, the more people see that it’s possible. The more people see the support, then everyone gets excited to jump on it. It feels safe.” [26:25] “This is a non-political issue. It’s very much a human issue.” [32:49]   Links: Decriminalize Nature Follow Decriminalize Nature on Facebook | Instagram MAPS ERIE Applying the Lessons of Legal Cannabis to Psychedelics Decriminalization VIDEO: Decriminalize Nature Addresses the Berkeley City Council Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui

Dr. Katrin Preller has worked for the University of Zurich where she investigated the neurobiological long-term effects of cocaine, MDMA, and heroin use. She also investigated the use of psychedelics on self-perception and social cognition at the neuro-psychopharmacology and brain imaging lab. She was appointed as the junior group leader at the University of Zurich and holds a position as a visiting assistant professor at Yale University. In today’s scientific research episode, Dr. Preller breaks down what is known about LSD and discusses her clinical studies. Because of its complicated molecular structure, LSD stimulates more serotonin and dopamine production than many other psychedelics. Dr. Preller describes what past and ongoing studies have discovered concerning LSD’s effect on different receptors on the subjective-behavioral and neurological levels. While Dr. Preller’s research examines the neurological effects of LSD, it also focusses on social cognition. Her findings indicate that certain psychedelics can reduce feelings of social exclusion and increase empathy. This has significant implications for possible use in treating depression. Dr. Preller also discusses how various doses of LSD may affect a person’s creativity as well as certain aspects of brain connectivity.   In this episode: The implications of LSD’s molecular structure and chemical composition What the research says about the lack of addictive potential of LSD Possible effects of psychedelics on social cognition The links between LSD and working memory The difference between micro-dosing and regular-dosing on stimulating creativity   Quotes: “It is basically impossible to get addicted to LSD just because you can’t use it on a daily basis.” [6:05] “We are very interested in how psychedelics can modify social cognition. It is a big part of human life in general. It is also a key criterium for psychiatric diagnosis.” [9:42] “What we have seen with LSD is that there is a blurring between the perception of oneself and the perception of other people.” [17:02] “Research on these compounds has reemerged recently. There are still very few studies out there. We definitely need more studies to be able to answer all these open questions.” [32:24]    Links: Save 20% at Proper Hemp Co with the code “plant medicine”. Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui

In today’s LSD patient experience episode, Arash tells the story of how he has interacted with this particular drug. He describes what led him to his decision to try LSD for the first time and the events that helped get him into the proper mindset to proceed with it. Arash explains what type of effect it had on him and why he decided to continue using LSD afterward. LSD experiences have helped Arash make sense of many things that he had previously ignored or took for granted. He explains the insight that this compound has given him and how it has brought him to what he feels is a greater understanding of human behavior and his own identity. Having been using LSD for some time now, Arash reflects on how it has changed his perspective on many things. He has created stronger inter-personal bonds that he feels he was not capable of before. Furthermore, LSD has also lent him new insight into many things that he feels most adults fail to see.    In this episode: Arash describes why he first decided to use LSD The helpfulness of having someone to guide an LSD experience How an LSD experience helped Arash have more confidence in social situations The bonding power of psychedelic experiences How LSD has allowed Arash to see old things with new eyes   Quotes: “The little ego-check was what I needed so that I went into LSD having relaxed some of my guard and I went in with more of a clear slate.” [9:12] “Before my trip, I was in this more insecure, scared, and vulnerable place. And then I felt completely confident in my body. I felt strong and experienced. I was finding myself taking more of a leadership role in interactions with people.” [21:17] “The assistance of psychedelics took my spirituality from a dial-up modem and upgraded it to highspeed cable wifi.” [36:22]   Links: The Burner Podcast Follow Arash on Instagram Check out the full episode post Keep up with everything Plant Medicine related here Porangui