Psychedelic Medicine Podcast with Dr. Lynn Marie Morski

In this episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast, Ifetayo Harvey & Mary Sanders, LCSW join to discuss people of color and psychedelics. Ifetayo is a writer, advocate and speaker who founded the People of Color Psychedelic Collective. She has also previously worked with both MAPS and the Drug Policy Alliance. Mary Sanders is a licensed clinical social worker whose work focuses on addressing trauma in communities of color and marginalized populations. She is a founding board member at the People of Color Psychedelic Collective and is a trained psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist from both CIIS and MAPS. Mary is also certified in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and is currently enrolled at the somatic experiencing trauma institute. This conversation with Ifetayo and Mary touches on many of the important topics in the intersection of the unique experiences of people of color and the use of psychedelic medicines. One immediate concern which has begun to be discussed more openly is that of POC representation in psychedelic spaces. Ifetayo and Mary both discuss this issue, mentioning how representation is especially crucial for something as vulnerable as psychedelic experiences, where facilitators are responsible for navigating a wide range of emotions which naturally arise in a ceremony or therapeutic setting. Having someone from one's own community in these spaces can facilitate healing, as there is less anxiety around needing to explain specific experiences or trauma. Despite these shortcomings of representation, psychedelic medicines have a lot of potential to provide healing for people of color in particular. Ifetayo and Mary discuss the experience of intergenerational trauma in communities of color and how psychedelics are able to shed light on this phenomenon. Ifetayo shares powerful experiences from the first People of Color Psychedelic Collective retreat before the pandemic and explains her own coming to consciousness of the brutality of slavery and Jim Crow and how dysfunctional behaviors which perpetrate intergenerational trauma originally developed as survival mechanisms for the black Americans who lived under these racist systems.  Mary also emphasizes that psychedelic healing for people of color needs to emphasize building community and creating strong interpersonal bonds. While the individual experiences provided by plant medicines are incredibly beneficial, the healing will be even more profound if it can be processed and integrated collectively, as people of color aren’t only healing individual ailments, but collective traumas rooted in shared histories of oppression.     In this episode: The unique needs of POC not typically addressed in psychedelic ceremonies or integration circles The disconnect between the Western therapeutic paradigm of healing individuals vs the more communal approaches to healing in traditional black cultures and how to bridge this gap How People of Color Psychedelic Collective creates community and fosters opportunities for people of color involved with psychedelics The intersection of intergenerational trauma and psychedelic healing for people of color   Quotes: “Taking a medicine is a vulnerable state, where we have to be cautious: am I going to be minimized, are my visions going to be acknowledged and held with support and love and care?” [8:27] “Healing is relational and it’s so important that we not only do the work in the therapy space but that we’re out and about with our friends and our family and our community members, especially our community members that have similar life experiences and histories.” [19:24] “There’s a very very strong stigma around addiction [and] overdose because our communities have been harmed in so many ways by policing and bad drug policies.” [25:22] “I think it’s really about uplifting the people who are already doing the work and then also supporting the folks who want to do the work, like providing them with resources, education, mentorship. Things like that will help usher in a new generation of [POC] healers, practitioners, leaders.” [39:35]   Links: People of Color Psychedelic Collective Mary Sanders’ EmPATH Center Drug Policy Alliance Dr. Carl Hart’s Webpage National Harm Reduction Coalition Darren Springer’s Webpage Fruiting Bodies Collective Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast, Leor Roseman and Antwan Saca join to discuss their recently published paper: Relational Processes in Ayahuasca Groups of Palestinians and Israelis. Leor is a postdoc at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, where he also received his PhD and masters under the supervision of Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris. Leor has diverse research interests related to psychedelics, ranging from the neuroscientific and therapeutic, to the phenomenological and psychosocial. Antwan is a graduate of the Arab American University of Jenin with a BA in public law and has extensive experience working for justice in Palestine. He has served as the director of programs at Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem and as a program coordinator for Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation. Antwan has also worked as a research assistant for urbanization and geopolitical monitoring at the Applied Research Institute—Jerusalem. In this episode, Leor and Antwan discuss the details of the recent paper they co-authored which deals with impacts of ayahuasca on interpersonal peace building in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The study consists of 31 in-depth interviews with Israelis and Palestinians who’ve participated in joint ayahuasca ceremonies and looks to investigate the impact of this psychedelic experience along three relational themes: unity-based connection, recognition and difference-based connection, and conflict-related revelations. Through open-ended interviews, Leor and Antwan were able to collect qualitative data from participants which allowed research conclusions to arise organically.  In the interviews, participants disclosed experiences of profound political revelations, connection with the land, and empathy for the other. Leor and Antwan stress that the initial motivations of the participants typically had little to do with notions of political peace-building and instead they were most often participating in these psychedelic ceremonies for reasons related to personal growth, so these outcomes arose naturally as a result of the intense interpersonal connections spurred by the psychedelic experience.  Though these ayahuasca ceremonies had significant positive impacts for both the Israelis and the Palestinian participants, Antwan notes the disparity of access to psychedelic healing for Palestinians and emphasizes that the “love for the other” the Palestinian participants experienced through the ayahuasca ceremonies is complicated due to the pervasive political supression and percarity experienced by Palestinians in their day-to-day lives. The study, however, demonstrates that profound experiences of connection through the use of psychedelic medicines are possible even in the context of a deep and traumatic geopolitical conflict. This opens the door for further study of the potential of psychedelics to facilitate conflict resolution and peace-building.   In this episode: How Leor and Antwan developed the idea for this study based on their personal backgrounds Different themes which came up in interviews with the Israelis and Palestinians in the study The moving story of a former Israeli military officer and how he experienced the pain of the Palestinian people during an ayahuasca ceremony How music and prayer in the ceremonies helped to encourage empathy and cultural connection among participants   Quotes: “It’s not questionnaires, it’s not about measuring things, it’s about listening to stories and making meaning out of them.” [13:24] “Because the rituals were participatory and music and prayers were shared, a lot of times these opened up for people the strong connection to the other culture or the other people and that was very meaningful for many people.” [21:34] “A lot of us Palestinians end up in the interviews telling you ‘this is all amazing’ and yet there is the reality, yet we live under this kind of suppression.” [29:11] “Not all people that came to the ceremonies came from the peace camp or from left-leaning camps. They come for psycho-spiritual growth, or even for physical illnesses… And they go there regardless of their politics.” [31:37]   Links: Full Article: Relational Processes in Ayahuasca Groups of Palestinians and Israelis Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

This episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast welcomes Dr. Sam Gandy to discuss the symbiotic relationship between psychedelic experiences and connection with nature. Dr. Gandy holds a PhD in ecological science from the University of Aberdeen and has conducted field research across the globe. He currently works as a research assistant at the Synthesis Institute and as a senior science writer at Wavepaths. He is also a collaborator with the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London and was previously a scientific assistant to the director of the Beckley Foundation.  In this conversation, Dr. Gandy shares insights from his research into psychedelics and nature relatedness with special emphasis on his 2020 publication “The Potential Synergistic Effects between Psychedelic Administration and Nature Contact for the Improvement of Mental Health” (linked below). Dr. Gandy discusses the numerous overlaps between the experience of nature relatedness—the personal sense of being connected with the natural world—and the experiences induced by psychedelic substances. These overlaps cover a range of domains and all work to promote wellbeing. For example, Dr. Gandy reports that neuroticism decreases both as a result of positive psychedelic experiences and from spending quality time in nature. As high neuroticism can correlate with mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, interventions that can impact this trait have significant therapeutic potential.  In addition to specific overlaps between the psychedelic experience and nature relatedness, Dr. Gandy also discusses how psychedelics and psilocybin in particular seem to increase a sense of nature relatedness. Considering these overlapping benefits and the symbiotic relationship between psychedelics and nature relatedness, Dr. Gandy provides some speculations for how nature can be more intentionally integrated into psychedelic therapies and ceremonies to maximize the therapeutic benefits of both. He mentions that even something as small as decorating a clinical setting with artwork depicting nature can have positive impacts for patients undergoing psychedelic psychotherapy in the space.   In this episode: Eudaimonic vs hedonic well being The neurobiological and psychological overlaps between nature relatedness and the psychedelic experience How both psychedelics and nature relatedness promote mindfulness and experiences of awe Ideas for combining psychedelic therapy and experiences of nature to enhance health benefits   Quotes: “Nature connectedness is a mediator for some of the benefits to cognition and mood obtained from actually spending time in nature, having contact with nature.” [6:57] “There was a study published last year by a Finnish research group and one of the most common after effects of psychedelic mystical experiences they found was this sustained, positive shift in peoples’ relationship to nature.” [17:35] “Psilocybin has this capacity to facilitate this fairly robust, rapid, but most importantly sustained increase in nature relatedness. And the really mysterious and interesting thing is that it can do this even when it's administered in a clinical setting.” [22:47] “The restorative effect of nature obviously benefits both the person having the therapy and the therapist, and it potentially allows for the outdoor nature-based setting to become part of the therapy itself.” [31:00] “If you’re going to do any kind of psychedelic nature connection, nature immersion therapy, it’s very important to have a cozy, secure structure that people have got as a safe place.” [35:31]   Links: Dr. Gandy on Twitter Dr. Gandy’s 2020 article The Potential Synergistic Effects between Psychedelic Administration and Nature Contact for the Improvement of Mental Health Dr. Gandy’s 2019 article From Egoism to Ecoism: Psychedelics Increase Nature Relatedness in a State-Mediated and Context-Dependent Manner Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

This episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast features a conversation about kratom with Dr. Oliver Grundmann. Dr. Grundmann earned his bachelors in pharmacy and European pharmacy license from University of Münster in 2004, after which he pursued graduate studies at the University of Florida, where he is now a clinical professor in the College of Pharmacy. His research interests focus on investigating the use of natural products as novel treatments for a variety of physical and mental conditions. Dr. Grundmann is a leading kratom researcher and has published numerous articles on the substance, examining the plant medicine and its use using a variety of methodologies.  In this episode, Dr. Grundmann introduces kratom (scientific name mitragyna speciosa) and discusses its pharmacology and potential as both a medicine and a drug of abuse. The kratom tree is native to southeast Asia and belongs to the same botanical family as the coffee plant. The leaves of the kratom tree contain a wide variety of active alkaloids and they are consumed orally to produce a psychoactive effect.  Dr. Grundmann explains that kratom is unique because the primary alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are opioid agonists, yet the substance does not fit neatly into the opiate category as it lacks certain properties of the classic opioids such as morphine or heroin. For example, respiratory depression is not observed with the use of kratom, while this is a hallmark effect of opioids at high doses—and one of the major dangers associated with the use of these drugs.  Another way in which kratom is unique is that its effects are highly dose dependent. At lower doses, Dr. Grundmann explains, the plant tends to have a more energizing effect, while higher doses lead to a more sedating experience.  In this conversation, Dr. Grundmann also shares insights into kratom use in America based on survey research he has conducted. While scientific research into kratom remains a small field, this type of survey research helps to give insight into the potential kratom has as a plant medicine through data which shows the variety of conditions people are attempting to treat through kratom use.  As kratom consumption increased in the United States and the plant gained notoriety, its use became associated with the treatment of chronic pain and opioid withdrawal. Dr. Grundmann’s research has been showing, however, that users are also turning to kratom for dealing with conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. These initial findings provide fertile soil for further research into kratom’s potential medicinal applications.   In this episode: The pharmacology of mitragyna speciosa The legality of kratom in the United States The current state of scientific research into the effects of kratom consumption Contraindications for kratom use Potential uses for kratom to treat both mental and physical ailments Various methods for kratom consumption   Quotes: “Just because a substance binds to an opioid receptor doesn’t mean that it shows all of the same properties as, for example, morphine, or oxycodone, or fentanyl, or heroin.” [14:20] “When we talk here one to five grams per dose, three times a day—the potential to develop a use disorder, kratom use disorder, basically, is relatively low. When we talk about really taking high amounts of an extract or also of the powder for example, let’s say above eight grams, ten grams per dose, more frequently—four, five, eight times a day—then there is the potential to develop a dependence on it.” [18:52] “Between 70%–85%… [of] folks were in the range of one to five grams and didn’t have to go above five grams to maintain alleviation of their symptoms for which they are using kratom… That indicates to me that there’s no risk of tolerance up to five grams per dose.” [22:53] “Surprisingly, we had a large group now in the second survey who were using it to treat—self-treat—symptoms of ADHD or PTSD and nothing else aside from that. So it’s really a very diverse population of users that we’re seeing with kratom.” [25:09]   Links: Dr. Grundmann’s Profile at the University of Florida  Dr. Grundmann on LinkedIn Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

This episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast welcomes Dr. Angela Carter (they/them) to discuss the intersection of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and psychedelics. Dr. Carter is a queer, transgender, and genderqueer naturopathic primary care physician who also works as a midwife, sexual assault examiner, and health equity advocate in Portland, Oregon. They also serve as both the vice-chair and the equity in training subcommittees co-chair of the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board. In addition to these positions, Dr. Carter serves as the chair of the Transgender Health Program Community Advisory Board at Oregon Health & Science University. They also volunteer with many organizations including the Fireside Project, Black Rock City Emergency Services, and Queerdome. Dr. Carter begins this conversation by sharing exciting new research currently being conducted which involves LGBTQIA2S+ individuals and psychedelic therapies. While this particular area of research remains small, it is growing and the fruits of these studies will be an important step for better understanding how these new therapies can serve gender and sexuality minorities, and help facilitators understand the unique concerns of people in the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Dr. Carter illustrates these types of concerns by discussing the prevalence of gender binaries within psychedelic spaces. They describe how in a clinical setting it is prevalent to have both a male and a female facilitator, but this leaves no room for gender-nonconforming people to guide experiences—something which could be preferable if the patient themselves shares this identity. Dr. Carter also discusses this gender binary in traditional contexts. It is common for ayahuasca ceremonies to provide separate spaces for men and women, again leaving no space for gender-nonconforming people. This reification of the gender binary and the often patriarchal organization of the ayahuasca ceremony can have serious impacts on the set and setting, especially for people in the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Dr. Carter emphasizes the importance of making space for folks in the community so that they are able to receive therapy, attend ceremonies, and participate in integration with others who share similar identities. This shared identity, they emphasize, ensures that LGBTQIA2S+ people don’t feel out of place in contexts that ought to be healing. Dr. Carter closes by discussing how members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community experience disproportionate rates of mental illness, further illustrating the crucial importance of equity in accessing psychedelic medicine.    In this episode: Problems of representation and access for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals in the psychedelic space Current research being done on the intersection between psychedelic therapies and unique issues faced by gender and sexuality minorities Preparations to take before guiding a psychedelic experience for LGBTQIA2S+ people, particularly if you do not come from the community How plant medicines could have unique benefits for the LGBTQIA2S+ community Issues of poverty faced by marginalized peoples and how to support equity of access to emerging psychedelic therapies   Quotes: “For some people that idea of melding, of becoming one and losing all of those unique pieces of themselves, doesn’t fit their paradigm of a spiritual connecting experience.” [10:47] “It’s precious, that centering of our community—to be able to sit with people who just understand.” [19:42] “Psychedelics offer the opportunity for connection of the self to something greater, something outside, a bigger community, spirituality, and really do a huge amount to heal peoples’ relationships with substances.” [25:20] “Marginalized communities have been really impacted, largely, by the war on drugs, which has put millions of people in jail for drug offenses and stolen their ability to make income, stolen their ability to connect with community and we really need to heal that.” [33:34]   Links: Fruiting Bodies Collective Chacruna Institute Queering Psychedelics 2019 Conference Queerdome on Facebook  Portland Psychedelic Society Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

This episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast features a discussion of psychedelics and meditative practices with Nate Macanian. Nate is a meditation teacher and psychedelic guide from New York with a background in cognitive neuroscience. He also creates mindfulness content for leading meditation apps such as Calm, Simple Habit, and Wellness Coach, as well as retreat centers such as Synthesis and Omega Institute.  Nate begins this discussion describing how he was initially exposed to meditation and psychedelics. This first exposure came while Nate was a student at the University of Michigan and his immediate passion for meditation led him to found a student organization to further explore meditative and contemplative practices with his peers. Nate also describes guiding friends through psychedelic experiences in his college arboretum, before he had ever even heard of the idea of trip sitting.  Turning to meditative practices themselves, Nate describes how psychedelics can be incorporated into one’s meditation routine in a variety of ways and for a variety of different forms of meditation. What he stresses, however, is to examine the intention behind bringing plant medicines into the practice. But if they are incorporated mindfully, psychedelics can help bring meditative practices into sharper relief—microdoses help to amplify awareness and reveal the habits of the mind while larger doses work to connect one to layers of experience previously hidden to consciousness. While meditation and psychedelics share certain goals and can both be used for therapeutic ends, there are also differences between them. Nate describes psychedelics as an elevator which takes people directly to a destination, whereas meditation is more like a winding staircase as the practice requires continual effort and consistency to progress. Nate also distinguishes meditation and psychedelic experiences phenomenologically. He stresses that the goal of meditative practices is not to mimic the feeling of a trip. Instead, meditation works to focus the attention on the whole spectrum of human experience, some of which can be boring, tedious, or dull. Psychedelics, on the other hand, provide specific kinds of experiences which are intense and colorful, but these differences are what allow meditative practices and psychedelic journeys to have a symbiotic relationship.    In this episode: Nate’s journey being introduced to mindfulness and psychedelics The importance of intention in meditation Incorporating plant medicines into one’s meditative practices Psychedelics, meditation, and the default mode network in the brain Why set and setting is also important for meditation   Quotes: “If you include a larger dose in your meditation practice, you might find that there are layers that were previously unseen and latent, living under the surface, that start to come up and this is where a lot of shadow work happens.” [14:00] “When the default mode network is off, we have this increased susceptibility to our immediate environment and this is why it's so important to surround yourself with positive people and be in a nice, calm, safe place.” [22:24] “I think there’s absolutely a place for psychedelics to be included in your meditation practice as long as it’s intentional and as long as you feel like your success as a meditator is not attached to your use of any substance.” [26:59] “Meditation as a practice is not about really forcing ourselves to have some experience, but to train our awareness, to become a more whole person, a more fulfilled person, a more loving person.” [33:33]   Links: Nate’s website Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

On this episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast, Mitchell Gomez of DanceSafe discusses how to reduce harm by chemically testing substances prior to consumption. Mitchell is a graduate of New College of Florida and holds a masters from University of Colorado Denver. He joined the DanceSafe team in 2014 and has been serving as the executive director since 2017. In addition to his work at DanceSafe, Mitchell also acts as a harm reduction consultant for MAPS. In this conversation, Mitchell shares the origin story of DanceSafe and describes the important work they do. He mentions that testing drugs is illegal in many states, but following a precedent set by needle exchanges, the justice system seems to turn a blind eye to DanceSafe’s activity. Transitioning to the present day, Mitchell discusses the current state of the drug market, sharing information on adulterants and false marketing for a variety of substances from ketamine and LSD to cocaine and MDMA. Prohibition is at the root of these issues, he claims, as this is what encourages things such as selling fentanyl while claiming it is another opioid, as fentanyl is more potent and thus easier to smuggle in smaller quantities. Another government-related issue Mitchell mentions is the data the state gathers on drug-induced medical incidents. This data groups a variety of substances together, making it difficult to determine the actual cause of the medical emergency. Turning to the importance of chemically testing drugs, Mitchell stresses the benefits of knowing what you are consuming. While a single test with the right reagent can tell a lot about a substance, Mitchell recommends using a wide variety of tests as many drugs are often adulterated even if they do contain the substance they were sold as. Knowing if a drug is cut with another substance and what this substance could be helps people make more informed decisions about what they put in their bodies. Especially in the era of the opioid epidemic, this kind of information can be legitimately lifesaving.     In this episode: The origin of DanceSafe and the services they provide How to use fentanyl test strips Common drugs currently being falsely marketed as MDMA New opioids which are laid on blotters like LSD Why using multiple reagents to test substances is a smart idea Chemically testing mushrooms vs learning mycology to identify species   Quotes: “One of the things we know is that the speed at which new drugs are entering the market is accelerating.” [15:08] “Fentanyl, for a non-opioid user, a milligram might be enough to kill you. One milligram. If you’re alone, if there’s nobody there to call 911, that might be enough to impact a non-opioid user’s breathing.” [18:44] “Nobody has ever been arrested for just having a test kit. That’s never happened. If they find a test kit as part of a larger drug investigation, they will include a paraphernalia charge for that test kit as a means of coercing plea deals.” [21:28] “These are problems caused by prohibition. We could have fair trade, organic cocaine in twenty-five days if we just ended the drug war.” [33:00]   Links: DanceSafe’s Website DanceSafe on Instagram Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

In this episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast, Adam Aronovich returns to discuss the phenomenon of psychedelic narcissism. Adam is a doctoral candidate at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Spain, focusing on Medical Anthropology and Cultural Psychiatry. He is an active member of the Medical Anthropology Research Center (MARC) and part of the Ayahuasca Community Committee at the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines. In the last four years he has conducted extensive fieldwork in the Peruvian Amazon, where he has been doing qualitative research in collaboration with ICEERS, the Beckley Foundation, and, more recently, the Centre for Psychedelic Studies at Imperial College. Beyond his work conducting and coordinating research, Adam regularly facilitates workshops at the Temple of the Way of Light, a prestigious healing center in the Iquitos area. In this wide-ranging conversation, Adam unpacks some of the darker sides of the modern psychedelic movement, discussing the psychosocial dynamics around psychedelic use which can lead to things such as ego inflation, conspiratorial thinking, and narcissism. Adam recalls his own experiences slipping into messianic fantasies during a period of initial enthusiasm around psychedelic experiences. He views issues of alienation and lack of social support as being instrumental in leading to these types of delusions following profound spiritual experiences. While it is difficult to reach people who’ve slipped into psychedelic narcissism, Adam suggests that communal support is the best safeguard against these dangers and the most effective strategy for grounding people who’ve lost touch with reality. Drawing on his academic expertise, Adam distinguishes traditional uses of plant medicines from the Western paradigm for approaching psychedelics. He stresses the relational and communal aspects of the spiritual traditions which use psychedelics ceremonially. The pro-social aspects of these wisdom traditions, he claims, help safeguard against the traps of psychedelic narcissism and ego inflation, as there are established mechanisms for keeping people grounded following intense spiritual experiences.  Adam closes the discussion with an insightful analysis of modern gurus and self-proclaimed shamans. Adam encourages people to beware of deeply held spiritual fantasies, where a master can appear as more than human. Instead, he emphasizes that even skillful and well-intentioned healers are themselves nothing more than human beings, so there will always be imperfection and messiness. This does not, however, mean that impactful work cannot happen—in fact, this insight helps protect against the idolization of charismatic psychedelic personalities, which can lead to harmful experiences.   In this episode: Defining psychedelic narcissism Clinical vs coloquial understandings of narcissism The intersections of the psychedelic movement and conspiracy theories The importance of social and communal support for avoiding ego inflation following psychedelic or spiritual experiences How psychedelic experiences can actually deepen ego attachments and accentuate narcissistic tendencies The importance of humor in combating spiritual narcissism   Quotes: “Many of the underlying ideologies upon which Western cultures were built, like hyper-individualism and so on, kind of predispose us and prime us for certain aspects of narcissism.” [5:36] “Ego inflation, spiritual narcissism, messianic episodes—all of these are things that are fairly common within both people who are in some sort of spiritual or psychedelic path.” [12:17] “In traditional societies for the most part really there isn’t such a thing as a self-proclaimed shaman. A person doesn’t wake up one morning and is like ‘oh, I’m the shaman’—that’s a title or a role or a recognition given to that person by the community.” [38:03] “The best measure of whether somebody is genuine and helpful is not whatever credentials or titles he assigns to himself, but rather what other people feel. So, you know, you will know a tree by its fruits.” [45:08] “Having these experiences by themselves does not necessarily mean spiritual growth or psychological development or any enhanced benefit if we’re not constantly, painfully, mindful of how we actually integrate and embody those things in daily life over very long periods of time.” [54:29]   Links: Adam on Instagram Temple of the Way of Light Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

This episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast is the final installment in a three-part series with Dr. Julie Holland. Dr. Holland is a psychiatrist specializing in psychopharmacology, and she is also the author of many books, including her most recent work Good Chemistry: The Science of Connection, from Soul to Psychedelics which discusses the neurochemistry behind human connection. She is also a medical monitor for several MAPS PTSD studies using MDMA-assisted psychotherapy and has worked for decades on US drug policy reform based on harm reduction principles. In addition to this work, Dr. Holland has nine years experience running a psychiatric emergency room as an attending physician on the faculty of NYU school of medicine and she continues her psychiatric work in her private practice in New York City.  In this episode, Dr. Holland speculates on the future of psychedelic therapy and the emerging issues within the broader psychedelic movement. Lamenting the lack of governing organizations and accountability, Dr. Holland discusses the complexities of regulating an industry with a history of operating underground and in legal grey areas. This raises questions such as how to grandfather-in established psychedelic practitioners now that various coursework in psychedelic therapy and systems for credentials are beginning to emerge.  Another issue related to legality which Dr. Holland discusses is the relation between the medical establishment and psychedelic therapies. The fact that individuals interested in pursuing plant medicines for therapeutic reasons are not able to easily consult with primary care doctors is a huge hurdle to harm reduction, and, as Dr. Holland points out, this leaves the responsibility for ensuring safety entirely on the psychedelic practitioners. Because these practitioners range from underground ayahuasca circles to clinically approved, legally operating therapists the amount of attention and care paid to harm reduction can vary greatly, which is why it will be essential to establish standards and best practices for psychedelic therapy as demand continues to increase. Dr. Holland also discusses the issues of “psychedelic capitalism” which are coming to the fore as these treatments become more mainstream and more accessible. While there are no clear answers for how to navigate the intersection of psychedelic therapies and capitalist market dynamics, this is an issue that deserves care and attention so that there can be equitable access to these medicines. Dr. Holland closes with a discussion of the parasympathetic nervous system–the “rest and digest” mode–and its importance for not only personal health, but also social well-being.    In this episode:   Why it is essential to begin establishing best practices and safeguards around emerging psychedelic therapies and other practices involving plant medicines Issues that arise from the intersection of capitalist market dynamics and the emerging psychedelic industry The future of medical consultations prior to consuming plant medicines Activating the parasympathetic nervous system and its pro-social impacts   Quotes:   “I think part of it is just this fear that if we admit there are some bad actors, that the whole house of cards is gonna fall.” [9:26] “Just because of the way capitalism is, there is IP, there is proprietary information, there is anti-competitive behavior. That to me also really needs to be addressed.” [11:31] “In any interaction there is a choice of being hurtful or helpful, and it’s a choice, everyday.” [20:18] “Anyone who can out themselves should, because it will move this whole thing along a lot more. If you are a soccer mom who also microdoses, put that bumper sticker on your car.” [24:58]   Links: Dr. Holland’s website Good Chemistry: The Science of Connection, from Soul to Psychedelics Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui

This episode of the Plant Medicine Podcast is the second conversation in a three-part series with Dr. Julie Holland. Dr. Holland is a psychiatrist specializing in psychopharmacology, and she is also the author of many books, including her most recent work Good Chemistry: The Science of Connection, from Soul to Psychedelics which discusses the neurochemistry behind human connection. She is also a medical monitor for several MAPS PTSD studies using MDMA-assisted psychotherapy and has worked for decades on US drug policy reform based on harm reduction principles. In addition to this work, Dr. Holland has nine years experience running a psychiatric emergency room as an attending physician on the faculty of NYU school of medicine and she continues her psychiatric work in her private practice in New York City.  In this episode, Dr. Holland talks specifically about the nuances of antidepressants and psychedelic medicine. As is commonly known, many prescription antidepressants have contraindications with various psychedelic compounds, meaning there are concerns regarding how people taking such medications will be able to also access psychedelic-assisted therapies.  Dr. Holland discusses the specific contraindications for individual psychedelic medicines and suggests some strategies for safely and effectively tapering off antidepressants in consultation with a medical professional. She suggests various wellness practices, such as regular exercise, as particularly helpful during the course of tapering, and even mentions situations where an additional antidepressant is prescribed to support the tapering process, stressing the complexity and delicacy of this process. To give context to this discussion of psychedelics and antidepressants, Dr. Holland provides an overview of the history of psychiatry over the past forty years, showing how antidepressants came to prominence as a therapeutic tool. She also explores additional considerations, such as how things like hormonal birth control interacts with SSRI antidepressants on a psychopharmacological level. The common thread Dr. Holland weaves through this conversation is the importance of connection, both as support for the tapering process and as the end goal of effective therapeutic practice.   In this episode: Health and wellness practices which can act as support while tapering off an antidepressant in consult with a medical professional Contraindications between various psychedelics and antidepressants The difference between microdosing and macrodosing psychedelics while taking antidepressants Why falling in love can present a good opportunity to taper off antidepressants under supervision Why Dr. Holland sees the divide between recreational and therapeutic use as a false dichotomy in some cases   Quotes: “There was a lot of hand-holding and de-stigmatizing back in the 90s, educating people around antidepressants. But twenty years later most of my work was really around people [who] had been medicated for ten, fifteen, twenty years and wanted to be off meds.” [6:15] “The people who really responded from MDMA-assisted psychotherapy who had PTSD were the people who’d never been on SSRIs. The people who had a muted response who didn’t get as much better as the other group were the ones who had been on SSRIs.” [9:47] “Coming off of psych meds is no easy feat. You really have to do a gradual taper, there has to be somebody who is supervising you, and you’ve got to have other things in place.” [10:42] “You have to have somebody helping you… It’s not the kind of thing you can really go alone. Getting off antidepressants requires somebody who knows what they are doing to help you.” [14:16] “Your brain learns to be sad, your brain learns to be anxious, your brain can learn to be at ease and learn to have joy.” [21:31]   Links: Dr. Holland’s website Good Chemistry: The Science of Connection, from Soul to Psychedelics Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui