Saturday, March 9, 2024

Science: psychedelics heal mind and body

Eric Ralls (Earth via MSN, 3/8/24; Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
But what if my "ego" temporarily dies? Ego-death, it sounds too risky. How would I carry on?
Psychedelic compounds secreted by toad skin greatly improve cognitive functioning (Earth)
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What would Shiva, the Destroyer, do?
A combination of two psychedelic compounds (entheogenic substances) demonstrated significant efficacy in treating a range of symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairments, in U.S. special operations forces veterans [presumably suffering from severe PTSD due to all of their immoral deception and covert militant activity involving killing and subterfuge].

This novel approach [taking drugs to treat the head and heart] might offer a beacon of hope for many veterans who do not find relief in traditional therapies.

The government tricked me into becoming a killer
Which psychedelic compound was used? The treatment regimen combined two psychedelic drugs.

The first, [Iboga] ibogaine hydrochloride, is sourced from the West African shrub called iboga. The second, [Bufo] 5-MeO-DMT, is a substance secreted from the [Mexican] Colorado River toad.

Both these substances are categorized as Schedule I drugs under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, a classification reserved for drugs with no current accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse [which is a disgusting abuse of the law as no one abuses these entheogens for mere recreational use because they have the tendency to cure addiction as well as giving life-changing trips].

This research, spearheaded by The Ohio State University (osu.edu), discovered not only alleviation in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [Aha!] but also a noteworthy improvement in cognitive functions related to traumatic brain injury. [Entheogens heal both matters of the heart and body? PTSD is a mental disorder, whereas TBI is physical damage to an organism's brain or cranial contents, such as feeder veins and capillaries.]

The latter finding was especially unexpected and sheds new light on the vast potential of psychedelic treatments.
Unique challenges in treating veterans

I was raped by my C.O. He called it 'friendly fire'
Alan Davis, the lead author and the director of the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education (CPDRE) at Ohio State's College of Social Work, emphasized the unique challenges faced by special operations forces veterans.

"Their routine exposure to traumatic events often results in a mix of problems including traumatic brain injury, which predisposes them to a plethora of mental health challenges," said Davis.

He noted the most "striking results" were the observed improvements in cognitive functioning linked to brain injuries.
  • VIDEO: Psychedelic mushrooms have potential to help Americans overcome numerous ailments: Ashley Troxell (FOX News)
How the study was conducted
Most of the veterans in this study involving psychedelic drugs had been on active duty post the 9/11 tragedy. They sought care for a gamut of issues ranging from memory problems, depression, PTSD to sleep disturbances, fatigue, and anger.

An astounding 86% of these veterans had experienced head injuries, attributing many of their symptoms to these past traumas.

To measure the efficacy [effectiveness] of the treatment, 86 veterans were asked to complete pre-treatment questionnaires that gauged various mental health symptoms.

The treatment protocol involved administering a single oral dose of ibogaine hydrochloride and inhalation doses of 5-MeO-DMT on separate days.

These drug administrations were flanked by preparation and reflection sessions [in consideration of set and setting, which are essential to successful psychedelic experiences].

Therapy results from psychedelic drugs
The results were indeed promising. A month after the treatment, the veterans reported significant improvements in symptoms of PTSD, depression, anger, and insomnia.

Moreover, there was a substantial uptick in their life satisfaction. These benefits remained consistent even at the three- and six-month post-treatment check-ins.

Furthermore, the veterans experienced improvements in disability, post-concussive symptoms, and showcased tremendous growth in psychological flexibility and cognitive function.

The latter, improved cognitive function, piqued Davis's interest. He believes further investigation is needed to discern whether this improvement stems from a reduction in mental health symptoms, biological alterations in the brain's signaling, or a combination of both.

Insightful and mystical experiences reported
Man, it was great. The whole world was peace
Moreover, Davis highlighted the association of psychological flexibility with insightful and mystical experiences induced by psychedelics [which should now be called entheogens, as they are not recreational drugs like LSD but rather shamanic substances inducing life-altering spiritual experiences].

"The higher one's psychological flexibility, the more probable is the reduction or mitigation of one's mental health symptoms," he explained.

Post-treatment feedback also revealed intriguing insights into the veterans' personal experiences. Almost half described their psychedelic experience as the most spiritually significant or psychologically insightful of their lives.

However, a smaller fraction (17.1%) also found it to be the most challenging experience they ever encountered. [Beware the potential for freaking out, panicking, or having a nightmare tour of the dark recesses of the mind and memory banks from this and/or past lives and other dimensions. Set and setting and a good guide are vital elements to include in any treatment.]

To ensure the integrity of their findings, Davis and his team adopted a conservative data analysis approach, accounting for the possibility that non-respondents might not have derived the desired benefits from the treatment.

The positive outcomes of this research emphasize the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies, particularly for veterans with intricate trauma histories.

This underscores the need to further explore psychedelic therapies in U.S. clinical trials. Notably, Ohio State is already diving deeper into the realm by studying psilocybin-assisted therapy for PTSD treatment among military veterans.

For those keen on delving into the intricate details of this study, it's published in the esteemed American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
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