In this episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast, Dr. Mark Braunstein returns to discuss potential concerns surrounding the use of ketamine, especially use which is not overseen by a knowledgeable medical professional. 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. Additionally, Dr. Braunstein is involved in multiple projects focused on expanding access, awareness, research, and safety in the field of psychedelics. To begin this conversation, Dr. Braunstein shares how his original exposure to ketamine wasn’t in a medicinal context, but rather as a recreational drug of abuse. However, since then he has seen the transformative effects this substance can have on patients when used in a physician-directed context and for therapeutic purposes. Nonetheless, Dr. Braunstein stresses that this does not mean ketamine use does not come with certain risks. Ketamine can be addictive and even carries a risk of overdose, particularly when used recreationally in a context where the purity of the substance is unknown. Dr. Braunstein distinguishes recreational and therapeutic uses of ketamine, explaining that recreational doses are often lower and dosing is more frequent, whereas ketamine is used in high doses in a therapeutic context, with extended periods between sessions. Dr. Braunstein stresses both the responsibility of physicians and of patients to ensure ketamine is prescribed responsibly and used as directed. Despite the dangers posed by recreational ketamine use Dr. Braunstein describes in this conversation, it is still a medicine he believes can have significant positive impacts for patients. This requires, however, that it not be treated merely as yet another quick fix pill. Instead, Dr. Braunstein emphasizes that ketamine treatment ought to coincide with psychotherapeutic work. This combination, he says, will maximize the therapeutic potential of ketamine while also helping to ensure that the medicine is used responsibly, under the close direction of a medical professional.   In this episode: The addiction and overdose potential with recreational ketamine use How dosage can dramatically change the effects of ketamine Responsible prescribing practices for physicians working with ketamine The psychological and physiological harms of ketamine abuse How Dr. Braunstein talks to his patients about responsible use before prescribing ketamine The importance of combining psychedelic medicines with psychotherapeutic work   Quotes: “Part of why ketamine works is because it lights up your brain in all these different ways and when done occasionally, intentionally, it moves you. But if you’re always doing that, it ends up having the reverse effect, causing damage.” [12:56] “This is a heavy-duty medication that, if you cross the line, can cause you to stop breathing and then die. So there is an actual, real danger to ketamine.” [16:25] “I think the organ that is most prone to damage from overuse of ketamine is the same organ we are touting it fixing: the mind.” [18:39] “When we think about these medications, we should think about combining them with therapy and not just taking these medications as medications… So that’s why with ketamine I’m really recommending it with therapy.” [25:04]   Links: Reconscious Medical Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast we discuss the topic of psychedelics and postpartum mood disorders. Melissa Whippo is a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in the intersection of women's health and psychedelics. She founded a non-profit, Deva Collective, which has fiscal sponsorship with MAPS, and is currently conducting research about perimenopause and microdosing San Pedro. In this conversation, Melissa shares the details of existing research into psychedelic treatments for postpartum populations. She discusses the findings from her study on “The Pharmacokinetics of Ketamine in the Breast Milk of Lactating Women,” reporting that ketamine was not detected at all in breast milk twelve hours after dosing. She also shares information on parents’ intentional use of microdosing and what motivates them to take up this practice. In closing, Melissa discusses her upcoming research on microdosing San Pedro among perimenopausal populations and why she decided to focus on San Pedro for this study.   In this episode you'll hear: The early research into ketamine for postpartum depression and whether ketamine remains in breast milk The prevalence of mood concerns in the postpartum population Issues of access with ketamine treatments for new mothers Improvements in postpartum mood patients following ketamine treatments that Melissa has seen in her practice Hormone changes after giving birth and how this might relate to mood concerns Ketamine for postpartum pain   Quotes: “The reason why ketamine and other psychedelics appeal to me more [than other treatments for postpartum depression], is it’s not a medicine you have to take every day and it’s not a medicine that’s going to cause a significant separation [with the newborn] like a hospital admission would.” [5:55] “More SSRI—which is still considered safe by the medical profession—passes through the breastmilk than ketamine. Probably nanograms. And ketamine has such a short half-life in the system, particularly with the intramuscular route of administration, that twelve hours after dosing, the breast milk was completely clear.” [14:22] “That’s what ketamine does so well—it gives people a different view of some of the things they’re really struggling with that they can’t quite break through. Some of these more recursive ruminations that seem to befall mothers quite a bit—and they’re usually pretty negative. But the medicine space gives them a different view.” [18:52]   Links: Melissa’s study: The Pharmacokinetics of Ketamine in the Breast Milk of Lactating Women: Quantification of Ketamine and Metabolites Melissa’s article in the Washington Post: Some moms are microdosing mushrooms for anxiety and depression Melissa’s website Deva Collective website  Melissa on Instagram Plant Parenthood website Previous episode: Psychedelics and Women’s Health with Allison Feduccia, PhD Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

Hannah Raine-Smith, an integrative psychotherapist, teams up with Jocelyn Rose, a research therapist in psychedelic trials, to explore the groundbreaking integration of EMDR therapy with psychedelic treatments. They explain how both therapies engage the serotonin 5-HT2 system, promoting neuroplasticity and aiding trauma processing. The conversation highlights the potential for combining these methods to enhance accessibility and effectiveness for trauma patients. They call for further research and collaboration in this promising therapeutic landscape.

In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Steven Radowitz, MD joins to discuss the state of the research into ketamine treatments for PTSD. Dr. Steven Radowitz is the Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder, Nushama. He believes psychedelic medicine’s framework of neuroscience, mystical experience, and integration therapy is the future of mental wellness, and current solutions often fall short, treating symptoms without addressing underlying issues. Dr. Radowitz and the Nushama team have administered thousands of ketamine journeys for mood disorders and are known to be best-in-class and among the most experienced globally. In this conversation, Dr. Radowitz shares the journey of his career in medicine and how he got involved in the treatment of mood disorders with ketamine. He discusses the way he works with patients to determine the best dosing of ketamine for their unique therapeutic needs and the way dosage intersects with the durability of the changes. Dr. Radowitz emphasizes how ketamine promotes neuroplasticity, which allows patients with PTSD to open a critical response window when confronted with triggers and re-code memories of trauma. In closing, Dr. Radowitz discusses the importance of integration and highlights the way psychedelic therapies empower patients to be their own healers.   In this episode you'll hear: Using both psycholytic and psychedelic doses of ketamine and how therapeutic approach differs between the two Stories of transformation from Dr. Radowitz’s ketamine practice The practices Dr. Radowitz recommends for patients following ketamine infusions How Dr. Radowitz uses music in his ketamine practice   Quotes: “As much as we segregate all these mood disorders into separate disease entities… there’s actually a common seed for them all—there’s just different manifestations. But I say about 95% of the people who come in here [for ketamine treatments] have some type of trauma.” [4:56] “The dose doesn’t always correlate with the experience—it usually doesn’t. I can give people the same dose, with the same music, same everything, and they'll have completely different experiences each time.” [13:23] “What we do here is to create a medically safe and an emotionally safe environment for [patients]. But the medicine is them—they’re the therapists in the end. … I want them to realize it’s all coming from them. They have everything they need within themselves to heal.” [32:15]   Links: Nushama website Nushama on LinkedIn Nushama on Instagram Nushama on Facebook Nushama on TikTok Dr. Radowitz on Linkedin The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender by David R. Hawkins Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Rick Strassman, MD joins to discuss the topic of endogenous DMT. Dr. Strassman is adjunct associate professor of psychiatry at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and author of DMT: The Spirit Molecule and The Psychedelic Handbook. His DMT and psilocybin studies in the early 1990s initiated the renewal of human research with psychedelics in the U.S. In this conversation, Dr. Strassman discusses the finer details of DMT, from endogenous production in humans and animals, to visionary experiences and theological implications. Dr. Strassman also covers the research that's been done regarding endogenous DMT, clarifying what we do and don’t know about the role of the pineal gland and how this might relate to what is reported during near-death experiences. He also discusses the personal and relational quality of psychedelic experiences induced by DMT, mentioning that unitive mystical experiences were actually rare in the trials he conducted, with more experiences having a personal quality, drawing upon the life experiences and interests of the participants. In closing, Dr. Strassman shares his thoughts on the origins of the visions that many report during DMT use.    In this episode you'll hear: The overlap between psychedelic experiences and meditation techniques The relationship between fear, self-awareness, and difficult DMT experiences The placebo effect and psychedelic research Dr. Strassman’s thoughts on non-hallucinogenic psychedelics DMT as a possible treatment for strokes to prevent damage and speed recovery Effects of microdosing in animals and humans   Quotes: “I think the best term for these compounds is psychedelic, which means mind manifesting or mind disclosing, because only one of our fifty-five or so normal volunteers had what one might call a mystical unitive state. … Everybody basically had an experience that was totally dependent on them. It was not inherent in the drug.” [9:45] “You could still speculate that to the extent that non-drug states resemble those brought on by giving DMT… that DMT plays a role in the production of those states. But the data aren't there yet. That's why we need more people doing this research.” [24:16] “If psychedelics are super placebos and if we have a psychedelic drug in our brain, it's attempting to speculate that normally the placebo effect could be mediated by endogenous DMT.” [27:42] “If you starve neurons of oxygen they start dying, but if you add DMT they survive much longer. So there seems to be some neuroprotective effect of DMT on ischemic damage to neurons, at least in the test tube.” [32:27]   Links: Dr. Strassman’s website The Psychedelic Handbook by Dr. Strassman DMT: The Spirit Molecule by Dr. Strassman DMT and the Soul of Prophecy: A New Science of Spiritual Revelation in the Hebrew Bible by Dr. Strassman Dr. Strassman on FacebookPrevious episode: Exploring DMT Entities with Matthew Johnson, PhD Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Stephanie Knatz Peck, PhD joins to discuss the research on psilocybin for anorexia nervosa. Dr. Stephanie Knatz Peck is a clinical psychologist and Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California, San Diego with an expertise in eating disorders. She conducts clinical research on novel treatments for eating disorders and has been involved with clinical research evaluating psychedelics across a variety of mental health indications in the capacity of researcher and therapist. She also published the first ever report on a clinical study evaluating psilocybin for anorexia nervosa.  In this conversation, Dr. Peck discusses the difficulties of treating eating disorders and the emerging evidence around the safety and efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapies for these conditions. She discusses the results from a study she conducted on the safety and tolerability of psilocybin therapy for females with anorexia nervosa, finding that the treatment was safe and generally well tolerated amongst the trial group. The study additionally found positive treatment outcomes following the psilocybin therapy in a number of participants. In closing, Dr. Peck discusses how psychedelics are able to open a “behavior change window” following dosing sessions—something which may be crucial to their efficacy in treating eating disorders.   In this episode: Dr. Peck’s work treating patients with eating disorders The lesser known diagnostic categories orthorexia and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) Genetic predisposition for eating disorders Why the participants in Dr. Peck’s study thought they could benefit from additional psilocybin dosing sessions How transformative psychedelic experiences can help shift values and identities to promote eating disorder recovery   Quotes: “We think that there are specific personality features that predispose someone to engage in dietary restrictive processes or behaviors or actions or modify their lifestyle around exercise and food—and then they fall into anorexia. And the thing that distinguishes those people is that sometimes they have these predisposing factors like a lot of anxiety or preoccupation, an ability to be highly self disciplined… There’s a lot of processes in place that can cause a diet to go awry and turn into anorexia.” [12:29] “Something that distinguishes anorexia from other psychiatric illnesses is that it is an illness that really results in a lot of physiological vulnerability—across all body systems. And so while it might be fine to just assume that with some other psychiatric illnesses we can reliably assume safety, with this particular population there’s cardiac issues, there’s serotonergic things that affect cardiac issues that we really needed some safety data on.”  [19:13] “We really need better treatments [for eating disorders] that treat from the inside out, meaning like what is happening on an underlying psychological level, neuropharmacological level, that’s causing someone to want to engage in these behaviors and I think that is the value of these [psychedelic] treatments is that we are treating from a different direction.” [27:25]   Links: Dr. Peck’s study: Psilocybin therapy for females with anorexia nervosa: a phase 1, open-label feasibility study Current eating disorder studies at UCSD BrightMind Therapy website Dr. Peck on Twitter Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Ben Malcolm, PharmD, MPH joins to discuss why he prefers the term “psychosomatodelics” for psychedelics. Dr. Malcolm is a psychopharmacology consultant, psychedelic educator, founder of Spirit Pharmacist, LLC and a board member of the Psychedelic Medicine Association. In this conversation, Dr. Malcolm shares the meaning of the term psychosomatodelic as well as the history of the different terms used to refer to psychedelics. He emphasizes the ways that these substances manifest mind and body together, rather than only focusing on the mind-altering aspects of the experience. He also suggests that the line between side effects and therapeutic opportunities is blurry in psychedelic therapy, discussing the ways in which nausea and purging in the context of ayahuasca ceremonies can contribute to the sense of healing and psychosomatic catharsis. In closing, Dr. Malcolm suggests some directions for future research regarding serotonergic psychedelics' interaction with the gut-brain axis and the autonomic nervous system.   In this episode: The meanings of more newer, more specified terminology such as psychoplastogen, entactogen, and more Trauma-resolving aspects of psychedelic experiences How psychedelics impact transmodal cortices of the brain The somatic side effects of psychedelics   Quotes: “The psychedelic experience is inherently larger than either brain or mind, and it’s more of a mind-body kind of experience. And it would be worth recognizing the mind-body contribution that is happening as far as the types of experiences persons are having, and maybe even the ways that psychedelics are working to provide a true, felt sense of relief for persons.” [3:51] “Why do we wear a blindfold for psychedelic therapy? Well, you’re actually trying to limit the sensory input from certain unimodal sensory cortices like vision and you’re trying to amplify sensory content—maybe from the body, maybe from the viscera, maybe from inside. It’s to heighten the internal landscape. That’s why you’re actually shutting out these kinds of external sensory inputs.”  [17:19] “Particularly if you’re approaching psychedelics for healing of trauma, then thinking of them as energetic purgatives that have a psychosomatodelic, or full mind-body manifesting type of experience, might allow you to wrap your head around the psychedelic experience or what its doing a little bit easier.”  [31:53]   Links: Spirit Pharmacist website Spirit Pharmacist on Facebook Spirit Pharmacist on Instagram Spirit Pharmacist on YouTube Previous episode: Medical Literature Regarding Psychedelics, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding with Ben Malcolm, PharmD Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Nick Brüss, EdD, LMFT joins to discuss the possibilities of leveraging ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for accelerated growth. Dr. Brüss is a psychedelic therapist licensed in CA, NY and TX. He was a MAPS clinician and supervisor on the historic phase 3 MDMA for PTSD study, and is the director of psychedelic medicine advocacy for the TREAT California ballot initiative.  In this conversation, Dr. Brüss explains the intricacies of the internal family systems (IFS) model of therapy which he uses in conjunction with ketamine to help lead clients towards transformation and growth. Dr. Brüss explains how he helps clients work with their various “parts” both leading up to ketamine experiences and while they are under the influence of the dissociative, explaining how the ketamine experience helps to facilitate this work. He emphasizes the non-pathologizing, self-compassion focus of the IFS model and sees this as a natural fit for psychedelic-assisted work. In closing, Dr. Brüss shares details of the TREAT California ballot initiative, which has the potential to provide five billion USD in funding for research and affordable access to mental health treatments using psychedelic medicines.   In this episode: Different forms of ketamine-assisted therapy The importance of preparation for both psycholytic and psychedelic forms of ketamine therapy Why Dr. Brüss finds the combination of IFS and ketamine therapy so powerful Working with “parts” using IFS Stories of client healing and transformation following ketamine-assisted therapy with IFS The meaning of “protector parts” and “exile parts” in IFS and how to work with these The mechanisms of ketamine “softening protector parts” and facilitating self-love   Quotes: “[Internal family systems] is so synergistic with psychedelic-assisted work because it holds as part of one of its assumptions that we all naturally have this multiplicity of minds… And we also hold this capacity, this inner-knowing that we can open to and relate to and even bring a loving, compassionate embrace to all of our parts.”  [4:59] “This work is a training for people to get to know themselves, so we work with the biggest pieces, the things that have been holding them down or blocking them in some way—blocking their full expression—and after that, they are now trained to work with any number of parts.” [26:52] “One of the things that I wish I could have told my earlier, younger self is to really focus on these areas where if there’s a part of myself that I can’t love or care for or deeply respect, then that really needs my attention.” [33:52] “Even with the most seemingly scary parts, as we get to know them, we can learn from them.” [36:00]   Links: Dr. Brüss website, A Practice of Freedom TREAT California ballot initiative website  Dr. Brüss on Instagram Dr. Brüss on LinkedIn Your Symphony of Selves: Discover and Understand More of Who We Are by James Fadiman and Jordan Gruber Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Erica Siegal, LCSW returns to discuss the important topic of supporting survivors of psychedelic abuse. Erica is a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist, community organizer, and harm reduction advocate. In 2019 she founded NEST Harm Reduction, a California-based mental health and psychedelic support organization that provides psychotherapy, outreach, education, and integration. Erica also recently founded SHINE Collective to support survivors of psychedelic harm and abuse.  In this conversation, Erica unpacks the complexities around various forms of abuse that exist in psychedelic spaces. One major form of abuse she identifies is financial coercion, where clients of psychedelic facilitators come to feel that one’s spiritual access has a paywall, or that they are having to make major financial decisions while under altered states of consciousness. Erica also discusses problematic sexual and romantic dynamics that can arise, drawing a clear line in the sand that there should never be any form of sexual contact between psychedelic facilitators and clients. In closing, she shares more about the work SHINE Collective is doing to support survivors of psychedelic abuse, and discusses ways that listeners can help support this important work.    In this episode: What inspired Erica to start SHINE Collective Issues of financial coercion in psychedelic spaces Different forms of spiritual abuse Ways identify the dynamics of spiritual abuse and guard against them  Why Erica is skeptical of husband-wife teams of psychedelic therapists or facilitators Issues of sexual dynamics between psychedelics facilitators and clients Training and integration needed prior to skillfully and safely facilitating psychedelic experiences What SHINE Collective is doing to support survivors of psychedelic harm   Quotes: “You also see people who are like ‘oh well if you want to keep working with me it's this price’ and then all of a sudden the access to psychedelics—the spiritual access—now becomes ‘well I have to be paying this person $1,000 a month to just be on their mailing list because they are the person that is acting as the point between me and my spiritual access.’” [11:19] “If you’re facilitating, you should have a consultation group of other facilitators in which you consistently welcome constructive feedback. … And be able to have case consultations, and be able to have reflection.” [26:43] “Psychedelic facilitators should not be having sex with people they are facilitating psychedelic ceremonies for.” [30:35]   Links: NEST Harm Reduction website NEST Harm Reduction on Instagram NEST Harm Reduction on Twitter SHINE Collective website SHINE Collective on Instagram Erica on LinkedIn Erica on Instagram Previous episode: Avoiding the Traps of Psychedelic Self-Absorption with Adam Aronovich, PhD(c) Article by Jules Evans and Joseph Holcomb Adams: “Blurred Lines: improving the ethics of psychedelic fund-raising” The Emerald Podcast by Joshua Michael Schrei on Spotify Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Kyle Buller and David Drapkin, LCSW of Psychedelics Today join to discuss psychedelic training and education. David is a licensed clinical social worker, the director of education and training at Psychedelics Today, and one of the creators of their 12-month training program, Vital. Kyle is the co-founder of Psychedelics Today and VP of training and education.  In this conversation, Kyle and David share an overview of the current state of psychedelic training programs and education. Kyle shares his own background with psychedelic education, discussing how he got involved in this field and what he’s found most beneficial and effective in psychedelic training. Kyle and David also discuss the complexities of weighing different programs, considering medicine-specific versus general programs, programs focused on specific modalities, programs geared towards specific professions, and more. They also discuss the details of how they created Psychedelics Today’s training program, Vital. In closing, David reiterates the value of diversity in psychedelic education, both in enriching the learning experience and extending the impact of this education.    In this episode: The variety of psychedelic education programs The vision behind the Psychedelics Today Vital course What to look for in psychedelic education programs Equity and diversity in training programs Medicine-specific vs. medicine-general programs Dealing with the uncertainties around working with psychedelics as legal landscapes develop Psychedelic training program scholarships   Quotes: “Something we put a lot of emphasis on with Vital, is that it be experiential and inner-directed—a process of understanding self and coming out of Vital with more refined questions and a clearer sense of where to go next.” [8:31] “If the psychedelic movement is going to continue to grow, we need people to be educated in all realms so that we can help to reduce the stigma.” [11:42] “If you want to start working with these medicines, building those foundational elements is so important. Like learning how to work with your body, learning how to use your breath to navigate experience.” [31:12]   Links: Psychedelics Today website Psychedelics Today Vital course Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui