I have long been trying to understand the science behind the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI’s)and their effect on the human mind. I wanted to understand this not just because they are an effective means of allowing your body to transport the active compounds in the psychedelic drug DMT, but also because they are largely used as an anti-depressants. This topic has always confused me because it’s very complicated, but over the last few weeks I have begun to understand more about how these compounds work and why we should study them more.
For those of you that don’t understand how MAOI’s work, the bases is that they are inhibiting the Monoamine Oxidase’s (MAO’s) that exist in our body that restrict different compounds from being absorbed into our bodies. These MAO’s that exist in our bodies are there to protect us from gaining to much of one type of precursor to a neurotransmitter, keeping us healthy, in balance, and sane. Without these compounds we would surly die or at least experience something close to that effect whenever we ingest anything that is aged or has specific types of compounds in them.
Some would say that it seems very un-natural to inhibit something in your body that is there to protect you from dyeing, but that is actually the opposite of what is true. Some MAOI’s only inhibit specific types of MAO’s that allow for specific types of precursors to neurotransmitters to cross over our blood brain barrier into our brain and reduce the breakdown of those same neurotransmitters. Pinoline a compound that is created in our brain in our pineal gland, is one of those MAOI’s that is considered a MAO-A which is categorized to allow for the transportation of serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine and norepinephrine into our brain. Many antidepressants resemble this compound as they also act as a MAO-A because the main cause of depression is thought to be a lack of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.
Harmaline is also a MAO-A but is considered a reversible MAOI because of its interaction with something called tyramine. Tyramine is what is found in anything that is aged which causes individuals to have the adverse effects when taking MAOIs because it causes a reaction by releasing stored up dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine which can lead to high heart rate, strong headaches and deadly circumstances. Harmaline, being a reversible MAOI also means that rather than waiting weeks for the MAO’s in the brain to replenish themselves (which occurs with current antidepressants) once the harmaline wears off (around 12 hours) the body is protected once again from those nasty tyramine’s. Another positive outcome of harmaline based MAO-A’s is that they also don’t need to be used for long periods of time in order to take effect as they are almost instantaneously effective with the body.
So what causes depression and why do we need drugs to help us with the problem? Well there are a lot of theories that are out there that produce great discussion on the topic. I have my own theory that others may agree or disagree with. The current nature of human beings in industry based cultures is to eat as much non nutritional material as possible. We don’t take supplements to make up for the deficiencies that we lack from our food and our body is unable to produce these neurotransmitters from the non-existent precursors in our bodies. Our body continues to produce MAOs to protect us from the aged foods and dangerous amounts of tyramine’s that are currently located in just about anything we eat and maybe our bodies even have increased the amounts of MAO’s to increase the protection needed. We in reaction lack many of the neurotransmitters needed in order to function, serotonin being one of them. We then ask our doctors for a drug (which is really just a synthetic patented compound that used to be a plant compound) that may help increase or keep the amount of serotonin we have in our bodies. We are then given this drug that we are told that can take several weeks in order to take effect and must be continually ingested in order to fend off those evil MAO’s from replacing themselves in our brains.
Now I know it sounds like I am bad mouthing current anti-depressants (which I am) but really some people do need these drugs in order to live their lives and normal human beings. There is no alternative to current medication, right? Well that’s not 100% true. Humans have long been using plants that are active MAO-A and MAO-B (ones that deal with domaine) for hundreds of years if not longer. One such plant is called Peganum harmala (Harmal) or Syrian Rue which is also a reversible MAO-A has been used in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and by the Persians as an anti-depressant. Banisteriopsis Caapi is also one of those plants that is in the same group as Harmal where it too is a reversible MAO-A . The list goes on and on with these plants.
In the near future I will be researching more into the reasons that we humans require such plants or drugs in order to maintain our mood while I also explore the human mind as much as I possibly can. I still strongly believe that many of our today issues that we face with depression are based on our poor eating habits and our inability to accept alternative means of increasing our neurotransmitters. The effects can be brutal as according to Dr. Hobson who is one of the leading scientists on sleep research, anti-depressants SSRI’s (which rather than allow for the transport of serotonin into the brain but instead builds it up by not allowing it to be used) has the long term side effects of REM Behavior Disorder (RBD). RBD in turn is a good sign of obtaining Parkinson diseases later in life.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
MAOI's and What They Do.
I have long been trying to understand the science behind the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI’s)and their effect on the human mind. I wanted to understand this not just because they are an effective means of allowing your body to transport the active compounds in the psychedelic drug DMT, but also because they are largely used as an anti-depressants. This topic has always confused me because it’s very complicated, but over the last few weeks I have begun to understand more about how these compounds work and why we should study them more.
For those of you that don’t understand how MAOI’s work, the bases is that they are inhibiting the Monoamine Oxidase’s (MAO’s) that exist in our body that restrict different compounds from being absorbed into our bodies. These MAO’s that exist in our bodies are there to protect us from gaining to much of one type of precursor to a neurotransmitter, keeping us healthy, in balance, and sane. Without these compounds we would surly die or at least experience something close to that effect whenever we ingest anything that is aged or has specific types of compounds in them.
Some would say that it seems very un-natural to inhibit something in your body that is there to protect you from dyeing, but that is actually the opposite of what is true. Some MAOI’s only inhibit specific types of MAO’s that allow for specific types of precursors to neurotransmitters to cross over our blood brain barrier into our brain and reduce the breakdown of those same neurotransmitters. Pinoline a compound that is created in our brain in our pineal gland, is one of those MAOI’s that is considered a MAO-A which is categorized to allow for the transportation of serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine and norepinephrine into our brain. Many antidepressants resemble this compound as they also act as a MAO-A because the main cause of depression is thought to be a lack of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.
Harmaline is also a MAO-A but is considered a reversible MAOI because of its interaction with something called tyramine. Tyramine is what is found in anything that is aged which causes individuals to have the adverse effects when taking MAOIs because it causes a reaction by releasing stored up dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine which can lead to high heart rate, strong headaches and deadly circumstances. Harmaline, being a reversible MAOI also means that rather than waiting weeks for the MAO’s in the brain to replenish themselves (which occurs with current antidepressants) once the harmaline wears off (around 12 hours) the body is protected once again from those nasty tyramine’s. Another positive outcome of harmaline based MAO-A’s is that they also don’t need to be used for long periods of time in order to take effect as they are almost instantaneously effective with the body.
So what causes depression and why do we need drugs to help us with the problem? Well there are a lot of theories that are out there that produce great discussion on the topic. I have my own theory that others may agree or disagree with. The current nature of human beings in industry based cultures is to eat as much non nutritional material as possible. We don’t take supplements to make up for the deficiencies that we lack from our food and our body is unable to produce these neurotransmitters from the non-existent precursors in our bodies. Our body continues to produce MAOs to protect us from the aged foods and dangerous amounts of tyramine’s that are currently located in just about anything we eat and maybe our bodies even have increased the amounts of MAO’s to increase the protection needed. We in reaction lack many of the neurotransmitters needed in order to function, serotonin being one of them. We then ask our doctors for a drug (which is really just a synthetic patented compound that used to be a plant compound) that may help increase or keep the amount of serotonin we have in our bodies. We are then given this drug that we are told that can take several weeks in order to take effect and must be continually ingested in order to fend off those evil MAO’s from replacing themselves in our brains.
Now I know it sounds like I am bad mouthing current anti-depressants (which I am) but really some people do need these drugs in order to live their lives and normal human beings. There is no alternative to current medication, right? Well that’s not 100% true. Humans have long been using plants that are active MAO-A and MAO-B (ones that deal with domaine) for hundreds of years if not longer. One such plant is called Peganum harmala (Harmal) or Syrian Rue which is also a reversible MAO-A has been used in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and by the Persians as an anti-depressant. Banisteriopsis Caapi is also one of those plants that is in the same group as Harmal where it too is a reversible MAO-A . The list goes on and on with these plants.
In the near future I will be researching more into the reasons that we humans require such plants or drugs in order to maintain our mood while I also explore the human mind as much as I possibly can. I still strongly believe that many of our today issues that we face with depression are based on our poor eating habits and our inability to accept alternative means of increasing our neurotransmitters. The effects can be brutal as according to Dr. Hobson who is one of the leading scientists on sleep research, anti-depressants SSRI’s (which rather than allow for the transport of serotonin into the brain but instead builds it up by not allowing it to be used) has the long term side effects of REM Behavior Disorder (RBD). RBD in turn is a good sign of obtaining Parkinson diseases later in life.
For those of you that don’t understand how MAOI’s work, the bases is that they are inhibiting the Monoamine Oxidase’s (MAO’s) that exist in our body that restrict different compounds from being absorbed into our bodies. These MAO’s that exist in our bodies are there to protect us from gaining to much of one type of precursor to a neurotransmitter, keeping us healthy, in balance, and sane. Without these compounds we would surly die or at least experience something close to that effect whenever we ingest anything that is aged or has specific types of compounds in them.
Some would say that it seems very un-natural to inhibit something in your body that is there to protect you from dyeing, but that is actually the opposite of what is true. Some MAOI’s only inhibit specific types of MAO’s that allow for specific types of precursors to neurotransmitters to cross over our blood brain barrier into our brain and reduce the breakdown of those same neurotransmitters. Pinoline a compound that is created in our brain in our pineal gland, is one of those MAOI’s that is considered a MAO-A which is categorized to allow for the transportation of serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine and norepinephrine into our brain. Many antidepressants resemble this compound as they also act as a MAO-A because the main cause of depression is thought to be a lack of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.
Harmaline is also a MAO-A but is considered a reversible MAOI because of its interaction with something called tyramine. Tyramine is what is found in anything that is aged which causes individuals to have the adverse effects when taking MAOIs because it causes a reaction by releasing stored up dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine which can lead to high heart rate, strong headaches and deadly circumstances. Harmaline, being a reversible MAOI also means that rather than waiting weeks for the MAO’s in the brain to replenish themselves (which occurs with current antidepressants) once the harmaline wears off (around 12 hours) the body is protected once again from those nasty tyramine’s. Another positive outcome of harmaline based MAO-A’s is that they also don’t need to be used for long periods of time in order to take effect as they are almost instantaneously effective with the body.
So what causes depression and why do we need drugs to help us with the problem? Well there are a lot of theories that are out there that produce great discussion on the topic. I have my own theory that others may agree or disagree with. The current nature of human beings in industry based cultures is to eat as much non nutritional material as possible. We don’t take supplements to make up for the deficiencies that we lack from our food and our body is unable to produce these neurotransmitters from the non-existent precursors in our bodies. Our body continues to produce MAOs to protect us from the aged foods and dangerous amounts of tyramine’s that are currently located in just about anything we eat and maybe our bodies even have increased the amounts of MAO’s to increase the protection needed. We in reaction lack many of the neurotransmitters needed in order to function, serotonin being one of them. We then ask our doctors for a drug (which is really just a synthetic patented compound that used to be a plant compound) that may help increase or keep the amount of serotonin we have in our bodies. We are then given this drug that we are told that can take several weeks in order to take effect and must be continually ingested in order to fend off those evil MAO’s from replacing themselves in our brains.
Now I know it sounds like I am bad mouthing current anti-depressants (which I am) but really some people do need these drugs in order to live their lives and normal human beings. There is no alternative to current medication, right? Well that’s not 100% true. Humans have long been using plants that are active MAO-A and MAO-B (ones that deal with domaine) for hundreds of years if not longer. One such plant is called Peganum harmala (Harmal) or Syrian Rue which is also a reversible MAO-A has been used in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and by the Persians as an anti-depressant. Banisteriopsis Caapi is also one of those plants that is in the same group as Harmal where it too is a reversible MAO-A . The list goes on and on with these plants.
In the near future I will be researching more into the reasons that we humans require such plants or drugs in order to maintain our mood while I also explore the human mind as much as I possibly can. I still strongly believe that many of our today issues that we face with depression are based on our poor eating habits and our inability to accept alternative means of increasing our neurotransmitters. The effects can be brutal as according to Dr. Hobson who is one of the leading scientists on sleep research, anti-depressants SSRI’s (which rather than allow for the transport of serotonin into the brain but instead builds it up by not allowing it to be used) has the long term side effects of REM Behavior Disorder (RBD). RBD in turn is a good sign of obtaining Parkinson diseases later in life.
MAOI's and What They Do.
I have long been trying to understand the science behind the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI’s)and their effect on the human mind. I wanted to understand this not just because they are an effective means of allowing your body to transport the active compounds in the psychedelic drug DMT, but also because they are largely used as an anti-depressants. This topic has always confused me because it’s very complicated, but over the last few weeks I have begun to understand more about how these compounds work and why we should study them more.
For those of you that don’t understand how MAOI’s work, the bases is that they are inhibiting the Monoamine Oxidase’s (MAO’s) that exist in our body that restrict different compounds from being absorbed into our bodies. These MAO’s that exist in our bodies are there to protect us from gaining to much of one type of precursor to a neurotransmitter, keeping us healthy, in balance, and sane. Without these compounds we would surly die or at least experience something close to that effect whenever we ingest anything that is aged or has specific types of compounds in them.
Some would say that it seems very un-natural to inhibit something in your body that is there to protect you from dyeing, but that is actually the opposite of what is true. Some MAOI’s only inhibit specific types of MAO’s that allow for specific types of precursors to neurotransmitters to cross over our blood brain barrier into our brain and reduce the breakdown of those same neurotransmitters. Pinoline a compound that is created in our brain in our pineal gland, is one of those MAOI’s that is considered a MAO-A which is categorized to allow for the transportation of serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine and norepinephrine into our brain. Many antidepressants resemble this compound as they also act as a MAO-A because the main cause of depression is thought to be a lack of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.
Harmaline is also a MAO-A but is considered a reversible MAOI because of its interaction with something called tyramine. Tyramine is what is found in anything that is aged which causes individuals to have the adverse effects when taking MAOIs because it causes a reaction by releasing stored up dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine which can lead to high heart rate, strong headaches and deadly circumstances. Harmaline, being a reversible MAOI also means that rather than waiting weeks for the MAO’s in the brain to replenish themselves (which occurs with current antidepressants) once the harmaline wears off (around 12 hours) the body is protected once again from those nasty tyramine’s. Another positive outcome of harmaline based MAO-A’s is that they also don’t need to be used for long periods of time in order to take effect as they are almost instantaneously effective with the body.
So what causes depression and why do we need drugs to help us with the problem? Well there are a lot of theories that are out there that produce great discussion on the topic. I have my own theory that others may agree or disagree with. The current nature of human beings in industry based cultures is to eat as much non nutritional material as possible. We don’t take supplements to make up for the deficiencies that we lack from our food and our body is unable to produce these neurotransmitters from the non-existent precursors in our bodies. Our body continues to produce MAOs to protect us from the aged foods and dangerous amounts of tyramine’s that are currently located in just about anything we eat and maybe our bodies even have increased the amounts of MAO’s to increase the protection needed. We in reaction lack many of the neurotransmitters needed in order to function, serotonin being one of them. We then ask our doctors for a drug (which is really just a synthetic patented compound that used to be a plant compound) that may help increase or keep the amount of serotonin we have in our bodies. We are then given this drug that we are told that can take several weeks in order to take effect and must be continually ingested in order to fend off those evil MAO’s from replacing themselves in our brains.
Now I know it sounds like I am bad mouthing current anti-depressants (which I am) but really some people do need these drugs in order to live their lives and normal human beings. There is no alternative to current medication, right? Well that’s not 100% true. Humans have long been using plants that are active MAO-A and MAO-B (ones that deal with domaine) for hundreds of years if not longer. One such plant is called Peganum harmala (Harmal) or Syrian Rue which is also a reversible MAO-A has been used in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and by the Persians as an anti-depressant. Banisteriopsis Caapi is also one of those plants that is in the same group as Harmal where it too is a reversible MAO-A . The list goes on and on with these plants.
In the near future I will be researching more into the reasons that we humans require such plants or drugs in order to maintain our mood while I also explore the human mind as much as I possibly can. I still strongly believe that many of our today issues that we face with depression are based on our poor eating habits and our inability to accept alternative means of increasing our neurotransmitters. The effects can be brutal as according to Dr. Hobson who is one of the leading scientists on sleep research, anti-depressants SSRI’s (which rather than allow for the transport of serotonin into the brain but instead builds it up by not allowing it to be used) has the long term side effects of REM Behavior Disorder (RBD). RBD in turn is a good sign of obtaining Parkinson diseases later in life.
For those of you that don’t understand how MAOI’s work, the bases is that they are inhibiting the Monoamine Oxidase’s (MAO’s) that exist in our body that restrict different compounds from being absorbed into our bodies. These MAO’s that exist in our bodies are there to protect us from gaining to much of one type of precursor to a neurotransmitter, keeping us healthy, in balance, and sane. Without these compounds we would surly die or at least experience something close to that effect whenever we ingest anything that is aged or has specific types of compounds in them.
Some would say that it seems very un-natural to inhibit something in your body that is there to protect you from dyeing, but that is actually the opposite of what is true. Some MAOI’s only inhibit specific types of MAO’s that allow for specific types of precursors to neurotransmitters to cross over our blood brain barrier into our brain and reduce the breakdown of those same neurotransmitters. Pinoline a compound that is created in our brain in our pineal gland, is one of those MAOI’s that is considered a MAO-A which is categorized to allow for the transportation of serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine and norepinephrine into our brain. Many antidepressants resemble this compound as they also act as a MAO-A because the main cause of depression is thought to be a lack of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain.
Harmaline is also a MAO-A but is considered a reversible MAOI because of its interaction with something called tyramine. Tyramine is what is found in anything that is aged which causes individuals to have the adverse effects when taking MAOIs because it causes a reaction by releasing stored up dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine which can lead to high heart rate, strong headaches and deadly circumstances. Harmaline, being a reversible MAOI also means that rather than waiting weeks for the MAO’s in the brain to replenish themselves (which occurs with current antidepressants) once the harmaline wears off (around 12 hours) the body is protected once again from those nasty tyramine’s. Another positive outcome of harmaline based MAO-A’s is that they also don’t need to be used for long periods of time in order to take effect as they are almost instantaneously effective with the body.
So what causes depression and why do we need drugs to help us with the problem? Well there are a lot of theories that are out there that produce great discussion on the topic. I have my own theory that others may agree or disagree with. The current nature of human beings in industry based cultures is to eat as much non nutritional material as possible. We don’t take supplements to make up for the deficiencies that we lack from our food and our body is unable to produce these neurotransmitters from the non-existent precursors in our bodies. Our body continues to produce MAOs to protect us from the aged foods and dangerous amounts of tyramine’s that are currently located in just about anything we eat and maybe our bodies even have increased the amounts of MAO’s to increase the protection needed. We in reaction lack many of the neurotransmitters needed in order to function, serotonin being one of them. We then ask our doctors for a drug (which is really just a synthetic patented compound that used to be a plant compound) that may help increase or keep the amount of serotonin we have in our bodies. We are then given this drug that we are told that can take several weeks in order to take effect and must be continually ingested in order to fend off those evil MAO’s from replacing themselves in our brains.
Now I know it sounds like I am bad mouthing current anti-depressants (which I am) but really some people do need these drugs in order to live their lives and normal human beings. There is no alternative to current medication, right? Well that’s not 100% true. Humans have long been using plants that are active MAO-A and MAO-B (ones that deal with domaine) for hundreds of years if not longer. One such plant is called Peganum harmala (Harmal) or Syrian Rue which is also a reversible MAO-A has been used in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and by the Persians as an anti-depressant. Banisteriopsis Caapi is also one of those plants that is in the same group as Harmal where it too is a reversible MAO-A . The list goes on and on with these plants.
In the near future I will be researching more into the reasons that we humans require such plants or drugs in order to maintain our mood while I also explore the human mind as much as I possibly can. I still strongly believe that many of our today issues that we face with depression are based on our poor eating habits and our inability to accept alternative means of increasing our neurotransmitters. The effects can be brutal as according to Dr. Hobson who is one of the leading scientists on sleep research, anti-depressants SSRI’s (which rather than allow for the transport of serotonin into the brain but instead builds it up by not allowing it to be used) has the long term side effects of REM Behavior Disorder (RBD). RBD in turn is a good sign of obtaining Parkinson diseases later in life.
Dreaming Bear
This week Martin over at The Entheogenic Evolution bring you a conversation with Poet/Performer Dreaming Bear Baraka Kanaan, recorded at the Mystic Garden Party in Ashland, Oregon. Dreaming Bear shares his poetic languaging on entheogens, nature, self-awakening and authentic play.
Check it out over at: http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/
Check it out over at: http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/
Dreaming Bear
This week Martin over at The Entheogenic Evolution bring you a conversation with Poet/Performer Dreaming Bear Baraka Kanaan, recorded at the Mystic Garden Party in Ashland, Oregon. Dreaming Bear shares his poetic languaging on entheogens, nature, self-awakening and authentic play.
Check it out over at: http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/
Check it out over at: http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/
Dreaming Bear
This week Martin over at The Entheogenic Evolution bring you a conversation with Poet/Performer Dreaming Bear Baraka Kanaan, recorded at the Mystic Garden Party in Ashland, Oregon. Dreaming Bear shares his poetic languaging on entheogens, nature, self-awakening and authentic play.
Check it out over at: http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/
Check it out over at: http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Dream ReLiving: An Advanced Lucid Dreaming Practice
Ryan Hurd posted a great new informative entry over at dreamstudies.org about Scott Sparrow, a psychotherapist who had some interesting way of reliving dreams that you wanted to change. Here is a little bit from the post:
Read more over at dreamstudies.org
In a nutshell, Sparrow’s approach towards working with lucid dreams involves a focus on “unfinished business” as a springboard to greater lucidity. Many lucid dreamers know that sometimes the dreams end poorly, or have nightmarish elements that are difficult or impossible to control. Sometimes, the more you try to control the dream, the more nightmarish your dreams become. This is a fact of the powerful psychodynamic forces that we, sometimes unwittingly, come into contact with in our lucid dreams.
Read more over at dreamstudies.org
Dream ReLiving: An Advanced Lucid Dreaming Practice
Ryan Hurd posted a great new informative entry over at dreamstudies.org about Scott Sparrow, a psychotherapist who had some interesting way of reliving dreams that you wanted to change. Here is a little bit from the post:
Read more over at dreamstudies.org
In a nutshell, Sparrow’s approach towards working with lucid dreams involves a focus on “unfinished business” as a springboard to greater lucidity. Many lucid dreamers know that sometimes the dreams end poorly, or have nightmarish elements that are difficult or impossible to control. Sometimes, the more you try to control the dream, the more nightmarish your dreams become. This is a fact of the powerful psychodynamic forces that we, sometimes unwittingly, come into contact with in our lucid dreams.
Read more over at dreamstudies.org
Dream ReLiving: An Advanced Lucid Dreaming Practice
Ryan Hurd posted a great new informative entry over at dreamstudies.org about Scott Sparrow, a psychotherapist who had some interesting way of reliving dreams that you wanted to change. Here is a little bit from the post:
Read more over at dreamstudies.org
In a nutshell, Sparrow’s approach towards working with lucid dreams involves a focus on “unfinished business” as a springboard to greater lucidity. Many lucid dreamers know that sometimes the dreams end poorly, or have nightmarish elements that are difficult or impossible to control. Sometimes, the more you try to control the dream, the more nightmarish your dreams become. This is a fact of the powerful psychodynamic forces that we, sometimes unwittingly, come into contact with in our lucid dreams.
Read more over at dreamstudies.org
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Entheogenic Evolution
The Entheogenic Evolution Podcast, hosted by author Martin W. Ball, Ph.D. Martin's podcast is dedicated to the discussion of the responsible and spiritual use of entheogens as agents of personal transformation and evolution. As sacred tools, etheogens have the power to "awaken the divine within" and bring us closer to our connection with the Sacred and with Spirit. For all those who walk the path of plant-based medicine and spiritual enlightenment .
Check it out: http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/
Check it out: http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/
The Entheogenic Evolution
The Entheogenic Evolution Podcast, hosted by author Martin W. Ball, Ph.D. Martin's podcast is dedicated to the discussion of the responsible and spiritual use of entheogens as agents of personal transformation and evolution. As sacred tools, etheogens have the power to "awaken the divine within" and bring us closer to our connection with the Sacred and with Spirit. For all those who walk the path of plant-based medicine and spiritual enlightenment .
Check it out: http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/
Check it out: http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/
The Entheogenic Evolution
The Entheogenic Evolution Podcast, hosted by author Martin W. Ball, Ph.D. Martin's podcast is dedicated to the discussion of the responsible and spiritual use of entheogens as agents of personal transformation and evolution. As sacred tools, etheogens have the power to "awaken the divine within" and bring us closer to our connection with the Sacred and with Spirit. For all those who walk the path of plant-based medicine and spiritual enlightenment .
Check it out: http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/
Check it out: http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/
The Holy Mushroom
I recently purchased a recently released book called "The Holy Mushroom" written by J.R. Irvin. So far I don't have anything to report about the book, but I did find a few good podcasts that interviewed J.R. Irvin talking about his book and the research done on it.Part: 1
http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/entry/2008-10-09T12_49_12-07_00
Part: 2
http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/entry/2008-10-16T13_44_03-07_00
The Holy Mushroom
I recently purchased a recently released book called "The Holy Mushroom" written by J.R. Irvin. So far I don't have anything to report about the book, but I did find a few good podcasts that interviewed J.R. Irvin talking about his book and the research done on it.Part: 1
http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/entry/2008-10-09T12_49_12-07_00
Part: 2
http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/entry/2008-10-16T13_44_03-07_00
The Holy Mushroom
I recently purchased a recently released book called "The Holy Mushroom" written by J.R. Irvin. So far I don't have anything to report about the book, but I did find a few good podcasts that interviewed J.R. Irvin talking about his book and the research done on it.Part: 1
http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/entry/2008-10-09T12_49_12-07_00
Part: 2
http://entheogenic.podomatic.com/entry/2008-10-16T13_44_03-07_00
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Interview with James Oroc
I received an email a few days ago from R who gave me a few links to a great interview conducted by The Entheogenic Evolution with guest author James Oroc the writer of the great book "Tryptamine Palace: 5-MeO-DMT and the Sonoran Desert Toad".
Here are the links to part 1 and 2 of the interiew which has James Oroc talking about many differenc topics that are presented in his book.
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Here are the links to part 1 and 2 of the interiew which has James Oroc talking about many differenc topics that are presented in his book.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Interview with James Oroc
I received an email a few days ago from R who gave me a few links to a great interview conducted by The Entheogenic Evolution with guest author James Oroc the writer of the great book "Tryptamine Palace: 5-MeO-DMT and the Sonoran Desert Toad".
Here are the links to part 1 and 2 of the interiew which has James Oroc talking about many differenc topics that are presented in his book.
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Here are the links to part 1 and 2 of the interiew which has James Oroc talking about many differenc topics that are presented in his book.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Interview with James Oroc
I received an email a few days ago from R who gave me a few links to a great interview conducted by The Entheogenic Evolution with guest author James Oroc the writer of the great book "Tryptamine Palace: 5-MeO-DMT and the Sonoran Desert Toad".
Here are the links to part 1 and 2 of the interiew which has James Oroc talking about many differenc topics that are presented in his book.
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Here are the links to part 1 and 2 of the interiew which has James Oroc talking about many differenc topics that are presented in his book.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Tryptamine Palace
I just finished a book I have been reading for the last two weeks. Tryptamine Palace: 5-MeO-DMT and the Sonoran Desert Toad is what I consider one of the greatest books into the understanding the world and its powerful entheogens. It really gave me some personal incite into understanding reality and looking at things a little differently when it comes to what I think I understand and really what might be happening.
If I was to sum up the book in as few words as possible I would tell those who have never read Tryptamine Palaces that its an open minded concept of the world from an explorer of the mind. James Oroc (the writer) puts his experinces of the psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT in clear and understandable English, giving his words meaning through references into religious and philosophical teachings that clearly relate to the experience he describes. He gives
the evidence that entheogens have been used throughout history blatantly showing their usefulness in the past. He also shows their real world application as the more we learn about the metaphysics of our universe the more they seem like a psychedelic trip.
One key point that I found interesting in the book is James's use of the word light in his experiences and how his descriptions very closely relate to other religious experiences of light. This use of the word light in the sense that light is "God" is not only limited to 5-MeO-DMT and has been referenced many times before from others who have used different types of compounds as well as mediation. It would bring me to conclude that something in our body is creating a psychedelic experience that points in the direction of a god like being either from taking psychedelics or producing them naturally.
Over all, I highly suggest anyone read the book Trypatmine Palace if you are interested in understanding more of how psychedelics work and the possible reasons behind the experience.
If I was to sum up the book in as few words as possible I would tell those who have never read Tryptamine Palaces that its an open minded concept of the world from an explorer of the mind. James Oroc (the writer) puts his experinces of the psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT in clear and understandable English, giving his words meaning through references into religious and philosophical teachings that clearly relate to the experience he describes. He gives
the evidence that entheogens have been used throughout history blatantly showing their usefulness in the past. He also shows their real world application as the more we learn about the metaphysics of our universe the more they seem like a psychedelic trip.One key point that I found interesting in the book is James's use of the word light in his experiences and how his descriptions very closely relate to other religious experiences of light. This use of the word light in the sense that light is "God" is not only limited to 5-MeO-DMT and has been referenced many times before from others who have used different types of compounds as well as mediation. It would bring me to conclude that something in our body is creating a psychedelic experience that points in the direction of a god like being either from taking psychedelics or producing them naturally.
Over all, I highly suggest anyone read the book Trypatmine Palace if you are interested in understanding more of how psychedelics work and the possible reasons behind the experience.
Tryptamine Palace
I just finished a book I have been reading for the last two weeks. Tryptamine Palace: 5-MeO-DMT and the Sonoran Desert Toad is what I consider one of the greatest books into the understanding the world and its powerful entheogens. It really gave me some personal incite into understanding reality and looking at things a little differently when it comes to what I think I understand and really what might be happening.
If I was to sum up the book in as few words as possible I would tell those who have never read Tryptamine Palaces that its an open minded concept of the world from an explorer of the mind. James Oroc (the writer) puts his experinces of the psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT in clear and understandable English, giving his words meaning through references into religious and philosophical teachings that clearly relate to the experience he describes. He givesthe evidence that entheogens have been used throughout history blatantly showing their usefulness in the past. He also shows their real world application as the more we learn about the metaphysics of our universe the more they seem like a psychedelic trip.
One key point that I found interesting in the book is James's use of the word light in his experiences and how his descriptions very closely relate to other religious experiences of light. This use of the word light in the sense that light is "God" is not only limited to 5-MeO-DMT and has been referenced many times before from others who have used different types of compounds as well as mediation. It would bring me to conclude that something in our body is creating a psychedelic experience that points in the direction of a god like being either from taking psychedelics or producing them naturally.
Over all, I highly suggest anyone read the book Trypatmine Palace if you are interested in understanding more of how psychedelics work and the possible reasons behind the experience.
If I was to sum up the book in as few words as possible I would tell those who have never read Tryptamine Palaces that its an open minded concept of the world from an explorer of the mind. James Oroc (the writer) puts his experinces of the psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT in clear and understandable English, giving his words meaning through references into religious and philosophical teachings that clearly relate to the experience he describes. He gives
the evidence that entheogens have been used throughout history blatantly showing their usefulness in the past. He also shows their real world application as the more we learn about the metaphysics of our universe the more they seem like a psychedelic trip.One key point that I found interesting in the book is James's use of the word light in his experiences and how his descriptions very closely relate to other religious experiences of light. This use of the word light in the sense that light is "God" is not only limited to 5-MeO-DMT and has been referenced many times before from others who have used different types of compounds as well as mediation. It would bring me to conclude that something in our body is creating a psychedelic experience that points in the direction of a god like being either from taking psychedelics or producing them naturally.
Over all, I highly suggest anyone read the book Trypatmine Palace if you are interested in understanding more of how psychedelics work and the possible reasons behind the experience.
Tryptamine Palace
I just finished a book I have been reading for the last two weeks. Tryptamine Palace: 5-MeO-DMT and the Sonoran Desert Toad is what I consider one of the greatest books into the understanding the world and its powerful entheogens. It really gave me some personal incite into understanding reality and looking at things a little differently when it comes to what I think I understand and really what might be happening.
If I was to sum up the book in as few words as possible I would tell those who have never read Tryptamine Palaces that its an open minded concept of the world from an explorer of the mind. James Oroc (the writer) puts his experinces of the psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT in clear and understandable English, giving his words meaning through references into religious and philosophical teachings that clearly relate to the experience he describes. He givesthe evidence that entheogens have been used throughout history blatantly showing their usefulness in the past. He also shows their real world application as the more we learn about the metaphysics of our universe the more they seem like a psychedelic trip.
One key point that I found interesting in the book is James's use of the word light in his experiences and how his descriptions very closely relate to other religious experiences of light. This use of the word light in the sense that light is "God" is not only limited to 5-MeO-DMT and has been referenced many times before from others who have used different types of compounds as well as mediation. It would bring me to conclude that something in our body is creating a psychedelic experience that points in the direction of a god like being either from taking psychedelics or producing them naturally.
Over all, I highly suggest anyone read the book Trypatmine Palace if you are interested in understanding more of how psychedelics work and the possible reasons behind the experience.
If I was to sum up the book in as few words as possible I would tell those who have never read Tryptamine Palaces that its an open minded concept of the world from an explorer of the mind. James Oroc (the writer) puts his experinces of the psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT in clear and understandable English, giving his words meaning through references into religious and philosophical teachings that clearly relate to the experience he describes. He gives
the evidence that entheogens have been used throughout history blatantly showing their usefulness in the past. He also shows their real world application as the more we learn about the metaphysics of our universe the more they seem like a psychedelic trip.One key point that I found interesting in the book is James's use of the word light in his experiences and how his descriptions very closely relate to other religious experiences of light. This use of the word light in the sense that light is "God" is not only limited to 5-MeO-DMT and has been referenced many times before from others who have used different types of compounds as well as mediation. It would bring me to conclude that something in our body is creating a psychedelic experience that points in the direction of a god like being either from taking psychedelics or producing them naturally.
Over all, I highly suggest anyone read the book Trypatmine Palace if you are interested in understanding more of how psychedelics work and the possible reasons behind the experience.
Are Dreams the Original Psychedelic?
Thanks to dreamstudies.org I recently had a chance to write a post for that site. The topic is based on my paper I wrote a few months ago on the processes of chemical reactions in the brain possibly responsible for our dreaming due to a psychedelic compound. Here is a little bit from that post:
I have spent the last 6 years of my free time from my normal job researching the similarities between dreams and psychedelic hallucinations. Many people from the psychedelic community would disagree, claiming that their experiences are unique.
Not surprisingly, the lucid dreaming community or even normal sleeper may claim either that their dreams are unique or that “I don’t do drugs!”
Read more over at dreamstudies.org
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
I have spent the last 6 years of my free time from my normal job researching the similarities between dreams and psychedelic hallucinations. Many people from the psychedelic community would disagree, claiming that their experiences are unique.
Not surprisingly, the lucid dreaming community or even normal sleeper may claim either that their dreams are unique or that “I don’t do drugs!”
Read more over at dreamstudies.org
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Are Dreams the Original Psychedelic?
Thanks to dreamstudies.org I recently had a chance to write a post for that site. The topic is based on my paper I wrote a few months ago on the processes of chemical reactions in the brain possibly responsible for our dreaming due to a psychedelic compound. Here is a little bit from that post:
I have spent the last 6 years of my free time from my normal job researching the similarities between dreams and psychedelic hallucinations. Many people from the psychedelic community would disagree, claiming that their experiences are unique.
Not surprisingly, the lucid dreaming community or even normal sleeper may claim either that their dreams are unique or that “I don’t do drugs!”
Read more over at dreamstudies.org
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
I have spent the last 6 years of my free time from my normal job researching the similarities between dreams and psychedelic hallucinations. Many people from the psychedelic community would disagree, claiming that their experiences are unique.
Not surprisingly, the lucid dreaming community or even normal sleeper may claim either that their dreams are unique or that “I don’t do drugs!”
Read more over at dreamstudies.org
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Are Dreams the Original Psychedelic?
Thanks to dreamstudies.org I recently had a chance to write a post for that site. The topic is based on my paper I wrote a few months ago on the processes of chemical reactions in the brain possibly responsible for our dreaming due to a psychedelic compound. Here is a little bit from that post:
I have spent the last 6 years of my free time from my normal job researching the similarities between dreams and psychedelic hallucinations. Many people from the psychedelic community would disagree, claiming that their experiences are unique.
Not surprisingly, the lucid dreaming community or even normal sleeper may claim either that their dreams are unique or that “I don’t do drugs!”
Read more over at dreamstudies.org
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
I have spent the last 6 years of my free time from my normal job researching the similarities between dreams and psychedelic hallucinations. Many people from the psychedelic community would disagree, claiming that their experiences are unique.
Not surprisingly, the lucid dreaming community or even normal sleeper may claim either that their dreams are unique or that “I don’t do drugs!”
Read more over at dreamstudies.org
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Podcast 103 - “Psychoactive Drugs Through Human History”
I found this great pod cast on Lorenzo's website about the use of drug through history and how we understand them. The guest speaker is Dr. Andrew Weil and is a knowledgeable individual in the understanding of drugs and pharmacology. His lecture really gave me a better understanding on how we judge others who use drugs in different cultures. It’s truly sad how we restrict things based on our perception and misunderstanding through poor education based on religious beliefs and our mentality of what is right or wrong. It’s amazing that in western cultures alcohol and nicotine is considered ok and they are some of the most addictive and toxic drugs known to man, however we ban and label those who use drugs that are non-addictive and not toxic as a horrible use of drugs even in cases where the drugs in question are produced naturally inside our brains.
Check it out here: http://www.matrixmasters.net/blogs/?p=212
All quotes below are by Dr. Andrew Weil
04:41 "There are no good or bad drugs. Drugs are what we make of them. They have good and bad uses."
05:04 "I know of no culture in the world at present or any time in the past that has not been heavily involved with one or more psychoactive substances."
06:33 "Alcohol, any way you look at it, is the most toxic and most dangerous of all psychoactive drugs. In any sense, in terms of medical toxicity, behavioral toxicity, there is no other drug for which the association between crime and violence is so clear cut . . . and tobacco, in the form of cigarettes is THE most addictive of all drugs."
08:47 "What could be a more flagrant example of drug pushing than public support of that industry [tobacco and cigarettes]."
12:38 "I see a great failure in the world in general to distinguish between drug use and drug abuse."
16:25 "Another very common use, in all cultures, of psychoactive substances is to give people transcendent experiences. To allow them to transcend their human and ego boundaries to feel greater contact with the supernatural, or with the spiritual, or with the divine, however they phrase it in their terms."
17:54 "Drugs don’t have spiritual potential, human beings have spiritual potential. And it may be that we need techniques to move us in that direction, and the use of psychoactive drugs clearly is one path that has helped many people."
19:59 "Why is it that the human brain and plants should have the same chemicals in them?"
22:39 "The effects of drugs are as much dependent on expectation and setting, on set and setting, as they are on pharmacology. We shape the effects of drugs. All drugs do is make you feel temporarily different, physically and psychologically."
25:26 "The effects of drugs can be completely shaped by cultural expectations, by individual expectations, by setting as well."
28:22 "The manner of introducing a drug into the body is crucially determinant of the effects the people experience. And especially of its adverse effects, both short term and long term."
31:51 "I think it’s unfortunate that in this culture we have fallen so much into the habit of relying on refined, purified durative of plants, in highly concentrated form, both for recreational drugs and for medicine. And have formed the habit of thinking that this is somehow more scientific and effective, that botanical drugs are old-fashioned, unscientific, messy. In fact, they’re much safer, and sometimes the quality and effects are better."
32:55 "It’s we who determine whether drugs are destructive or whether they’re beneficial. It’s not any inherent property of drugs."
41:36 "The use of yage, or ayahuasca, in Amazonian Indian cultures is often credited with giving people visions that have valid content."
50:25 "But I think healing, like religious experience, is an innate potential of the body. It’s not something that comes in a drug. All a drug can do is give you a push in a certain direction, and I think that even there expectation plays a great role in that."
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Check it out here: http://www.matrixmasters.net/blogs/?p=212
All quotes below are by Dr. Andrew Weil
04:41 "There are no good or bad drugs. Drugs are what we make of them. They have good and bad uses."
05:04 "I know of no culture in the world at present or any time in the past that has not been heavily involved with one or more psychoactive substances."
06:33 "Alcohol, any way you look at it, is the most toxic and most dangerous of all psychoactive drugs. In any sense, in terms of medical toxicity, behavioral toxicity, there is no other drug for which the association between crime and violence is so clear cut . . . and tobacco, in the form of cigarettes is THE most addictive of all drugs."
08:47 "What could be a more flagrant example of drug pushing than public support of that industry [tobacco and cigarettes]."
12:38 "I see a great failure in the world in general to distinguish between drug use and drug abuse."
16:25 "Another very common use, in all cultures, of psychoactive substances is to give people transcendent experiences. To allow them to transcend their human and ego boundaries to feel greater contact with the supernatural, or with the spiritual, or with the divine, however they phrase it in their terms."
17:54 "Drugs don’t have spiritual potential, human beings have spiritual potential. And it may be that we need techniques to move us in that direction, and the use of psychoactive drugs clearly is one path that has helped many people."
19:59 "Why is it that the human brain and plants should have the same chemicals in them?"
22:39 "The effects of drugs are as much dependent on expectation and setting, on set and setting, as they are on pharmacology. We shape the effects of drugs. All drugs do is make you feel temporarily different, physically and psychologically."
25:26 "The effects of drugs can be completely shaped by cultural expectations, by individual expectations, by setting as well."
28:22 "The manner of introducing a drug into the body is crucially determinant of the effects the people experience. And especially of its adverse effects, both short term and long term."
31:51 "I think it’s unfortunate that in this culture we have fallen so much into the habit of relying on refined, purified durative of plants, in highly concentrated form, both for recreational drugs and for medicine. And have formed the habit of thinking that this is somehow more scientific and effective, that botanical drugs are old-fashioned, unscientific, messy. In fact, they’re much safer, and sometimes the quality and effects are better."
32:55 "It’s we who determine whether drugs are destructive or whether they’re beneficial. It’s not any inherent property of drugs."
41:36 "The use of yage, or ayahuasca, in Amazonian Indian cultures is often credited with giving people visions that have valid content."
50:25 "But I think healing, like religious experience, is an innate potential of the body. It’s not something that comes in a drug. All a drug can do is give you a push in a certain direction, and I think that even there expectation plays a great role in that."
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Podcast 103 - “Psychoactive Drugs Through Human History”
I found this great pod cast on Lorenzo's website about the use of drug through history and how we understand them. The guest speaker is Dr. Andrew Weil and is a knowledgeable individual in the understanding of drugs and pharmacology. His lecture really gave me a better understanding on how we judge others who use drugs in different cultures. It’s truly sad how we restrict things based on our perception and misunderstanding through poor education based on religious beliefs and our mentality of what is right or wrong. It’s amazing that in western cultures alcohol and nicotine is considered ok and they are some of the most addictive and toxic drugs known to man, however we ban and label those who use drugs that are non-addictive and not toxic as a horrible use of drugs even in cases where the drugs in question are produced naturally inside our brains.
Check it out here: http://www.matrixmasters.net/blogs/?p=212
All quotes below are by Dr. Andrew Weil
04:41 "There are no good or bad drugs. Drugs are what we make of them. They have good and bad uses."
05:04 "I know of no culture in the world at present or any time in the past that has not been heavily involved with one or more psychoactive substances."
06:33 "Alcohol, any way you look at it, is the most toxic and most dangerous of all psychoactive drugs. In any sense, in terms of medical toxicity, behavioral toxicity, there is no other drug for which the association between crime and violence is so clear cut . . . and tobacco, in the form of cigarettes is THE most addictive of all drugs."
08:47 "What could be a more flagrant example of drug pushing than public support of that industry [tobacco and cigarettes]."
12:38 "I see a great failure in the world in general to distinguish between drug use and drug abuse."
16:25 "Another very common use, in all cultures, of psychoactive substances is to give people transcendent experiences. To allow them to transcend their human and ego boundaries to feel greater contact with the supernatural, or with the spiritual, or with the divine, however they phrase it in their terms."
17:54 "Drugs don’t have spiritual potential, human beings have spiritual potential. And it may be that we need techniques to move us in that direction, and the use of psychoactive drugs clearly is one path that has helped many people."
19:59 "Why is it that the human brain and plants should have the same chemicals in them?"
22:39 "The effects of drugs are as much dependent on expectation and setting, on set and setting, as they are on pharmacology. We shape the effects of drugs. All drugs do is make you feel temporarily different, physically and psychologically."
25:26 "The effects of drugs can be completely shaped by cultural expectations, by individual expectations, by setting as well."
28:22 "The manner of introducing a drug into the body is crucially determinant of the effects the people experience. And especially of its adverse effects, both short term and long term."
31:51 "I think it’s unfortunate that in this culture we have fallen so much into the habit of relying on refined, purified durative of plants, in highly concentrated form, both for recreational drugs and for medicine. And have formed the habit of thinking that this is somehow more scientific and effective, that botanical drugs are old-fashioned, unscientific, messy. In fact, they’re much safer, and sometimes the quality and effects are better."
32:55 "It’s we who determine whether drugs are destructive or whether they’re beneficial. It’s not any inherent property of drugs."
41:36 "The use of yage, or ayahuasca, in Amazonian Indian cultures is often credited with giving people visions that have valid content."
50:25 "But I think healing, like religious experience, is an innate potential of the body. It’s not something that comes in a drug. All a drug can do is give you a push in a certain direction, and I think that even there expectation plays a great role in that."
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Check it out here: http://www.matrixmasters.net/blogs/?p=212
All quotes below are by Dr. Andrew Weil
04:41 "There are no good or bad drugs. Drugs are what we make of them. They have good and bad uses."
05:04 "I know of no culture in the world at present or any time in the past that has not been heavily involved with one or more psychoactive substances."
06:33 "Alcohol, any way you look at it, is the most toxic and most dangerous of all psychoactive drugs. In any sense, in terms of medical toxicity, behavioral toxicity, there is no other drug for which the association between crime and violence is so clear cut . . . and tobacco, in the form of cigarettes is THE most addictive of all drugs."
08:47 "What could be a more flagrant example of drug pushing than public support of that industry [tobacco and cigarettes]."
12:38 "I see a great failure in the world in general to distinguish between drug use and drug abuse."
16:25 "Another very common use, in all cultures, of psychoactive substances is to give people transcendent experiences. To allow them to transcend their human and ego boundaries to feel greater contact with the supernatural, or with the spiritual, or with the divine, however they phrase it in their terms."
17:54 "Drugs don’t have spiritual potential, human beings have spiritual potential. And it may be that we need techniques to move us in that direction, and the use of psychoactive drugs clearly is one path that has helped many people."
19:59 "Why is it that the human brain and plants should have the same chemicals in them?"
22:39 "The effects of drugs are as much dependent on expectation and setting, on set and setting, as they are on pharmacology. We shape the effects of drugs. All drugs do is make you feel temporarily different, physically and psychologically."
25:26 "The effects of drugs can be completely shaped by cultural expectations, by individual expectations, by setting as well."
28:22 "The manner of introducing a drug into the body is crucially determinant of the effects the people experience. And especially of its adverse effects, both short term and long term."
31:51 "I think it’s unfortunate that in this culture we have fallen so much into the habit of relying on refined, purified durative of plants, in highly concentrated form, both for recreational drugs and for medicine. And have formed the habit of thinking that this is somehow more scientific and effective, that botanical drugs are old-fashioned, unscientific, messy. In fact, they’re much safer, and sometimes the quality and effects are better."
32:55 "It’s we who determine whether drugs are destructive or whether they’re beneficial. It’s not any inherent property of drugs."
41:36 "The use of yage, or ayahuasca, in Amazonian Indian cultures is often credited with giving people visions that have valid content."
50:25 "But I think healing, like religious experience, is an innate potential of the body. It’s not something that comes in a drug. All a drug can do is give you a push in a certain direction, and I think that even there expectation plays a great role in that."
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Podcast 103 - “Psychoactive Drugs Through Human History”
I found this great pod cast on Lorenzo's website about the use of drug through history and how we understand them. The guest speaker is Dr. Andrew Weil and is a knowledgeable individual in the understanding of drugs and pharmacology. His lecture really gave me a better understanding on how we judge others who use drugs in different cultures. It’s truly sad how we restrict things based on our perception and misunderstanding through poor education based on religious beliefs and our mentality of what is right or wrong. It’s amazing that in western cultures alcohol and nicotine is considered ok and they are some of the most addictive and toxic drugs known to man, however we ban and label those who use drugs that are non-addictive and not toxic as a horrible use of drugs even in cases where the drugs in question are produced naturally inside our brains.
Check it out here: http://www.matrixmasters.net/blogs/?p=212
All quotes below are by Dr. Andrew Weil
04:41 "There are no good or bad drugs. Drugs are what we make of them. They have good and bad uses."
05:04 "I know of no culture in the world at present or any time in the past that has not been heavily involved with one or more psychoactive substances."
06:33 "Alcohol, any way you look at it, is the most toxic and most dangerous of all psychoactive drugs. In any sense, in terms of medical toxicity, behavioral toxicity, there is no other drug for which the association between crime and violence is so clear cut . . . and tobacco, in the form of cigarettes is THE most addictive of all drugs."
08:47 "What could be a more flagrant example of drug pushing than public support of that industry [tobacco and cigarettes]."
12:38 "I see a great failure in the world in general to distinguish between drug use and drug abuse."
16:25 "Another very common use, in all cultures, of psychoactive substances is to give people transcendent experiences. To allow them to transcend their human and ego boundaries to feel greater contact with the supernatural, or with the spiritual, or with the divine, however they phrase it in their terms."
17:54 "Drugs don’t have spiritual potential, human beings have spiritual potential. And it may be that we need techniques to move us in that direction, and the use of psychoactive drugs clearly is one path that has helped many people."
19:59 "Why is it that the human brain and plants should have the same chemicals in them?"
22:39 "The effects of drugs are as much dependent on expectation and setting, on set and setting, as they are on pharmacology. We shape the effects of drugs. All drugs do is make you feel temporarily different, physically and psychologically."
25:26 "The effects of drugs can be completely shaped by cultural expectations, by individual expectations, by setting as well."
28:22 "The manner of introducing a drug into the body is crucially determinant of the effects the people experience. And especially of its adverse effects, both short term and long term."
31:51 "I think it’s unfortunate that in this culture we have fallen so much into the habit of relying on refined, purified durative of plants, in highly concentrated form, both for recreational drugs and for medicine. And have formed the habit of thinking that this is somehow more scientific and effective, that botanical drugs are old-fashioned, unscientific, messy. In fact, they’re much safer, and sometimes the quality and effects are better."
32:55 "It’s we who determine whether drugs are destructive or whether they’re beneficial. It’s not any inherent property of drugs."
41:36 "The use of yage, or ayahuasca, in Amazonian Indian cultures is often credited with giving people visions that have valid content."
50:25 "But I think healing, like religious experience, is an innate potential of the body. It’s not something that comes in a drug. All a drug can do is give you a push in a certain direction, and I think that even there expectation plays a great role in that."
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Check it out here: http://www.matrixmasters.net/blogs/?p=212
All quotes below are by Dr. Andrew Weil
04:41 "There are no good or bad drugs. Drugs are what we make of them. They have good and bad uses."
05:04 "I know of no culture in the world at present or any time in the past that has not been heavily involved with one or more psychoactive substances."
06:33 "Alcohol, any way you look at it, is the most toxic and most dangerous of all psychoactive drugs. In any sense, in terms of medical toxicity, behavioral toxicity, there is no other drug for which the association between crime and violence is so clear cut . . . and tobacco, in the form of cigarettes is THE most addictive of all drugs."
08:47 "What could be a more flagrant example of drug pushing than public support of that industry [tobacco and cigarettes]."
12:38 "I see a great failure in the world in general to distinguish between drug use and drug abuse."
16:25 "Another very common use, in all cultures, of psychoactive substances is to give people transcendent experiences. To allow them to transcend their human and ego boundaries to feel greater contact with the supernatural, or with the spiritual, or with the divine, however they phrase it in their terms."
17:54 "Drugs don’t have spiritual potential, human beings have spiritual potential. And it may be that we need techniques to move us in that direction, and the use of psychoactive drugs clearly is one path that has helped many people."
19:59 "Why is it that the human brain and plants should have the same chemicals in them?"
22:39 "The effects of drugs are as much dependent on expectation and setting, on set and setting, as they are on pharmacology. We shape the effects of drugs. All drugs do is make you feel temporarily different, physically and psychologically."
25:26 "The effects of drugs can be completely shaped by cultural expectations, by individual expectations, by setting as well."
28:22 "The manner of introducing a drug into the body is crucially determinant of the effects the people experience. And especially of its adverse effects, both short term and long term."
31:51 "I think it’s unfortunate that in this culture we have fallen so much into the habit of relying on refined, purified durative of plants, in highly concentrated form, both for recreational drugs and for medicine. And have formed the habit of thinking that this is somehow more scientific and effective, that botanical drugs are old-fashioned, unscientific, messy. In fact, they’re much safer, and sometimes the quality and effects are better."
32:55 "It’s we who determine whether drugs are destructive or whether they’re beneficial. It’s not any inherent property of drugs."
41:36 "The use of yage, or ayahuasca, in Amazonian Indian cultures is often credited with giving people visions that have valid content."
50:25 "But I think healing, like religious experience, is an innate potential of the body. It’s not something that comes in a drug. All a drug can do is give you a push in a certain direction, and I think that even there expectation plays a great role in that."
Salvia divinorum, Kratom, San Pedro Cactus and more
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Happy 4th
Just wanted to tell everyone to have a happy 4th. I remember last year at this time I was in Rhoad Island dealing with a few experiences of sleep paralysis and really started to research into the reasons why we have these types of issues along with why we dream. It was the fuel to the fire that has been burning to keep this site alive and me reading the endless amount of information out there about the subject. I hope you have fun with you families and engage in some nice stress relieving activates that are well due to everyone and again, happy 4th to those who celebrate.
Happy 4th
Just wanted to tell everyone to have a happy 4th. I remember last year at this time I was in Rhoad Island dealing with a few experiences of sleep paralysis and really started to research into the reasons why we have these types of issues along with why we dream. It was the fuel to the fire that has been burning to keep this site alive and me reading the endless amount of information out there about the subject. I hope you have fun with you families and engage in some nice stress relieving activates that are well due to everyone and again, happy 4th to those who celebrate.
Happy 4th
Just wanted to tell everyone to have a happy 4th. I remember last year at this time I was in Rhoad Island dealing with a few experiences of sleep paralysis and really started to research into the reasons why we have these types of issues along with why we dream. It was the fuel to the fire that has been burning to keep this site alive and me reading the endless amount of information out there about the subject. I hope you have fun with you families and engage in some nice stress relieving activates that are well due to everyone and again, happy 4th to those who celebrate.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Case Study: Night Terrors
I recently found a study on pub med that I thought as informative. The study consisted of taking individuals that have sleep terrors and sleep walking and interview them after a period of time.
The results of the study showed that the individuals with sleep walking had an increased amount of anxiety, depression, and guilt along with other things. The individuals with sleep terrors didn’t really show much of these types of traits at all. It would seem from this information that the long term effect of night terrors doesn’t really have a lasting effect on our moods or any other aspects of our lives. It might scare us when we are getting ready to sleep if we have another episode but the thing is that many people who experience the night terror don’t remember what they were running from. The mind may just not remember it and is incapable of applying that memory to the world. It very well could be that many people that are affected by night terrors are really misdiagnosed with a different disorder such as sleep paralysis and the old hag syndrome which is completely different. Sleep paralysis and the Old hag syndrome are easily remembered events due to the stages of sleep they occur as well as the modulation of the brain at that time.
The last few days I have been reading up on a forum that is a support group for individuals with schizophrenia. Many of the individuals on the site and that are diagnosed with schizophrenia complained of having horrible nightmares as well as sleep walking before they had schizophrenia or even after. It’s very possible that these type of bad dreams are evidence of a psychological problem that is growing in our minds, a possible lack of chemical neurotransmitters that are causing the dreams if not the ability to remember them. In many cases I have seen individuals that have sleep problems ending up with full blown disorders after a while. Maybe if we paid more attention to our sleep and what our dreams are trying to tell us we could have a warning into what is to come if we don’t fix it now.
Case Study: Night Terrors
I recently found a study on pub med that I thought as informative. The study consisted of taking individuals that have sleep terrors and sleep walking and interview them after a period of time.
The results of the study showed that the individuals with sleep walking had an increased amount of anxiety, depression, and guilt along with other things. The individuals with sleep terrors didn’t really show much of these types of traits at all. It would seem from this information that the long term effect of night terrors doesn’t really have a lasting effect on our moods or any other aspects of our lives. It might scare us when we are getting ready to sleep if we have another episode but the thing is that many people who experience the night terror don’t remember what they were running from. The mind may just not remember it and is incapable of applying that memory to the world. It very well could be that many people that are affected by night terrors are really misdiagnosed with a different disorder such as sleep paralysis and the old hag syndrome which is completely different. Sleep paralysis and the Old hag syndrome are easily remembered events due to the stages of sleep they occur as well as the modulation of the brain at that time.
The last few days I have been reading up on a forum that is a support group for individuals with schizophrenia. Many of the individuals on the site and that are diagnosed with schizophrenia complained of having horrible nightmares as well as sleep walking before they had schizophrenia or even after. It’s very possible that these type of bad dreams are evidence of a psychological problem that is growing in our minds, a possible lack of chemical neurotransmitters that are causing the dreams if not the ability to remember them. In many cases I have seen individuals that have sleep problems ending up with full blown disorders after a while. Maybe if we paid more attention to our sleep and what our dreams are trying to tell us we could have a warning into what is to come if we don’t fix it now.
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