Psilocybin Therapy Documentary

A bit more about the psilocybin therapy documentary, The Medicine: Science and Psychedelics, an interview with producer/writer/director Roslyn Dauber.

Neurons to Nirvana: Understanding Psychedelic Medicines

A documentary:

"Through interviews with the world’s foremost researchers, writers, psychologists and pioneers in psychedelic psychotherapy, Neurons to Nirvana explores the history of five powerful psychedelic substances (LSD, Psilocybin, MDMA, Ayahuasca and Cannabis) and their now established medicinal potential."

Low dose psilocybin for PTSD?

The study "Effects of psilocybin on hippocampal neurogenesis and extinction of trace fear conditioning," showed that "mice administered low doses of psilocybin overcame the conditioned fear response faster than mice that did not receive the drug."

From: Digital Journal article

Although, the results apply only to mice, the researchers believe it paves the way for further studies exploring the possibility of using the psychoactive compound to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in humans.

Based on previous studies which found that psilocybin binds to a brain receptor that promotes neurogenesis (growth of brain cells) and enhances short-term memory formation, the researchers investigated the role of psilocybin in the formation of short term memories associated with conditioned fear responses as it occurs in patients with PTSD.

At the low doses of [psilocybin] that enhanced extinction, neurogenesis was not decreased, but rather tended toward an increase.

PSOP facilitates extinction of the classically conditioned fear response, and this, and similar agents, should be explored as potential treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions.

Link to Original Paper via Google



 

5 Ranks of Tozan

The 5 Ranks of Tozan is a Zen model of the stages of enlightenment.  The typical verses (which can be found lower down on the linked page) are relatively inscrutable, but the descriptions given here up front are pretty good.

Stages of Psycho-Spiritual Development

I previously mentioned some work by Cook-Greuter (Ego Development: Nine Levels of Increasing Embrace).  From Bill Harris' Centerpointe Blog, he goes into some descriptions of these levels of psychological and spiritual/contemplative development, in text and as podcasts.

Enlightenment Quiz

From an Advaita/Non-Duality site, the Enlightenment Quiz purports to measure how enlightened you are.

Apparently I am "provisionally enlightened" :)