Sarah Mennenga's guest appearances

Sarah Mennenga

Entheogen

Rick Doblin

Alex Grey

Mitchell Gomez

David Bronner

Allyson Grey

Neal Goldsmith

William Hyde

ROSALIND WATTS

Julie Holland

Caitlin Thompson

Matteson Perry

Albert Hofmann

sara gael

Stanislav Grof

Dock Ellis

OwlTail

This is Entheogen. Talk about tools for generating the divine within.Today is December 18, 2016, and we are discussing the recent publication of studies from NYU and Johns Hopkins showing that psilocybin can reduce anxiety and depression in cancer patients, and we’re pleased to be joined by Dr. Sarah Mennenga from the NYU Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory.Find the notes and links for this and other episodes at EntheogenShow.com. Sign up to receive an email when we release a new episode. Follow us @EntheogenShow on Twitter and like EntheogenShow on FaceBook. Thanks for listening.Your pledges make the show possible! We're trying to cover expenses by asking our fans to pledge at Patreon.com/Entheogen. We really appreciate your support!Topics:We are grateful to be joined by Dr. Sarah Mennenga, Doctor of Neuroscience, NYU Experimental Therapeutics LaboratoryNYU and Johns Hopkins just released studies showing that psilocybin can reduce anxiety and depression in cancer patients80 percent of participants showed significant reduction of anxiety and depression“One theory is that psilocybin interrupts the circuitry of self-absorbed thinking that is so pronounced in depressed people, making way for a mystical experience of selfless unity” i.e. interrupting or disrupting the Default Mode Network?What is the neurological basis for the geometric shapes and auditory effects that characterize the psilocybin experience. What part does suggestibility play in the experience?The “intensity of the mystical experience described by patients correlated with the degree to which their depression and anxiety decreased” – Why is that? What is it about the nature of the psychedelic or mystical experience that does this?Octavian Mihai “saw black smoke rising from my body”Kevin, a participant in the Johns Hopkins study saw “spirals of iridescent spheres that folded in on themselves”. “But you have to approach the session with the right intentions of why you’re doing it. Because you’re going to meet yourself.”Study protocols, and the unique considerations for psychedelic session“seven-hour music playlists.[...] N.Y.U. leaned toward New Age and world music — Brian Eno; sitars; didgeridoos. Johns Hopkins favored Western classical.”ChaliceBuddha statueCollaboration among the few institutions doing psychedelic researchCriticism from the academic/scientific community?Political concerns; safety concerns around legalizationStigma in the academic community?fMRI scanning during a psychedelic experience?NYU seeking participants in two upcoming studies:Psilocybin for alcoholism and addictionPsilocybin for clergy/mysticism; see also Griffiths’ 2006 study at Johns HopkinsContact NYUCancerAnxiety.org for more informationEnroll in Clinicaltrials.govNYU seeking $10 million funding for center to study psychedelicsHow to Help:Contact NYUCancerAnxiety.org for more informationEmail alcoholdependencestudy@nyumc.org to donateGive to Heffter, helping fund the NYU studiesTim Ferriss raising money for psilocybin researchFurther Reading:NY Times: A Dose of a Hallucinogen From a ‘Magic Mushroom,’ and Then Lasting PeaceBig Think: One Dose of "Psilocybin" from Magic Mushrooms Relieves Depression in 80% of Cancer PatientsAlterNet: 'Magic Mushroom' Drug Eases Cancer Patient Anxiety

This is Entheogen. Talk about tools for generating the divine within.Today is December 18, 2016, and we are discussing the recent publication of studies from <a href="http://jop.sagepub.com/content/30/12/1165.full" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NYU</a> and <a href="http://jop.sagepub.com/content/30/12/1181.full" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Johns Hopkins</a> showing that psilocybin can reduce anxiety and depression in cancer patients, and we’re pleased to be joined by Dr. Sarah Mennenga from the NYU Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory.Find the notes and links for this and other episodes at <a href="http://entheogenshow.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EntheogenShow.com</a>. Sign up to receive an email when we release a new episode. Follow us <a href="https://twitter.com/entheogenshow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@EntheogenShow</a> on Twitter and like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EntheogenShow" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EntheogenShow</a> on FaceBook. Thanks for listening.Your pledges make the show possible! We're trying to cover expenses by asking our fans to pledge at <a href="http://patreon.com/entheogen" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon.com/Entheogen</a>. We really appreciate your support!<h3>Topics:</h3><ul><li>We are grateful to be joined by Dr. Sarah Mennenga, Doctor of Neuroscience, NYU Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory</li><li><a href="http://jop.sagepub.com/content/30/12/1165.full" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NYU</a> and <a href="http://jop.sagepub.com/content/30/12/1181.full" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Johns Hopkins</a> just released studies showing that psilocybin can reduce anxiety and depression in cancer patients</li></ul><ul><li>80 percent of participants showed significant reduction of anxiety and depression</li><li>“One theory is that psilocybin interrupts the circuitry of self-absorbed thinking that is so pronounced in depressed people, making way for a mystical experience of selfless unity” i.e. interrupting or disrupting the Default Mode Network?</li><li>What is the neurological basis for the geometric shapes and auditory effects that characterize the psilocybin experience. What part does suggestibility play in the experience?</li><li>The “intensity of the mystical experience described by patients correlated with the degree to which their depression and anxiety decreased” – Why is that? What is it about the nature of the psychedelic or mystical experience that does this?<ul><li>Octavian Mihai “saw black smoke rising from my body”</li><li>Kevin, a participant in the Johns Hopkins study saw “spirals of iridescent spheres that folded in on themselves”. “But you have to approach the session with the right intentions of why you’re doing it. Because you’re going to meet yourself.”</li></ul></li><li>Study protocols, and the unique considerations for psychedelic session<ul><li>“seven-hour music playlists.[...] N.Y.U. leaned toward New Age and world music — Brian Eno; sitars; didgeridoos. Johns Hopkins favored Western classical.”</li><li>Chalice</li><li>Buddha statue</li></ul></li><li>Collaboration among the few institutions doing psychedelic research</li><li>Criticism from the academic/scientific community?</li><li>Political concerns; safety concerns around legalization</li><li>Stigma in the academic community?</li><li>fMRI scanning during a psychedelic experience?</li><li>NYU seeking participants in two upcoming studies:</li></ul><ul><li>Psilocybin for alcoholism and addiction</li><li>Psilocybin for clergy/mysticism; see also <a href="http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2006/07_11_06.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Griffiths’ 2006 study at Johns Hopkins</a></li><li>Contact <a href="http://www.nyucanceranxiety.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NYUCancerAnxiety.org</a> for more information</li><li>Enroll in <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=nyu+psilocybin&amp;Search=Search" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Clinicaltrials.gov</a></li></ul><ul><li>NYU seeking $10 million funding for center to study psychedelics</li></ul><h3>How to Help:</h3><ul><li>Contact <a href="http://www.nyucanceranxiety.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NYUCancerAnxiety.org</a> for more information</li><li>Email <a href="mailto:alcoholdependencestudy@nyumc.org">alcoholdependencestudy@nyumc.org</a> to donate</li><li>Give to <a href="http://heffter.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Heffter</a>, helping fund the NYU studies</li><li><a href="http://crowdrise.com/timferriss" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tim Ferriss raising money for psilocybin research</a></li></ul><h3>Further Reading:</h3><ul><li>NY Times: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/01/health/hallucinogenic-mushrooms-psilocybin-cancer-anxiety-depression.html?_r=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Dose of a Hallucinogen From a ‘Magic Mushroom,’ and Then Lasting Peace</a></li><li>Big Think: <a href="http://bigthink.com/paul-ratner/one-dose-of-hallucinogenic-psilocybin-relieves-depression-in-80-of-patients-say-two-new-studies" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">One Dose of "Psilocybin" from Magic Mushrooms Relieves Depression in 80% of Cancer Patients</a></li><li>AlterNet: <a href="http://www.alternet.org/drugs/magic-mushroom-drug-eases-cancer-patient-anxiety" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">'Magic Mushroom' Drug Eases Cancer Patient Anxiety</a></li></ul>

037: Dr. Sarah Mennenga from NYU Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory on Using Psilocybin to Treat Anxiety and Depression in Cancer Patients