Mushrooms and Paddles, Psychedelic Therapy and anti-depressants
Summer has been whirling dervish of working whenever I'm not camping or visiting friends and family. I didn't have a plan when I started writing this, so I'm just writing, let me know down there what you think, maybe we could have a conversation.
Went up to Jan lake about a week ago to spend some time finding pickerel in that (far too) massive lake. What I found instead was a new friend and some Aminita Muscaria mushrooms growing in the wild. I haven't yet tried them, but I'll post a trip report when I have. Gotta take about 8-20 grams though in order to get any effect. I think I'm going to make tea!
What the Aminita look like in the great white north. Keep your eyes peeled!
I've continued my work with the University of Saskatchewan, studying Hoffer and Osmond's psychedelic therapies. Turns out they're extremely effective, as if we didn't already know that. What they did (and maybe what everyone should try at least once) was as follows. Participants sat with the group that sit with them for a cup of coffee and a get-to-know session. The people that are present during the trip are a doctor, a nurse, a trip sitter (former pilot) and a psychiatrist. The participant takes a massive (300 micrograms or more) dose of LSD, but I rightfully believe 6 or more grams of mushrooms would do it. Then the participant is blindfolded and occasionally reminded of why they are there, whether it's for alcohol abuse, or just for the experience or to get over something tragic. The sitters then play some classical music (Tchiakovsky for example) and let me tell you as much as I can about their experiences; they. are. profound. The type of thing that would send most people over the edge... I can't really get into details as there is a confidentiality agreement.
Now, the lasting personality changes that happen as a result of a profound psychedelic experience last about three months, so people need (not really need, but maybe) to have one every three months. I thought I would LOVE to sit with people while they have these experiences, and have now had my first one. It went extremely well and as par as I know the participant hasn't yet relapsed and seems to be doing very, very well.
One important thing ya trippers, there is no scientific body of evidence regarding the interactions between people's anti-psychotic, anti-anxiety, or anti-depressant medications and the psychedelics (mushroom, lsd, mescaline, etc) but there are definitely things to be concerned about. For example, in extreme cases, the seratonin reuptake inhibitors (anti-depressants) can interact with the increased release of seratonin (seratonin releasing agents; LSD, Mushroom, MDMA) to cause something called seratonin syndrome, which you definitely don't want. Another thing to consider is: why did your doctor put you on those? Are you anxious? Psychedelics will make this worse. Are you psychotic? Again, psychedelics will exacerbate this.
Seratonin
For the above reasons, I believe that it is imperative that we revisit psychedelics in a scientific sense, and we are on the cusp of doing so. Please be careful.
