Psychedelic Medicine Podcast with Dr. Lynn Marie Morski

On this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Dr. Pedro Teixeira joins to discuss the emerging research about the effects of psychedelics on health behavior change. Dr. Teixeira is a professor of physical activity and health at the University of Lisbon and the director of research for the Synthesis Institute in the Netherlands. He holds bachelors and masters degrees in exercise science and a PhD in nutritional sciences. As an academic, Pedro’s main research interest is health behavior change, a field which he is now trying to put into conversation with the latest psychedelic science.  In this conversation, Dr. Teixeira shares the basics of the field of health behavior change, which seeks to study how and why people end up developing positive-health-conscious behaviors. This is a field that is of particular interest to clinicians, as doctors are always looking to encourage healthful behaviors in their patients. When it comes to research on the impact of psychedelics on health behavior change, Dr. Teixeira explains that much of the current data is secondary, though some evidence can be drawn from studies that primarily examined psychedelic therapy for tobacco and alcohol cessation. The data that does exist, however, paints a very promising picture, with many psychedelic users reporting positive changes in diet and exercise following experiences with these mind-altering substances—an effect which Dr. Teixeira notes is often observed even if there was no intent for health behavior change prior to the psychedelic experience.  However, more research is needed to substantiate these preliminary results. To that end, Pedro shares the idea of “behavioral psychedelics”—a new methodological paradigm in psychedelic research that will focus more on collecting data on concrete behaviors following psychedelic therapy as opposed to the primarily psychometric data which has dominated the field.  Dr. Teixeira also emphasizes that the field of health behavior change could be an important vehicle for emphasizing the role of psychedelics as tools for preventative health, taking the field beyond the current paradigm which sees psychedelics as primarily useful for their potential to address acute mental health conditions.  Dr. Teixeira can be reached at ​​pteixeira@fmh.ulisboa.pt   In this episode: The emerging field of health behavior change Types of health-related behaviors that could be encouraged by psychedelic experiences The new paradigm of “behavioral psychedelics”  Possible preventative health roles for psychedelics The evidence from tobacco and alcohol cessation trials for health behavior changes following psychedelic use   Quotes: “[Recent observational studies] seem to show that for some reason psychedelic users are not only healthier from a physical health perspective, but there’s also indications that that is caused by some of their behaviors.” [13:13]   “What better way to convince future politicians or policymakers than to show that people are actually improving the quality of their lives and their health habits and saving healthcare costs and eating more sustainable diets perhaps, if indeed the studies in Oregon and in the future in other places are showing that there is a preventative aspect, there is a lifestyle enhancement aspect to these experiences.” [21:57]   “When you behave from a self-determined perspective, or when you’re motivated more internally as opposed to being more externally motivated, your outcomes will be better. Your behavioral outcomes, but also your health outcomes.” [26:21]   Links: Dr. Teixeira's research group website Dr. Teixeira's paper: Psychedelics and Health Behavior Change Lucid News coverage of Dr. Teixeira’s article Study: Effects of Naturalistic Psychedelic Use on Depression, Anxiety, and Well-Being: Associations With Patterns of Use, Reported Harms, and Transformative Mental States Article: Behavioral Psychedelics: Integrating Mind and Behavior to Improve Health and Resilience Article: Ayahuasca and Public Health: Health Status, Psychosocial Well-Being, Lifestyle, and Coping Strategies in a Large Sample of Ritual Ayahuasca Users Dr. Teixeira’s talk at INSIGHT 2021: Can Psychedelics Improve Diet, Exercise, Meditation, and Weight Control? Self-Determination Theory website Previous episode: Psychedelics and Nature: The Symbiotic Relationship with Dr. Sam Gandy Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Frederick Barrett joins to discuss setting and the research into how this variable can affect psychedelic experiences. Fred is an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine where he is also the associate center director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. He has been conducting research at Johns Hopkins since 2013 and is currently leading a number of ongoing studies to better understand the psychological, biological, and neurological mechanisms underlying therapeutic efficacy of psychedelics. In this discussion, Fred unpacks his recent article “Effects of Setting on Psychedelic Experiences, Therapies, and Outcomes: A Rapid Scoping Review of the Literature” which appeared in the February 2022 edition of Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences. For this study, Dr. Barrett and colleagues gathered as many studies as they could find which dealt with the topic of the role of setting in psychedelic experiences. While they found over 1,000 articles which discussed the topic in some capacity, the researchers eventually narrowed the selection down to just 43 articles which provided empirical data on this variable. Fred mentions that while ideas of set and setting loom large in psychedelic discussions, this is actually a topic which has received comparably less attention in research contexts. This is beginning to change, however, as researchers have become more certain in the overall efficacy of psychedelic therapies for treating a variety of conditions and are now turning to more specialized investigations, such as looking more closely into the impacts caused by various tweaks to the setting of psychedelic therapies. When it comes to the state of current research on setting, Dr. Barrett reports that music is by far the most studied variable. He discusses different approaches which psychedelic therapists have taken in investigating this topic, with research investigating familiar vs unfamiliar music, or having music vs not having music in a session. He also shares research about expert meditators and how these subjects responded differently to music while under the influence of psychedelics when compared to typical patients.  Another variable which Fred discusses is the element of ritual, which is especially prominent in more traditional contexts of psychedelic use. This variable is also interesting because it interacts with participants' expectations, blurring the distinction between set and setting as distinct categories. In closing, Dr. Barrett shares some of his own thoughts about the blurriness of set and setting, suggesting that our understanding of these categories may evolve as empirical research further investigates the roles they play in guiding psychedelic experiences.   In this episode: The relationship between ritual and set and setting The difficulties of rigorously studying all the variables of setting in the context of psychedelic experiences The different aspects of setting in traditional, ritualistic contexts for psychedelic experiences versus the context of modern psychedelic therapy Music as an important aspect of setting during psychedelic journeys The blurry distinction between set and setting   Quotes: “Out of all of this literature, the one thing that became clear to us was that everybody talks about set and setting, and many papers affirm set and setting are important, but very few actually empirically test an element of set and setting.” [6:49] “One of the elements of set and setting in general that we found to be addressed across a number of different studies was the question of specific ritual or ceremonial settings.” [15:04] “Music seems to play an overwhelming role in shaping—and some people think driving—their psychedelic experience.” [22:25] “Set and setting are both mutable. Your experience at one point in a session, I would argue, is going to influence, or at least has the opportunity to influence the things that happen next.” [41:03]   Links: Dr. Barrett’s paper: Effects of Setting on Psychedelic Experiences, Therapies, and Outcomes Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research Fred on Twitter Previous episode: Can Ayahuasca Help Promote Palestinian-Israeli Reconciliation? with Dr. Leor Roseman & Antwan Saca Previous episode: The Latest Research on Psilocybin for Depression with Matthew Johnson, PhD Previous episode: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Psychedelic Medicine with Matthew Johnson, PhD Previous episode: LSD Scientific Research with Dr. Katrin Preller Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

On this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Dr. Rick Barnett joins to discuss when to not proceed with a planned psychedelic journey. Rick is a licensed clinical psychologist and licensed alcohol and drug counselor, trained in psychedelic therapies and research by the California Institute for Integral Studies. He is the cofounder of the psychedelic society of Vermont while also consulting with patients curious about psychedelic research and therapies, including helping people understand the processes of preparing for, experiencing, and integrating the intentional use of psychedelics for personal growth and healing. Dr. Barnett also works with patients in a traditional psychotherapeutic group practice and has also recently begun offering low-dose ketamine therapy. In this conversation, Rick expounds on his recent LinkedIn article of the same title, exploring the various biological, psychological, and social experiences which provide legitimate reasons for postponing a planned psychedelic experience. On the biological side, Rick explains that sudden illness or injury could absolutely constitute sufficient reason to reschedule a therapy session, and that consulting closely with your therapist or guide is essential if the decision isn’t clear cut, as in the case of something which could be a stomach bug or just nervousness manifesting as digestive discomfort. When it comes to the psychological side of things, Rick mentions that it is often a difficult circumstance to navigate, as mental distress is often the reason a patient is pursuing psychedelic therapy in the first place. However, Rick makes a distinction between the typical levels of depression and/or anxiety a patient is accustomed to experiencing, and a much more intense fear which is also qualitatively different that can arise before a session. Again, this is a situation where open communication between patient and therapist or guide is essential in order to help the patient make the best decision, but Rick also stresses that because this is a wholly internal experience, that prudent introspection is ultimately what will guide the decision making.In terms of the social reasons for not proceeding, Rick cites turmoil in personal relationships, traumatic contemporary events, and also recent experiences of death. These can all lead to an individual having a particularly heavy emotional burden going into a session, causing potentially difficult experiences during the psychedelic journey. While sometimes difficult experiences can be very healing in the long term, especially following effective integration, these external stressors have the potential to take people’s focus away from the intended inner work, so postponing until the person is confident they aren’t bogged down by these social factors could be prudent. With all these factors, Rick stresses that a patient can always return to a psychedelic journey at a later time if they decide not to proceed. A good guide or therapist will accommodate and even proactively support a patient in ensuring they are coming to the experience at the right time.    In this episode: The importance of examining refund policies of psychedelic retreats or therapy practices Rick’s bio-, psycho-, and social considerations for not proceeding with a psychedelic journey Why these considerations are often molecule-specific What kinds of interpersonal conflicts may warrant postponing a psychedelic journey Distinguishing between overwhelming fear and typical anxiety prior to a psychedelic experience The impacts of traumatic political or social events on mental health and postponing a journey   Quotes: “When you speak to a guide, when you speak to a coach, when you speak to a researcher, my hope is and my experience has been that it is always an option on the table at the last minute if you don’t feel quite right that you have permission to opt out.” [5:24] “Ketamine, when it comes to physical illnesses might be a different judgment call because ketamine—dissociative anesthetic, you kind of lose sense of your body—if there’s something going on physically, that might be okay to go ahead with… because you’re not with your body as much, but psilocybin, other high dose classic psychedelics and physical illness or physical pain, that could be different.” [17:59] “People need permission to say ‘you know what, it’s gonna happen’—you’ve done all the preparation, you’ve done all the work. If it’s not going to happen right now, it’s still going to happen.”  [32:57]   Links: Psychedelic Society of Vermont Rick’s LinkedIn Article: When NOT to Proceed with a Planned Psychedelic Journey Rick on LinkedIn Rick on Twitter Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast, Matt Johnson, PhD returns to discuss previous survey research he conducted regarding DMT entities. Dr. Johnson is the associate director at the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University, where he also works as a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. He has published widely in the field of psychedelic science and has guided over one hundred psychedelic experiences. In 2019 Dr. Johnson was the president of the psychopharmacology division of the American Psychological Association, and he currently serves as the president of the International Society for the Research on Psychedelics. In this conversation, Dr. Johnson shares findings from his 2020 publication of survey research which investigates peoples’ experiences with DMT entities. To preface these findings, however, Dr. Johnson first lays the groundwork by explaining the limitations of scientific investigation into these kinds of psychic phenomena. He explains that science is unable to answer questions of whether or not DMT entities are ultimately real, or what the fundamental nature of these experiences is. It can, however, employ rigorous methods for analyzing reports of entity encounters in order to document common features of these experiences and the types of effects they can have on individuals. In the survey, around twenty five hundred respondents shared their experiences of encountering an entity during a DMT experience. From the data collected, Dr. Johnson shares some of the common features of these entities. The beings are typically perceived as benevolent though there was a wide variety of ways the entities were conceptualized, ranging from aliens and machine elves to spirits and angels. Often participants believed the entities revealed metaphysical realities and the presence of these beings was frequently accompanied by extrasensory phenomena such as telepathic communication. Due to the dramatic nature of these experiences, Dr. Johnson’s research found some lasting impacts as reported by respondents, and he concludes by briefly discussing the effects of entity encounters on religious belief.    In this episode: What questions science can and can’t answer, and the boundaries good scientific research has to take when investigating something such as DMT entities The findings of Dr. Johnson’s survey research—some general trends regarding the qualities of entities described Effects of entity encounters on religious belief   Quotes: “My bet is that if people believe that there’s some sort of reality to these disincarnated entities—that it’s not just in their mind—there are certain people that can hold that experience in a positive way that might benefit them… and probably some of these over 2,000 folks, there’s probably some people that—again, aside from whether we know it’s true or not—believing in things that no one else can prove are there is probably a bad thing.” [12:38] “The machine elf thing, I mean, that was Terrence McKenna’s trip. And he described it—and I think he was very honest that that was his experience—and I think people who’ve heard his experience, a good number of them have had machine elf experiences because they heard Terrence McKenna’s experience.” [16:17] “Before the experience, 28% of these people identified as atheist, and then after the encounter that dropped to 10%.” [20:53]   Links: Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins (contribute to survey research here) Dr. Johnson’s DMT Entity Study: Survey of Entity Encounter Experiences Occasioned by Inhaled N,N-Dimethyltryptamine: Phenomenology, Interpretation, and Enduring Effects Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the psychedelic medicine podcast, Allison Feduccia, PhD joins to discuss the intersection of psychedelic medicine and women’s health. Dr. Feduccia is a neuropharmacologist, psychedelic researcher, and builder of virtual and in-person communities. She is cofounder of two prominent organizations, psychedelic.support and Project New Day, and is additionally a scientific advisor for Eastra. Alli has been researching psychedelics since 2004 when she first began studying MDMA and has subsequently been involved in the field through work at numerous universities, the NIH, and MAPS. In this work she seeks to spread evidence-based knowledge, connection to resources, and strategies for individuals to maximize potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics through safe and responsible practices. In this conversation, Alli responds to questions touching on all areas of women's health and the impact psychedelics could have specifically for female patients. A major theme of the discussion is the interplay between psychedelics and hormones. While this is a topic with little in the way of scientific research, Alli shares some interesting ideas about how the neuromodulation of psychedelics could interact with endocrine systems, and how serotonin receptors within the uterus could explain certain anecdotal reports of various effects of psychedelics on menstrual pains or irregularities.  In a similar vein, Alli discusses some of the physiological effects of psychedelics, particularly in relation to blood flow, and how these non-experiential features of these compounds could actually be helpful properties for women with certain conditions. This insight leads to interesting avenues for future drug development and also stresses the importance of studying psychedelics at different doses so that the positive health effects can be isolated. Alli also talks about the potential for psychedelic healing in the context of postpartum depression, sharing an evocative family story which illustrates simply how crucial and overlooked this issue has been in healthcare. The advances in mental healthcare coming out of psychedelic research provide a promising path forward for such conditions, however.    In this episode: How psychedelics could help with premenstrual discomfort Concerns about taking psychedelic substances while pregnant Psychedelics and postpartum depression How psychedelics could impact hypoactive sexual desire disorder   Psychedelics interactions with menopause Potential role for hormones alongside set and setting for impacting the psychedelic experience   Quotes: “It may be that psychedelics could really affect women’s moods as they go through these different life stages, and help them feel better.” [4:45] “Maybe this concept of neurotransmitter modulation with our sex hormones may be a target for drug development work as well.” [23:42] “This is also pertinent to transgender women who may be using hormones. This type of modulation on mood or physiological symptoms—this could be really applicable too for helping to really have the body adjust and be more balanced to changes in hormonal fluctuations in the body.”  [26:59]   Links: Psychedelic.support website Project New Day website Eastra Health Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Laura Mae Northrup, MFT joins to discuss the crucial topic of psychedelics and sexual trauma. Laura is an author, education, and somatic and relational psychotherapist. She brings a spiritual and politicized lens to her therapeutic work and is deeply invested in mentoring healing practitioners and supporting the spiritual integrity of our collective humanity. In addition to her therapeutic practice, Laura is also a podcaster and has addressed the topic of psychedelics and sexual trauma in her show Inside Eyes. In this wide-ranging conversation, Laura addresses the subject from two angles: first, looking at how psychedelic medicine can be effective in helping survivors of sexual trauma heal; and second, examining how sexual abuse is perpetrated within the context of psychedelic therapy.  To address the topic of psychedelic healing for survivors, Laura explains how sexual trauma has an affective aspect and an aspect related to the nervous system. With that in mind, it’s clear how psychedelics can be a powerful tool in helping survivors encounter difficult feelings and work with their nervous system. Laura also shares an interesting hypothesis regarding why ketamine—a dissociative substance—is actually often very helpful for people who dissociate in their daily lives as a trauma response. She contrasts this daily dissociation with the ketamine experience by explaining that as a trauma response dissociation works by compartmentalizing experiences and feelings, while the ketamine experience softens those boundaries, allowing the survivor to have a more integrated experience of themself. Laura also emphasizes the necessity to go slow and put in a lot of prep work to ensure any psychedelic healing experiences are as safe and effective as possible for survivors. Because of the dynamics of trauma, it is easy to be eager for an experience of dramatic healing, but because of how powerful psychedelics can be, and because of the power that facilitators and guides have over participants during therapy, these can also be dangerous experiences which could lead to additional traumatic experiences. As such, ensuring a high level of comfort and trust prior to a session is essential, and, if that cannot be achieved, it is safer to pursue other kinds of healing until the right opportunity is available. Finally, Laura discusses the crucial topic of sexual violence within the context of psychedelic therapy. She mentions that even within the more formal context of conventional therapy—with its checks and balances of professional licenses and credentials—there is a shocking amount of sexual misconduct between therapists and clients. Considering that a lot of psychedelic therapy continues to operate underground due to prohibition, there is serious cause for concern about the prevalence of this issue. Laura explains how, especially in the context of the psychedelic experience, it is impossible to give true sexual consent. This is doubly the case due to the power differential between a client and a psychedelic therapist.  Laura concludes this discussion by emphasizing that healing for those providing psychedelic therapy is absolutely crucial to address this issue, as it is because these guides and facilitators have not properly addressed their own healing that they continue to perpetrate abuse.    In this episode: The state of research on psychedelic healing for survivors of sexual assault The relationship between preparatory work and the efficacy of psychedelic therapies for people with PTSD The difficulty of choosing the right guide or facilitator as a person with trauma Why there isn’t one best medicine to heal sexual trauma Why ketamine may be effective for people struggling with dissociation due to traumatic experiences The importance of the three domains of mind, body, and spirit in psychedelic work The variety of ethical concerns relating to behavior of guides or facilitators   Quotes: “I really enjoy supporting survivors to heal, but also we need to be talking about this very, very concerning issue of people sexually abusing their clients.” [6:07] “When we’re talking about healing from trauma, a lot of times what we’re talking about is growing the capacity to experience and endure very big feelings.” [11:00] “Being able to work with trauma is like way more than just a little tiny workshop, I mean it's truly something you’re learning to do throughout your career, it involves a lot of extensive training and consultation and guidance from more seasoned practitioners.” [24:21] “If something is so powerful that it could do that much profound healing for you, man just make it the best it can be. Go with [a facilitator] that you don’t have any reservations about.” [33:00] “You can always pause a therapy. And there can be such an emphasis on ‘no, move forward’—you can just say ‘that was weird for me, I need time.’ You can go and you can talk to your other people.” [45:29] “It’s so complicated because the person you would maybe think is the number-one person you would go to to talk about something like this, is your therapist, who is also the person harming you.” [46:54] “We need to show up to our own healing, because that’s why we abuse people, that’s why we harm people, because we are not doing our own healing work.” [56:48]   Links: Laura’s website Inside Eyes Podcast Laura’s forthcoming book ​​Radical Healership: How to Build a Values-Driven Healing Practice in a Profit-Driven World (use code radical35 for 35% off and free shipping) Laura on Instagram Psychedelic Survivors website (new resource referenced at the end of the show) Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Joel Castellanos joins to discuss the emerging topic of psychedelic therapies for pain-related conditions. Dr. Castellanos is a Board certified physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain management physician and an associate professor in the department of anesthesiology at UC San Diego school of medicine. He earned his medical degree from University of Toledo college of medicine and has since completed a two year program in healthcare administration during his residency at University of Michigan, as well as a fellowship in pain medicine at UC San Diego school of medicine. Most recently he completed the integrative medicine fellowship from the University of Arizona. In this conversation, Dr. Castellanos introduces the topic of psychedelics as a therapeutic modality for various pain conditions. Dr. Castellanos explains that much of the pain management field focuses on neuromodulation as the basis for particular therapeutic techniques, so psychedelics—which have profound modulating effects within the brain—naturally seem promising. However, research into this topic is still developing, with studies from the seventies providing some initial data which is now being corroborated and expanded by contemporary research. Dr. Castellanos shares the details of this work, explaining how combined psychedelic treatment and mirror box therapy could prove to be particularly efficacious for individuals suffering from phantom limb pain. In light of the upcoming trials led by Dr. Castellanos and his colleagues at the Psychedelic Health Research Initiative at UC San Diego, he also discusses certain special considerations for working with amputees as guides or facilitators of psychedelic therapy. The double blind randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of psilocybin therapy for phantom limb pain will be conducted first and is currently enrolling. This study seeks to test the efficacy of psilocybin therapy for this condition as well as elucidate its potential mechanism of action through ​​brain imaging. Click here to enroll.    In this episode: An overview of the literature on psychedelics and pain Albert Lin’s experience treating his phantom limb pain with combined psychedelic and mirror box therapy Why psychedelics may be a great alternative to many current treatment options for chronic pain Stories of healing resulting from psychedelic therapy in patients who have suffered with chronic pain How to enroll in Dr. Castellanos’ upcoming trial for patients with phantom limb pain   Quotes: “It’s really interesting to me that neuromodulation - modulating the nervous system - is such a big part of pain medicine—and no one had really looked at psychedelics as an option when they are something that really modulates the nervous system in a profound way.” [4:24] “I don’t want people to think that this is going to be a panacea, that this is going to be the cure for everything and everyone’s pain because we need to do the research, we need to do the work and really answer the clinical question on who this is going to be most efficacious for.” [7:50] “Where there has been the most evidence so far and the most work done is in the headache patient population, which is definitely needed. There are so many people who suffer from migraines, from cluster headaches, and it can be really debilitating.” [17:45] “In the same way that patients who have had PTSD or have severe anxiety or depression it helps to do some talk therapy with those [psychedelic therapy] sessions, maybe some movement therapy during the psychedelic sessions may be beneficial [for treating pain].” [23:26]   Links: Enroll in Dr. Castellanos’ upcoming study through PHRI at UCSD Dr. Castellanos on Twitter Psychedelic Health Research Initiative at UC San Diego Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast (formerly the Plant Medicine Podcast), Rick Doblin joins to discuss the past, present, and future of MDMA-assisted therapy. Rick Doblin is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. He received his doctorate in public policy from Harvard and has also studied under the father of transpersonal psychology Stanislav Grof. Through MAPS, Rick aspires to develop legal contexts for beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana as prescription medicines, but also for self-development and personal growth in otherwise healthy individuals. Rick begins this wide-ranging conversation discussing the early days of MDMA. The compound was originally synthesized by famed chemist Alexander "Sasha" Shulgin and, unlike the classic serotonergic psychedelics, it was not scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act in the early 70s. It was during this period of legality that therapeutic uses of MDMA were first developed and it was only later that the drug became repurposed as a recreational substance to be used in social settings, which consequently led to its emergency scheduling by the DEA. Rick recalls his own initial experiences with the empathogenic compound, stating that he was initially skeptical of its value, prior to gaining first-hand experience. Following this experience, however, he became convinced of its therapeutic potential and he shares some of his own early experiences of using MDMA to help people heal, including a very touching tale of his own grandmother’s struggle with depression. From here, Rick discusses the founding of MAPS and his decision to pursue education in policy in order to better understand strategies for furthering MDMA-therapy even while living under prohibition. Since that time, MAPS has gone on to do incredibly impactful work in developing studies researching the safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy, specifically for post-traumatic stress disorder. Rick shares the progression of these studies, highlighting the results from the most recent phase three investigations which are the last step prior to FDA approval for the therapeutic protocol. These studies show high statistical significance and an amazing effect size resulting from MDMA-assisted therapy, with results being mirrored at all research locations and showing durability over time.  Because of this amazing progress, Rick believes we are at the final stretch prior to full FDA approval for MDMA use in a therapeutic context for PTSD, and subsequent rescheduling of the substance by the DEA, which he believes will take place in mid to late 2023. This development will have broad global impacts, spurring other countries to promptly follow suit. Rick closes out this discussion by emphasizing the need for mass mental health in our day and age, and sharing MAPS’ lofty goals of training thousands of therapists to hopefully bring psychedelic therapy to millions of patients in the coming decades.    In this episode: Rick Doblin’s personal journey The history of the MDMA’s synthesis and legality Rick’s first experiences with MDMA and early experiments with MDMA therapy MAPS’ “two-pronged” strategy for mass mental health Early efforts to get an MDMA therapy protocol approved by the FDA following prohibition The politics of concerns about MDMA neurotoxicity and how this impacted MAPS’ early approach The results of the first phase three studies of MDMA for PTSD How FDA approval of MDMA will lead to an international cascade of approval and rescheduling Rick’s predictions for psychedelic medicine in the years to come    Quotes: “What a lot of people don’t know is that MDMA was a therapy drug before it was a party drug. And it was the party drug nature of it that really got it criminalized.” [7:38] “Seeing what it was like when it was legal and experiencing that, and experiencing situations where people would take it, the kind of experiences and healings, and learnings that people would have, was amazing.” [19:12] “What we need is, I believe, legal access to medicinal MDMA, covered by insurance, by trained professionals, and psychedelic clinics. And we also need a whole different kind of drug policy for non-medical use that involves honest drug education, access to pure substances, harm reduction, peer support, and also treatment on demand.” [21:08] “The irony here is that the first legal move against MDMA was illegal. The DEA did not have the authority to emergency schedule drugs.” [23:43] “FDA is legally bound to approve MDMA for PTSD if these [phase 3] studies generate statistically significant evidence of efficacy, and there are no new safety problems.” [40:27] “We think by the third quarter of 2023 we will have FDA approval assuming the second phase 3 study goes well. And then by the fourth quarter, the DEA has to reschedule [MDMA].” [51:18] “What’s even greater is the 12-month follow-up data was 67% no longer had PTSD. So people kept getting better—not only was it durable, but they kept getting better.” [55:00] “The thing to emphasize here is that MDMA is not the treatment. The treatment is therapy. The MDMA makes the therapy more effective and there can be different kinds of therapy that are used with it.” [1:01:38]   Links: MAPS website Rick Doblin on Twitter Trip of Compassion Documentary The Way of the Psychonaut Books by Stanislav Grof Upcoming MAPS Psychedelic Science Conference 2023 Becoming an MDMA-Assisted Therapist with Shannon Carlin, MA, LMFT Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast, Dr. Josh Woolley joins to discuss the differences between psilocin and psilocybin, and to share upcoming clinical research which will further clarify the safety profiles, subjective effects, and clinical uses of these psychedelic substances.  Dr. Woolley is an Associate Professor in Residence in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) as well as a staff psychiatrist in Mental Health at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (SFVAMC). He is Board Certified in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is the Director of the Bonding and Attunement in Neuropsychiatric Disorders (BAND) lab at UCSF that focuses on understanding and treating social deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, substance use disorders, and mood disorders. He is also the Director of the Translational Psychedelic Research (TrPR) Program at UCSF, which brings together scientists and care providers across disciplines to understand how psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, MDMA, and related compounds impact the brain and other organ systems. In this conversation, Dr. Woolley begins by sharing a bit about TrPR and the upcoming research they will be conducting on psychedelics as a treatment for depression in individuals living with Parkinson's disease. Dr. Woolley then introduces the main topic of psilocin, psilocybin, and the differences between these two compounds. He explains that psilocybin is a prodrug for psilocin, meaning that the human body metabolizes psilocybin into psilocin, which is the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects produced by psilocybin-containing mushrooms.  Dr. Woolley’s upcoming research will provide more concrete data on the differences between these two compounds, as TrPR will be testing both psilocybin and psilocin in healthy volunteers, giving each participant both substances on different occasions so that effects can be studied both across the sample pool and within individuals. Dr. Woolley hypothesizes that psilocin could have certain clinical advantages over psilocybin: it could produce more consistent effects person-to-person at a given dose as individual differences in metabolism would be less relevant; it may more quickly induce a psychedelic experience, particularly when administering psilocin sublingually; and it is possible there may be fewer side effects related to the gastrointestinal tract. Dr. Woolley closes out the discussion by sharing other upcoming research to be conducted by TrPR. In addition to the study investigating psilocin and the research into psychedelics for Parkinson's disease, TrPR is also investigating the use of psychedelics to improve quality of life for individuals suffering from chronic pain and they will also be further investigating the interaction between psychedelics and bipolar disorder.    In this episode: The approach of the Translational Psychedelic Research (TrPR) Program and its upcoming research The pharmacological differences between psilocybin and psilocin and how the experience induced by the substances may differ In-subject study design and how it is used in Dr. Woolley’s psilocin trials The mechanisms for tolerance with using psychedelic drugs Data on the contraindication of psychedelic use for individuals with bipolar disorder   Quotes: “For a long time, when you make [psilocin] synthetically—[...]—psilocin wasn’t stable. So, even if you made psilocin synthetically you would then turn it into psilocybin so it would be stable and then people would take it and it would get turned back into psilocin.” [8:39] “You can’t do sublingual psilocybin because it won’t get broken down easily. But, sublingual psilocin doesn’t need to be metabolized and it can go across your buccal membrane, skipping the gut. That theoretically could be useful because then you might skip the first pass metabolism, it doesn’t have to go to the liver, and it might be faster that way and maybe again more consistent. And fewer side effects—maybe you won’t get any GI side effects if it doesn’t go to the GI tract.” [19:58] “We think that psychedelics—psilocybin in particular—might be able to change people’s relationship to their [chronic] pain. It might be an analgesic too—it might make the pain go away, that would be great. But even if it doesn’t do that, we think that it should allow people to basically find the pain less impairing.” [41:22]   Links: The Translational Psychedelic Research (TrPR) Program at UCSF Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

James Fadiman, PhD, was a part of the first wave of pioneering psychedelic researchers in the 1960s in the US. He’s the co-founder of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, now known as Sofia University, and he’s the author of several well-known psychedelics books, including The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide. From his initial rediscovery of microdosing and developing a protocol based on early reports, Dr. Fadiman teamed up with Dr. Sophia Korb to record and pattern-map the microdosing experiences of several thousand individuals from 51 countries. In this episode, Dr. Fadiman answers listener-submitted questions regarding microdosing psilocybin and LSD. He discussed dosing recommendations, tolerance, microdosing's general effects on healthy normals, and its specific effects on a number of conditions, ranging from depression to PMS. He also covered a variety of additional areas where people benefit from microdosing, including academic performance and athletics.  In the last part of the episode, Dr. Fadiman discusses his new book, Your Symphony of Selves. He points out that we have not one, but a multitude of selves, and that we can learn to shift between them consciously. Further following this idea, he illustrates how we can save a lot of mental distress by not over-identifying with any particular one of our selves, and how we can extend that concept to those around us. This helps us not only forgive others when one of their selves may have acted in a displeasing way but also helps us forgive and go easy on ourselves when we act in a way that we later find distressing or shameful.   In this episode: The reported benefits and risks of microdosing psilocybin mushrooms and LSD. Whether someone’s height and weight makes a difference on their dosage. The overwhelming number of those suffering from depression who reported significant improvements in their survey. Why microdosing may not be advisable for those with anxiety. Dr. Fadminan reports on study findings regarding conditions including depression, PMS, migraine headaches, and bipolar    Quotes: “A lot of people have found that when they’re tapering off of an SSRI, which means taking it down very, very slowly over a period of maybe a couple of months from full dose to zero, that microdosing helps. That makes it easier. Makes it maybe even a little faster.” [14:13] “I’m an enthusiast for the effect of microdosing, but I never recommend that anyone microdose. That’s a personal decision based on information, but the nice thing is the risk/reward ratio, which is how dangerous versus how beneficial. It’s very good for microdosing. Meaning, if you take it, it’s very low risk, and yeah, from the reports, we have a lot of possibility of benefits.” [35:00] “What we’ve found is that about 80% of the people who come in with heavy depression, and again, most of them having failed medications or other therapies, we’ve about an 80% turnaround rate where they’re not depressed. That’s really striking.” [42:00] “They (students) say: “Microdosing is very much like Adderall, except with none of the very disturbing side effects.” Adderall includes crashing, by the way. And addiction.” [49:18] “Individual neurons in the laboratory, exposed to microdoses, grow into more healthy, more complex neurons with more dendrites, meaning more communication capacity.” [52:17] In discussing his new book, Your Symphony of Selves: “The inconsistencies you see in yourself and particularly in the people you love are not inconsistencies. It is that they have several selves, and you do too. And if you begin to think in that way, curiously, the world becomes easier. You understand things differently and you are kinder to yourself and more compassionate to others.” [1:10:43]   Links: Psychedelic Medicine AssociationMicrodosing Psychedelics  James Fadiman’s website and email: jfadiman@gmail.com Cluster Busters - treatment for cluster headaches Get 20% off everything at Octagon Biolabs with coupon code 'plantmedicine' Porangui Studies mentioned:Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity Books Mentioned: A Really Good Day by Ayelet Waldman The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide by James Fadiman PhD Your Symphony of Selves by James Fadiman PhD, Jordan Gruber JD