Psilocybin Relieves Depression

Psilocybin showed significant effectiveness against major depression, much more powerful than psychotherapy or antidepressants.

Screened participants were given a moderately high dose of 20mg/70kg (perhaps 4.5 grams mushrooms for a 70kg person) and a week and a half later were given a high dose of 30mg/70kg (perhaps 6.7 grams / 70 kg).

"These data expand the findings of previous studies involving patients with cancer and depression as well as patients with treatment-resistant depression by suggesting that psilocybin may be effective in the much larger population of MDD. Further studies are needed with active treatment or placebo controls and in larger and more diverse populations."

Oregon legalizes, DC & Oregon decriminalize psychedelics

Oregon legalizes psilocybin for therapeutic use and decriminalizes a number of substances.

Washington D.C. categorizes psychedelic plants and fungi as “the lowest level police enforcement priority.”

 

LSD-MDMA "Candyflipping" Clinical Trial

I feel like we're living in bizarro world as a combination LSD and MMDA clinical trial is set to begin later this year.

Finders Paper Published

The material from the Finders Course research that has been available as a continually updated white paper on the Non-Symbolic website has now been finalized and published in an open access journal.

Psychedelics help individuals accept emotions

Psychedelic drugs reduce depressive symptoms by helping individuals accept their emotions, study suggests

"the use of psychedelics in both ceremonial and non-ceremonial settings was associated with decreases in experiential avoidance, which in turn was associated with decreases in depression severity and suicidal ideation 4-weeks after psychedelic use.

Our findings suggest that one of the reasons that psychedelic therapy has positive therapeutic effects is that it helps individuals to be less avoidant and more accepting of their emotions, thoughts, and memories (even though such experiences may be distressing in the short-term)

More broadly, our results provide further support for the negative mental health effects associated with avoidance. This can be summed up with a saying that is often used in the context of psychedelic therapy, that ‘The only way out is through.'"

Psilocybin effect on Anxiety and Depression

A small meta-analysis (117 subjects total) "suggests psilocybin in combination with behavioral support may provide a safe and effective treatment option for reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression."

Finders Course "Lite"

As a PSA, there is something of a coronavirus special for the Finders Course, a shortened 45 day version being offered for $120.  Starts this Saturday the 11th.

See Jeffery Martin with the details and the sales pitch here on Vimeo.

Could be good for people that need a little structure and motivation to jumpstart a meditation practice.

Mindfulness Reduces Paranoia

One week of mindfulness training can reduce paranoia

One of the main aspects of mindfulness is the ability to respond to internal experiences in a non-judgement way. In earlier research, non-judgement has also been identified as an important factor in predicting the effect of paranoid thinking, which is why the authors of the study decided to investigate this particular aspect of mindfulness.

Meditation and Mental Health

Self‐compassion and acceptance of experiences may explain the link between meditation and mental health

The study suggests that meditation is associated with improved mental health because of its relationship with self‐compassion, meaning in life, and the absence of experiential avoidance.

Psilocybin and Emotions

Emotional Adjustment: The Modulatory Influence of Psilocybin on the Amygdala

Psilocybin appears to modulate responses to emotional material in ways that are not currently understood.  Psilocybin "aggravates" the amygdala, in a way that would predict negative outcomes, while simultaneously decreasing the amygdala's connections to the prefrontal cortex, the latter seeming to be more important in this equation.

Ambient Meditation Music

Posted about Ambient Meditation Music on the meditation blog, note there are some free tracks available.

Single Psilocybin Dose Increases Mindfulness

A single psilocybin dose is associated with long-term increased mindfulness, preceded by a proportional change in neocortical 5-HT2A receptor binding

Changes were measured at a 3 month follow up.  These were relatively high doses, probably around the equivalent of 4.5 grams of dried mushrooms for a 70kg individual.

When You Take 550 Doses of LSD

This Is What Happens When You Take 550 Doses of LSD at Once

Not recommended, BTW.  Some anecdotes and info about accidental LSD overdoses.  Also see the old Massive Dosing - The LSD Thumbprint post.

Ibogaine Derivative For Addiction

Silicon Valley's psychedelic wonder drug is almost here

Psychedelic Therapy Benefits Persist

Psychedelic therapy benefits persist five years after treatment 

“There’s a reckoning, which came with cancer, and this reckoning was enhanced by the psilocybin experience,” writes one of the patients five years later as part of the long-term follow-up questionnaire. “I have a greater appreciation and sense of gratitude for being alive.”

Theories of Consciousness Visualized

What is Consciousness?

Byron Katie's Work Reduces Anxiety and Procrastination.

Study suggests that inquiry-based stress-reduction can help reduce anxiety and procrastination.

Byron Katie, a non-dual teacher, wrote a book called Loving What is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life (2003), which laid out her method of self inquiry.  The inquiry follows this pattern:

• “Is this thought true?”
• “Can you absolutely know that this thought is true?”.
• “How do you react, what happens when you have this thought?”
• “Who would you be without the thought?”

Top 10 Psilocybin Studies of the Last Decade

Top 10 Psilocybin Studies of the Last Decade

Santa Cruz Approves Psychedelics Decriminalization

Santa Cruz City Council Approves Psychedelics Decriminalization Measure.

The measure—which was originally sponsored by then-Vice Mayor Justin Cummings (D), who’s since become mayor—says the city shouldn’t expend “resources in the investigation and arrest of persons twenty-one (21) years of age and older solely for the personal use and personal possession of Entheogenic Plants and Fungi” such as psilocybin, ayahuasca and ibogaine.

It further stipulates that possession and use of psychedelics by adults “should be considered among the lowest law enforcement priorities for the City of Santa Cruz.”