Podcast on MDMA therapy and more 

Very insightful podcast with one of the "OG"'s of psychedelic therapy.

Some notes:

Trauma's have different effects (and approachesbto cure) at different ages

Ifs, and EMDR are the best psychotherapy methods so far before psychedelics

DSM was just created to somehow test drug research and should not be used as a diagnosis 

MDMA therapy also make you less tolerant to what you think other people think of you 

MDMA help people to be less identified with trauma. Instead of "I'm a Vietnam veteran" -> "I'm a human being experienced complex event."

MDMA therapy model super promising but practically very expensive( 36 hours of therapist's total) and may be not scalable. 

Group therapy with Ketamine might have more potential in reality for broader accessibility 

Somatic self awareness ( mind-body connection)  in 2 days before therapy can significantly decrease the dose especially for people who have low mind body connection.


https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzgxODk1L3Jzcw/episode/NmU2NzNlNzQtZTZhYy00NWZiLTk3MWQtNWJlYTBhZDNjODg3?ep=14

Curious to see more research on therapy applications and comparison with MDMA.


https://youtu.be/UAykz73MdsA?si=TBZZhQHr59foAgJS

A new type of Psilocybin

So what is Drysdale’s secret weapon to bring even more therapeutic value to psilocybin? It’s a process called deuteration. It focuses on the hydrogen atoms in psilocybin. These atoms are very light and don’t stick very well to carbon, which is another atom in psilocybin. As a result, our bodies can easily breaks down the bonds between the hydrogen and carbon atoms. For many people, that means psilocybin gets cleared from the body too quickly, before it can have a therapeutic benefit.

In deuteration, scientists do something simple but ingenious: they replace the hydrogen atoms with a molecule called deuterium. It’s twice as heavy as hydrogen and forms tighter bonds with the carbon. Because these pairs are so rock-steady, they slow down the rate at which psilocybin is metabolized, so it has more sustained effects on our brains.

https://leaps.org/psilocybin/particle-1

Beta-carbolines - WTF? 

You always leaning... I thought I Know at least most of the classes of Psychedelic compounds but here we are, another category that was new for me - beta-carbolines. I knew that it's a part of original Ayahuasca but haven't paid much attention yet. 

For me the most important is that they have effects exactly what I was looking for! Something that can help you to change your state into more calm and meditative but just a little bit. Weed and Ketamine are capable of doing it but still have other side effects for this particular task .

I wish that beta-carbolines are exactly what i was looking for. Will try 😁


https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzgxODk1L3Jzcw/episode/ZDliNjZlNjUtMTg2Yi00NTQxLWEzOTItMDg3NTk2YTkyYzM2?ep=14

Woooot😁

If all goes well, it’s possible that FDA approval for the prenoscription use of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD could take place around August 2024, with DEA rescheduling legally required to take place within 90 days after FDA approval

https://microdose.buzz/news/breaking-news-maps-files-new-drug-application-with-fda-for-mdma-assisted-therapy/

Hey fellow founders we have a "prenoscription"


"Investor Eddy Vaisberg, 33, told Business Insider ayahuasca could help founders gain better insights into themselves and others — and boost their creativity.

Thank you, mister investor, we know 😂, it can also help founders to quit this rat race ;) be careful. 


https://www.businessinsider.com/psychedelic-tea-ayahuasca-effects-founders-experiment-better-leaders-1heart-2023-12

79% success in Psilocybin for MDD

Cybin published results of phase 2 for curing Major Depressive Disorder with its own Psilocybin derivative CYB003. 


"Next on the list for Cybin is submitting it to the FDA and requesting the federal agency an end-of-Phase 2 meeting for Q1 2024. With additional 12-week durability data from the Phase 2 study expected by next Q1 as well, Cybin anticipates -approval pending- to start recruiting for the Phase 3 study by the end of Q1 2024."

Seems like MDMA will be finally prescribed in 2024 and Psilocybin more likely will hit the market in 2025. 

https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/23/12/36055625/cybins-novel-psilocybin-topline-data-79-remission-in-major-depression-symptoms-whats-next

Psychedelic Apps market

I know what you will do during Christmass holidays. 🤣
 
List of Prominent Players in the Mental Health Psychedelic Apps Market:

• Field Trip Health
• Mindleap,
• Homecoming
• Mindbloom,
• Microdose.me,
• Polyfauna, PsycheDev
• Wavepaths
• TripApp
• Hypnoglyph
• Fraksl ,
• Lumenate
• Last Voyage
• PsyStation

https://www.openpr.com/news/3313112/mental-health-psychedelic-apps-market-latest-trends-and-future

Neural Geometrodynamics

This research delves into a novel concept called "neural geometrodynamics," drawing parallels with general relativity in understanding the brain's functioning, particularly under the influence of psychedelics.

It focuses on three key timescales in the brain:

Fast Time Dynamics: These are immediate neural activities governed by differential equations and connectivity parameters. Think of this as the brain's immediate response to stimuli.

Slow Time Dynamics: Over this longer period, the brain's connectivity changes due to plasticity mechanisms. This is akin to the brain learning or adapting based on experiences.

Ultraslow Time Dynamics: This is where metaplasticity occurs - the brain's ability to change how it changes. It's a higher level of adaptation and learning.

Psychedelics, interestingly, flatten the brain's neural landscape. This flattening leads to a more chaotic and complex state of neural dynamics, as evidenced by neuroimaging studies. 

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.08.14.553258v2

Psychedelics as a Possible Cure for Color Blindness


Psilocybin may have temporarily modified the way color-blind patients perceive color. The data comes from a case report and the 2017 Global Drug Survey, although both studies have their flaws.

This phenomenon needs further investigation to determine its potential.

The subject had taken the Ishihara test, which consists of 21 plates with colored dots arranged in patterns to form numbers, before taking his initial dose. He scored 14 out of 21, indicating mild color blindness. He proceeded to retest himself 12 and 14 hours after consuming 5 grams of mushrooms  scoring 15 the first time and 18 the second time.

A score above 17 indicates normal vision, suggesting that he recovered his ability to distinguish colors. 

He retested himself eight days after his trip, scoring 19, and four months later, bumping down to 18 again.
 

https://psychedelicspotlight.com/why-do-we-feel-like-we-can-score-40-20-in-visual-acuity-on-low-doses-of-psychedelics/

Breaking: Ukraine legalized medical Cannabis

I believe MDMA will be the next step very soon


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-21/ukraine-moves-to-legalize-medical-marijuana-to-treat-veterans

New Psychedelic Chatbot

Woooot, one more Chatbot for Psychonauts just released by Josie Kins. Great move towards harm reduction.

It can help to get proper information on substance usage. Examples in the comments, please share yours.

https://www.psyai.chat/

Maybe Stop milking toads ?

We have a synthetic version of 5 MEO-DMT. Why are we still torturing those beautiful spicies? 

https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkawev/mexican-cartels-dmt-psychedelic-bufo-alvarius-toad-hunters

Guess country 😁?

Happy new year 😊

"Using MDMA therapy, she broke through the feeling that she needed to be perfect to deserve to exist. "

We all deserve it without struggle 🥰

https://www.businessinsider.com/mdma-therapy-helped-oil-heir-koch-overcome-buried-pain-2023-11

Responsible Kratom usage 101


Why Kratom?

I'm constantly looking for substances that can be used instead of alcohol that can bring more energy and make social interactions easier and Kratom looks promising and getting quite popular in the US.


What is Kratom?

Yet another leaves from Coffe family, popular in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand.

Subjective effects include sedation, stimulation, pain relief, anxiety suppression, muscle relaxation, and euphoria.

Kratom have a lot of strains that either can be more energetic or more relaxing. Usually lover doses work like caffeine-like stimulant , higher dosed more like opioid pain relief and euphoria. 

Particular strains:

Red Vein:  sedating and relaxing, better suited for managing insomnia or pain.
Gold/Yellow Vein: have a variety of effects depending on the vendor
Green Vein: Green vein effects are a mix between white and red.
White Vein: Leaves with a white vein are reported to be energetic and stimulating, promoting alertness, motivation, and wakefulness in low to moderate doses


How does it work?

In more details it works in at least 3 directions: 

1. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine bind as partial agonists to the μ-opioid receptors and antagonistic to the κ- and δ-opioid receptors. 

2.  Agonist to norepinephrine and serotonin receptor systems where it functions as an agonist.

3.Kratom contains the alkaloid rhynchophylline, which functions as an NMDA receptor antagonist.This may be responsible for the mild dissociating effects which occur at heavy doses.

So, how much is not too much?

Well it depends 😅

Usually it looks like this:

Pain Relief -  starting with  2-4 grams and up to  5 grams or more produce the most effective relief.
Energy & Focus - Most people don't need more than 2-4 grams.
Opiate Withdrawal - most people require a higher-than-average dose—5 grams or more
Anxiety - When treating anxiety, higher doses are typically preferred 3-4 grams
Depression - The most typical dose for mild depression is 1-2 grams.

But who da hell knows how much is in your drink😅

There is a hipster version in some weed shops in Thailand with 3 types of bottles, strong, medium, light. If you take one of them, even strong it's totally ok for energy/focus

If you can only find some local mix usually sold in 1.5l bottle, it's ok to take not more than 500ml(man) 300-400ml(woman). 

More on dosage:
https://kratom.org/guides/dosage/


Kratom Mixing

Unfortunately most of the drug mixing tables don't have Kratom so here is my personal take:

You can mix it with alcohol,  just like a a red bull. But only with a small dosage of Kratom
 
If you mix it with weed the effects can be quite nice, however Avoid mixing with Weed in high doses!

More on mixing: 

https://www.apotheca.org/blog/mixing-kratom-and-marijuana


Kratom side effects !!!

There is one thing very important to note. Dosage

More than 580 people in Florida have died from kratom-related overdoses during the past decade.

Kratom can come with very brutal side effects if:

1.High doses
2.Mixed with weed
3.You are a woman (sorry 😅)
4.Any combination of above

You can experience nausea and in worst case it can last for 2 days

If you have nausea, and you are in Thailand u can use "flying white rabbit" mix or any other medication.

In order to avoid side effects its better to prepare before:

https://www.zamnesia.com/blog-how-to-prevent-kratom-nausea-n1056

Summary:

I'm not promoting it, but if taken in low doses it might be quite fun and interesting, but in medium/high the side effects can be more than those from traditional stimulants and euphoretics but with less actual positive effects.

Read more about psychedelics: @unstoppable_technologies

Other sources

1. Kratom for pain https://www.novusfumus.nl/en/smartshop/herbs-and-supplements/kratom/karatom-nausea/

2. Kratom legislation
https://www.tampabay.com/investigations/2023/12/30/5-ways-make-kratom-marketplace-safer/

3. Great podcast

https://www.plantmedicine.org/podcast/kratom-research-and-use-dr-oliver-grundmann

MAPS now Lykos Therapeutics

MAPS looking more and more like OpenAI with its nonprofit/for profit structure and now the recent 100m$ series A round😱

https://maps.org/2024/01/05/maps-welcomes-new-investors-name-change-for-maps-public-benefit-corporation/?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2024-bau&utm_content=Lykos%20announcement

Elon Musk Has Used Illegal Drugs, Worrying Leaders at Tesla and SpaceX - WSJ

Not surprised. But jokes aside, this can be a very important moment for psychedelics future depending on how the world ( shareholders mainly) will react on it.

https://www.wsj.com/business/elon-musk-illegal-drugs-e826a9e1

Breathwork and Psychedelics

I've been exploring various breathwork techniques last week, actually just 4 of them but with great teachers and a top set /setting environment.

Details will be later but I've created this high-level comparison and psychedelic states that can be reached using such techniques.

Feel free to use/share and most importantly tell if there are any mistakes.

The table was made by ChatGPT ofcause 😁

Table in CSV attached in the comments.

Breath work really work 💪


https://nypost.com/2024/01/13/lifestyle/what-is-psychedelic-breathwork-learn-all-about-the-latest-hack-people-are-using-to-get-high-without-drugs/


“He [Wim Hof] guided me through a very simple breathing exercise; it was 15 minutes of deep continuous breathing followed by holding my breath, and in that moment I had the most profound experience, it’s like my spirit came back into my body,” Johannes said.

“I was living in a disassociated shell, moving through life like a video game, where I was the main character and it was first-person player mode."