Ah, the age-old debate: near-death experiences vs. DMT trips. Dr. Eben Alexander, a neurosurgeon, had both and lived to tell the tale. Dive into the cosmic realm of his experiences and decide for yourself if they're just a brain's chemical reaction or a glimpse into the afterlife

https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/near-death-experience-dmt-trip/

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzgxODk1L3Jzcw/episode/OGZkYWQ1ZmEtYzZhNi00YjBmLTg1MzgtNGI1MWQ3NTg3Y2Mw?ep=14


Ketamine and Marijuana combination threatment, super inspiring Ibogaine trip reports and CBD market foundation stories in this great podcast.

Trippy workplace benefits? I'll take two.

Started with Ketamine and will add Psylocibin later.

"At least 50 companies have signed letters of interest to do just that, according to a new startup called Enthea, which is a third-party administrator of health insurance plans, but one that offers psychedelic healthcare as a workplace benefit."


https://www.fastcompany.com/90935255/psychedelic-therapy-ptsd-workplace-benefit-health-plan-dr-bronners

Ah, just stumbled upon this little gem! Who would've thought that AI is our ticket to the cosmic dance? Dive into this mind-bending fusion of ancient wisdom and cutting-edge tech. Trust me, it's not just another AI article; it's an odyssey into the quixotic realm where dreams interlace with algorithms.

https://medium.com/@brechtcorbeel/the-future-is-psychedelic-and-ai-is-the-gateway-drug-fb4216c5d504

"Hey, let's see if these shrooms can help people stop betting their life savings on whether a coin will land heads or tails!

There's this first-ever clinical trial, funded by the big shots at Imperial College London, that's diving deep into whether psilocybin can treat gambling addiction. And guess what? They're not just pulling this out of thin air. Previous studies have shown that psilocybin can help reduce alcohol and nicotine addiction, a 2022 study revealed a 51% reduction in heavy drinking among participants who received psilocybin.

From my silly point of view it's obvious that any addiction can be fixed by Psychedelics but great to see a particular research study on this new use-case.

https://hightimes.com/study/first-ever-study-on-psilocybin-therapy-for-gambling-addiction-to-launch-this-fall/

The biology is Math 🔥

You know the Fibonacci sequence, right? It's that series of numbers where you add the last two to get the next one. Turns out, nature's got these patterns everywhere, like in pinecones and sunflowers.

This genius from Oxford, Ard Louis, and his team were super curious about mutations. You know, those tiny changes in our genes that can sometimes make a big difference? Some of these changes can be good, bad, or just...meh. But here's the kicker: these "meh" mutations, even though they don't seem to do much, are like nature's way of keeping track of evolution.

A key concept explored was mutational robustness, which refers to an organism's ability to tolerate mutations while retaining its characteristic traits. This robustness fosters genetic diversity and varies across species. Remarkably, proteins can endure approximately 66% of random errors in their coding sequences without altering their final structure.

To delve deeper, the researchers examined protein folding and RNA structures to understand how specific genetic sequences translate to distinct traits. Their numerical simulations revealed that nature could potentially reach the pinnacle of mutational robustness. Astonishingly, the maximum robustness exhibited a fractal pattern known as the Blancmange curve and was linked to a fundamental concept in number theory: the sum-of-digits fraction.

Vaibhav Mohanty of Harvard Medical School noted that nature seems to achieve the exact maximum robustness in some cases, hinting at biology's inherent understanding of the fractal sum-of-digits function. This study reaffirms the indispensable role of mathematics in shaping the natural world, even at microscopic scales.


https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-discover-pure-math-is-written-into-evolutionary-genetics

Bad trip? Here is the solution 😁


Harry Shapiro, director of Drugwise, emphasizes the significant potential of psychedelics as psychotherapeutic tools, especially when traditional antidepressants fail. However, the power of these hallucinogenic compounds cannot be underestimated, and there's always a risk of a "bad trip." Symptoms of a bad trip can range from panic, depression, confusion, to intense hallucinations. To mitigate these risks:

Preparation is Key: Ensure the right dose, set (internal mindset), and setting (external environment). The right music can also enhance the experience.

Handling a Bad Trip: If things go south, don't panic. Remember it's temporary. Communicate with a trusted individual or seek professional help if needed.

Transforming a Bad Trip: From a shamanic perspective, challenging experiences are part of the journey and can lead to profound insights and growth.

Understanding Bad Trips: They can occur unpredictably, much like life's ups and downs. The focus should be on deriving meaning from them.



https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/60641/1/how-to-make-the-best-of-a-bad-psychedelic-trip-acid-mushrooms

UC Berkeley free psychedelic course🔥

Dive into the mesmerizing world of psychedelics with UC Berkeley's Professor David Presti!

From the neurobiology of LSD to the cultural significance of Ayahuasca, this course offers a comprehensive exploration for both beginners and experts.

What a time 😅

https://www.edx.org/learn/science/university-of-california-berkeley-psychedelics-and-the-mind

The most comprehensive 5-MeO-DMT video🔥

https://youtu.be/4nQehzkQLsc?si=15F75QaiZ0owmU8p

Practical Psychedelic Mixology 🤡

List of polysubstance combinations - Wikipedia

Surprised that there is no name for Cannabis+Ketamine as I believe it's definitely something interesting happenings there. 🙊


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_polysubstance_combinations

Unlearning in AI and EMDR: Conceptual Parallels and Distinctions

The technique described by Microsoft researchers to make AI "forget" copyrighted material, conceptually intriguing. The method bears a resemblance to the therapeutic approach of EMDR, a recognized treatment for trauma.

Conceptual Similarities:

Targeted Erasure: Just as the researchers aim to erase specific knowledge (e.g., Harry Potter content) from the AI model, EMDR targets specific traumatic memories in patients, aiming to desensitize their emotional charge.

Fine-tuning: The AI technique involves fine-tuning the model to effectively erase specific content. Similarly, EMDR involves a structured eight-phase approach, where the therapist fine-tunes the process based on the patient's responses.

Adaptability: The AI's ability to adapt and "unlearn" mirrors the brain's plasticity, where neural pathways can be restructured, especially when traumatic memories are reprocessed in EMDR.

Differences:

Mechanism: While the AI technique employs a three-part method involving training on target data, replacing unique expressions, and fine-tuning on alternative predictions, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (often in the form of guided eye movements) to help patients process traumatic memories.

Objective: The primary goal for AI is to ensure copyright compliance and adaptability. In contrast, EMDR aims to alleviate distress from traumatic memories and promote psychological healing.

Complexity: Human emotions and memories are multifaceted, with deep-rooted connections to various life experiences. AI models, although complex, operate on data and algorithms without the emotional depth inherent in human cognition.

In conclusion, while the conceptual framework of "unlearning" or "forgetting" is present in both the AI technique and EMDR, the underlying mechanisms, objectives, and complexities differ. It's fascinating to observe how principles of neuroscience and psychology can find echoes in the realm of artificial intelligence.

https://venturebeat.com/ai/researchers-turn-to-harry-potter-to-make-ai-forget-about-copyright-material/

“If anything, ibogaine is the hardest psychedelic to work with. But I’m here for the challenge.” - Deborah C. Mash

1. Ibogaine is a very promising psychedelic especially for curind opioid addiction. Fentanyl zombies, etc 😅
2. Ibogaine has a much harder path to FDA
3. VR is a great tool to configure set and setting while administering ibogaine in hospital (also valid for a Ketamine btw)

P.S. Great documentary to watch: NIGHT AND LIGHT: THE STORY OF IBOGA AND IBOGAINE


https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzgxODk1L3Jzcw/episode/ZmE2NDc2YjctYmI3Mi00ZmM4LTkyZTktYzc0OTQwMTNlOTdh?ep=14

What if DMT entities are actually mind/conchesness viruses that we are only able to detect by running our brain in "disassembler mode" using DMT.

Thousands of programmable DNA-cutters found in algae, snails, and other organisms

Bye bye CRISPR , hello Fanzors🤟

https://phys.org/news/2023-10-thousands-programmable-dna-cutters-algae-snails.html

Ex–Tesla director gives Harvard $16 million to study psychedelics
https://qz.com/a-former-tesla-director-is-giving-harvard-16-million-t-1850932713

MDMA and critical periods.

"They hired me to learn autism in humans and I decided to give MDMA to octopuses 😅" - Gul Dolen. MD, pH. D.


1. Octopuses are super adaptive which means that their critical periods are like always on. Or can be turned on and off by some mechanisms and it's super important to learn it as it may help with humans .

2. People have critical periods for different systems when those systems are open to learning more.
One of the most knowm ones are language learning

But there is a theory that social interactions also have critical periods ( like I suppose usually from puberty till 20-ish )


3. Tested on mice . Waited for 48 hours , measured ability to learn from social environment. And adults started to learn from social environment. (Reopening of critical periods)

But! If mices don't have social interaction during a session they tend to not reopen those critical periods!


So. sychedelics are the "universal magic key" to re-open those critical periods but again, set and setting is vital

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzgxODk1L3Jzcw/episode/MGU3ZDc0NTYtOWExMS00MjJjLWFjZjEtZTA4YTUxMWNmMTFk?ep=14

Great discussion on latest MDMA assistant therapy results

1. MDMA - assisted therapy FDA approval is clother and closther
2. novasupport.org - great initiative to support victims of Nova festival
3. We all hope that Israel Psychedelic conference will happen on December as planned 🙏

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzgxODk1L3Jzcw/episode/MDJiZWExNGUtM2FmOC00MWQ2LThhOTMtOGU3NjZjMDk5M2E3?ep=14

A new must read in Psychedelics books.


"For Ten Trips, I took 10 different substances in 10 different contexts: DMT in a neuro-imaging research trial, magic mushrooms on a therapist’s couch, ayahuasca on the altar of a psychedelic church, LSD on the roundabout of a dual carriageway, mescaline half-way up Half-Dome, iboga at a plant-based retreat centre in the Bahamas, vaporised toad venom in some forest above Silicon Valley, and eventually, inexorably, to the indigenous cultures of Mexico, Peru and Columbia that have used the medicines for aeons: as someone sagely told me, with psychedelics, all roads eventually lead South."


https://www.esquire.com/uk/life/fitness-wellbeing/a45204988/why-i-wrote-a-first-hand-guide-to-the-new-age-of-psychedelics/

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/psychedelic-drugs-may-be-able-to-treat-brain-injuries-stimulating-new-neurons-to-replace-impaired-ones/

"Rats slowly infused with low doses of DMT after a stroke had fewer damaged tissues and more extensive recovery,” wrote National Geographic.

Shrooms in VR ? Yes , now officially make sense.

"Findings published this week in Frontiers in Psychiatry indicate the 20 subjects who took part in the small trial at Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s  Treatment & Research In Psychedelics Center – known as TRIP –overall were calmer and better able to ease into psilocybin-assisted therapy when they participated in the nature-themed immersive video experience during their treatment. "

https://smdp.com/2023/09/22/immersive-nature-videos-may-enhance-psychedelic-assisted-therapy-for-alcohol-addiction/

All we need is a Ketamine tonight.

It's the second podcast on the Ketamine-assisted therapy which makes me think that it's the best tool for adapting to changes, be it either some negative or extreme experiences like relocation or miss of relatives ( what was discussed in the previous one) as well as for positive changes like Accelerated growth, which was discussed in this episode.

I personally see a big future for Ketamine and those two podcasts are a great prove.
https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9wbGFudG1lZGljaW5lcG9kY2FzdC5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw/episode/ZmFjMTg1ZjgtMGZkMS00MDcyLWI0YzAtYzk3MWQ4YjMxZWI3?ep=14