Biography/Memoir

Making the invisible visible: …psychiatry, midwifery, and psychedelics

 I draw on the records of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center LSD Training Program Study and the papers of Grof to explore the “unexpected entanglements” between psychiatry, midwifery, and psychedelics. Grof observed “astounding parallels” between psychedelic experiences and the clinical stages of delivery, believing that the common denominator between the two was the trauma of…

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Medicine/Healing

Use of psychedelics to treat… chronic pain…

What have scientists discovered about whether these drugs are effective in treating… chronic pain? New research is exploring whether psychedelic drugs [ie, psilocybin] might help in treating… chronic pain. The drugs so far appear to be quite effective. Original Article (KRQE):Use of psychedelics to treat PTSD, OCD, depression and chronic pain – a researcher discusses recent…

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Spirituality

Study suggests psychedelics promote positive mental health through increased spirituality and emotion regulation

The study found evidence of a pathway whereby the use of psychedelics increases spirituality, and in turn, leads to better emotion regulation. This improved emotion regulation then appears to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and disordered eating. Study authors Adele Lafrance and her colleagues say that increased spirituality and improvements in emotion regulation have been…

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Psychology

…cities… psychedelic mushrooms… advocates praise…

…a shroom tender… psilocybin is still astoundingly just like cannabis, a schedule one controlled substance… criminal penalties for people who are just trying to help themselves and heal themselves. There’s no reason to get law enforcement involved with any of this. Now, I can see both sides of the argument about the benefit of doing…

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Biography/Memoir

United States patent and trademark office… synthetic psilocybin…

Christian Angermayer (billionaire) owns an extensive art collection that includes ancient artifacts highlighting the role that psychedelics have played in human history… that is, the inventors’ definition controls, “even if it is contrary to the conventional meaning of the term” according to Christopher G. Paulraj, Tina E. Hulse, & Sheridan K. Snedden… the U.S. Patent…

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Science

Psychedelics promote plasticity by directly binding to BDNF receptor TrkB

…psychedelics spurred new growth in both baby and mature neurons. But the mind-bending substances were 1,000 times more efficient than Prozac at grabbing onto a key molecular hub, TrkB. With just a single dose, the drugs elevated mood in mice under chronic stress and reduced a previously-established fear. Psychedelics produce fast and persistent antidepressant effects…

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Biography/Memoir

…plans to open psilocybin service center in Portland

…has leased the top floor of the Fair-Haired Dumbbell office building, at 11 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The 5,000-square-foot space in the colorful building is currently under design, with an emphasis on making it a calming and comfy environment, said Rachel Aidan… [former CEO of the now bankrupt Synthesis which locked 300 students out…

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Politics

Pushing back on the term “therapy” in Oregon’s Measure 109

While the high cost of services (possibly unavoidable under current rules) is a constant focus, particularly among advocates and the broader psychedelic community, I often find myself debating the terminology for psilocybin services under Measure 109, particularly the use of the term “therapy.” Using “therapy” to describe services under Measure 109 is… a misnomer. In traditional healthcare settings, therapy…

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Biography/Memoir

…room for small… psilocybin growers…

“I really love cultivation because it [gives me] more freedom… and fits with parenting well… the dispensaries are coming,” said Ari… Ari started growing her own mushrooms early in that journey. Working with fungi helped Ari find freedom from her own substance use issues. With their help, she has chosen to be abstinent from alcohol…

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