Category Archives: Psychedelics

Psychedelic therapy (sometimes referred to as psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, or PAP) is a type of psychiatric practice that involves ingesting a psychedelic substance as part of a psychotherapeutic process.

In psychedelic therapy, the use of psychedelics is typically combined with talk therapy.

A range of consciousness-altering psychedelic drugs are currently being used or researched for therapeutic purposes in both clinical and nonclinical settings.

Some are derived from plants, like psilocybin (magic mushrooms), DMT, peyote, ayahuasca, and ibogaine. Others including ketamine, MDMA, and LSD are chemical compounds.

While Indigenous communities have used psychedelics in therapeutic and religious settings for centuries, psychedelic therapy is relatively new in Western clinical settings.

Its becoming more popular with increased legalization of certain psychedelic substances, a rise in mental health conditions, and a lull in psychopharmacological research.

Between the 1950s and 1970s before former President Richard Nixon outlawed them with the Controlled Substances Act scientists produced a breadth of evidence both verifying and pointing toward the therapeutic potential of psychedelic therapy to treat:

In recent years, renewed interest and investment have fueled additional research, much of which is ongoing.

Heres a look at the potential uses of various psychedelics.

Ketamine is the most-studied psychedelic drug for mental health therapy.

In low doses, it has shown to be beneficial in numerous trials exploring its potential to treat depression, but its effects are short-lived.

For people with severe depression, for example, research shows significant improvement after treatment, and results last about 6 to 8 weeks, on average.

These findings have led to the development of a drug called Spravato. Its a nasal spray that delivers the active ketamine ingredient. However, intravenous ketamine administration is considered to be more effective and less expensive.

Multiple phase 2 clinical trials which are done to discern whether a treatment works suggest that MDMA can treat PTSD symptoms for up to 4 years.

Researchers have also completed a phase 3 trial, which determines whether a treatment works better than whats currently available, involving MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. This was the first phase 3 trial of any psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Among 90 participants with severe PTSD, 67 percent no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis after three treatments, and 88 percent had reduced symptoms of PTSD.

The trial sponsor, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, says the results could make way for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval by 2023.

Psilocybin, the main compound in magic mushrooms, has shown positive results in treating depression and anxiety in people living with terminal illnesses.

Experts believe it could also help with obsessive-compulsive disorder, addiction, and treatment-resistant depression, but more research is needed.

LSD, a long lasting, potent psychedelic thats considered to be the prototype for therapeutic psychedelics, has been shown to help with both alcohol use disorder and anxiety in people living with terminal illnesses.

At this stage, clinicians are still evaluating the effectiveness of their treatments, so exact dosing, number of treatments needed, and the approach to psychedelic therapy will vary depending on who is guiding you.

That said, most psychedelic therapy in clinical settings is conducted via three stages:

The first step is usually a preparatory consultation to ensure that you dont have any contraindications to the treatment. This is also a good opportunity to discuss your personal background and any goals or concerns you have around psychedelic therapy.

The second phase involves ingesting, either orally or via injection, the psychedelic substance under the supervision of a trained therapist.

There are usually multiple sessions, depending on the type of psychedelic and the treatment plan. For example:

The final phase is the integration process, when the therapist and client work together to integrate meaning from the psychedelic experiences.

Some experts have expressed concerns at the rise of self-medicating, particularly after the 2020 Global Drug Survey showed an increase in the number of people who say they are self-treating various mental health concerns with psychedelics.

Many of these concerns stem from the potential contamination of substances that dont come for a lab-tested source, along with the lack of medical supervision.

Otherwise, psychedelic substances are generally considered low risk, especially when used in a clinical setting.

MDMA can sometimes cause short-term high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and elevated body temperature, but these effects typically go away after use.

Psilocybin may similarly elevate blood pressure temporarily or cause light headaches.

That said, psychedelics have been linked to an increased risk of psychosis in people with psychotic disorders or a predisposition to them.

Theres also the risk, particularly with LSD use, of hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD). This is a rare condition involving intense flashbacks and hallucinations. However, experts note that this appears to be more common when using substances without medical supervision.

There are a few concerns about ibogaine, including a possible link to potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias. As a result, its been limited to observational trials so far with a focus on treating opioid addiction.

Theres a lot of excitement around the potential of psychedelic therapies. As a result, a lot of new therapists, gurus, international retreats, and clinics are opening up.

If youre interested in participating in a psychedelic-assisted treatment in a clinical setting supported by an expert, a good place to start is the database of accredited therapists maintained by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.

The association also welcomes questions or concerns about psychedelic-assisted therapy, and can make recommendations to help guide you.

Whether its a clinical setting or a retreat, its important to understand that ingesting psychedelic substances alters consciousness and can make you vulnerable to suggestion.

As a result, some participants in studies or treatments have alleged unethical and sometimes even criminal behavior. Read reviews, evaluate accreditation, and consider how you might ensure accountability should anything go awry during or after treatment.

Theres still a lot to learn about the potential of psychedelic therapy, but the existing research is promising, particularly for those with severe PTSD.

Because of this, advocates and lobbyists are working to decriminalize some psychedelic substances to improve access and research opportunities. Stay tuned, because these treatment options are evolving each week.

Kate Robertson is a Toronto-based editor and writer who has focused on drugs, primarily cannabis, since 2017. She has been published in The Guardian, Macleans magazine, the Globe and Mail, Leafly, and more. Find her at @katierowboat.

See the rest here:

Psychedelic Therapy: Uses, How It's Done, Risks, and More - Healthline

Perry Chua, chief creative officer for NeonMind Biosciences Inc., a company pursuing research into the medical benefits of psychedelic drugs|Chung Chow

Psychedelics arent just for Woodstock anymore.

In a quest to fill a seemingly insatiable appetite for new markets and after witnessing the success of the cannabis industry, many venture capitalists are looking for investment opportunities on the frontiers of research into psychedelic drugs.

Right now there seems to be a tremendous amount of interest in getting these ideas up, running and funded, said Robert Tessarolo, president and CEO of NeonMind BioSciences Inc. (CSE:NEON). Theres a lot of wind in the sales of this industry, money flowing in, capital flowing in.

Psychedelics are being used to treat health issues ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder to obesity. Proponents claim that the way psychedelics affects users thinking can allow patients to confront deep subconscious issues and address the root of the problem.

Pharmaceutical discovery and development are global industries, so the potential business case is very attractive to junior, boutique-based pharma development companies and big pharma, too, said Calum Hughes, CEO of Kelowna-based Allied Corp.

The industry is forecast to grow to US$6.8 billion in North America by 2027 according to Data Bridge Market Research.

Tessarolo is the former CEO of Vancouver-based Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. (Nasdaq:MNMD). In early 2020, MindMed became the first psychedelics company to go public, and in a little over a year, more than a dozen others have followed suit. From September 2020 to January 2021, psychedelic stocks raised more than US$500 million.

Payton Nyquvest, president and CEO of Vancouver-based Numinous Wellness Inc., said the rising entrepreneurial interest stems from increasing concern over mental health paired with doubts about the effectiveness of many current medicines and treatments. At the same time, more relaxed legislation surrounding controlled substances is allowing for more research into beneficial uses of illegal drugs. The company is expanding its Nanaimo facility, which is licensed under Canadas Controlled Drug and Substances Act, to produce a variety of psychedelics, including LSD, MDMA, DMT, ketamine and psilocybin, the hallucinogenic substance found in psychedelic mushrooms. Hughes said that while cannabis legalization enabled physicians and scientists to research the benefits of cannabinoids, it also more recently allowed them to look at psilocybins medical benefits.

Tessarolo said the resurgence of research sparked entrepreneurial interest in psychedelics as a legitimate life sciences enterprise, under a more receptive regulatory regime willing to provide special status for psychedelics and, in one case, even approval for use.

While relaxed regulations for cannabis helped open the door for psychedelic testing and acceptance, Tessarolo insists this isnt Cannabis 2.0. For decades, there was a large, grassroots cultural movement around cannabis that touted the benefits of medical marijuana as well as the negative consequences of criminalization. Medical marijuana was largely seen as a step towards broader legalization. The same cant be said for psychedelics. Even though psychedelics have permeated popular culture, there arent annual demonstrations for mushroom legalization. Instead, companies are leading the decriminalization effort by seeking Health Canada and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in a way more akin to the process for traditional pharmaceuticals.

Tessarolo said his company and others like the pharmaceutical paradigm, and he doesnt think broader legalization is needed.

Ultimately, we believe at NeonMind that the greatest chance that psychedelics have to affect the largest number of patients is with strict regulation through the FDA or Health Canada, said Tessarolo. We dont see this as being a legalization effort.

But not everyone agrees.

Nyquvest said that a patients access to new treatments should be prioritized. And while the pharmaceutical model may work for synthetic drugs like MDMA, Nyquvest said he is concerned that applying the model to naturally occurring substances could raise corporate intellectual property concerns above patients interests.

These are molecules that have occurred in nature for tens of thousands of years, and we need to really look at what accessibility looks like. You look at the amount of people suffering, theres no shortage of market that is desperately needing new treatment, so I think that needs to be the focus of all companies in this space.

Originally posted here:

Interest in the medical use of psychedelics increasing - Business in Vancouver

Medical research is proving the potential psychedelic mushrooms hold when it comes to healing mental health. Now, investors are looking to cash in.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. Inside of an unassuming building in Virginia Beach, something is growing.

Its where Ryan Staabs fascination for shrooms blossomed.

After learning about the benefits of different mushroom varieties, he turned it into a business: Capstone Mushrooms. Its an indoor farm of sorts, where he grows and sells hard-to-find gourmet mushrooms.

There are mushrooms that can help heal your brain, help you think better, mushrooms that can inspire you, build your immune system, said Staab. When I thought about that, I thought I have to make this available to more than just myself, so I became diligent, on a mission.

Staab says theyre herbal and medicinal, and they deliver benefits without getting you intoxicated. In other words, theyre not "magic" mushrooms.

But across the world, scientists are giving magic mushrooms the serious treatment. New studies are finding magic mushrooms, also known as psychedelics, can heal us and could potentially be used as therapeutics for mental illness.

I think its gonna blow up, said Dr. Matthew Johnson, a Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University.

During a recent study, his team discovered that just two doses of the psychedelic substance Psilobin sharply reduced depression and curbed smoking addiction. Already, several states have moved to decriminalize psychedelics, including Oregon and Washington D.C.

I think theres incredible potential here. I really do think it's gonna be a new paradigm within psychiatric treatment, said Johnson. Its a new treatment model, and theres a lot of opportunities. Thats gonna come with both the positive and challenges. This stuff has to be done safely.

This is just the start of an even bigger story. Experts believe the psychedelic research happening worldwide will lead to a major shroom boom when it comes to investing.

Gabe Rodriguez, the head of investor relations at psychedelics company E-Have said its just the beginning.

This is the time, said Rodriguez. If you missed the run on cannabis, youve got psychedelics.

Rodriguez added, "We think psychedelics is gonna make the cannabis sector look like childs play. If you got burned on the cannabis side, that means you came in toward the end of the sector when it was hot. So, how about you turn it around and come into the psychedelics sector when its hot instead of when its already running on top?

For now, Staab is soaking up all the benefits non-magic mushrooms have to offer. He packs them up into small boxes and sends them off to various farmers' markets and grocery stores throughout Hampton Roads.

Staab hopes to make an impact one shroom at a time.

Read the rest here:

Shroom boom? Here's why investors say psychedelics are the next stock to watch. - 13newsnow.com WVEC

Is there about to be a psychedelic drug boom in mental health treatment? In May researchers released data from a phase 3 trial that used MDMA (street name: ecstasy) along with talk therapy to treat people who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And COMPASS Pathways (NASDAQ:CMPS) is exploring the use of psilocybin (the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms") in combination with talk therapy, to treat people who have severe depression.

How big is this possible new market going to be? Corinne Cardina, bureau chief of healthcare and cannabis at Fool.com, and Motley Fool writer Taylor Carmichael discuss this emerging new treatment paradigm in a clip from Motley Fool Live,recorded on May 14.

Corinne Cardina: Do you want to go ahead and jump into psychedelics?

Taylor Carmichael: Sure.

Cardina: All right. Speaking of risky, and biotech, and cutting-edge technology in the healthcare space, there has been some exciting developments in psychedelic drugs. Last week results from a phase 3 trial of MDMA, which is actually combined with talk therapy in this trial, targeting post-traumatic stress disorder, really blew everybody away. The remission rates in this trial were double that of a placebo. The results are going to be published in the Nature Medicine journal and according to The New York Times, FDA approval could come by 2023. What is the potential market for PTSD that could be treated with MDMA? What do we know about this market?

Carmichael: Well, there are a lot of people that have post-traumatic stress disorder. A lot of it's soldiers, but there are also civilians, ordinary people who have traumatic events in their lives and it affects them. I think the market opportunity that I saw was anywhere up to, I want to say $80 billion. Let me check my notes real quick. $20 billion to $80 billion was the market opportunity. One, for people who don't know, MDMA is ecstasy. This is a drug that's been illegal for a long time. What they're doing, they're giving ecstasy to people with PTSD, and they're combining that with talk therapy. It's highly regulated, it's not just people going off on their own and using drugs. They take ecstasy and then the therapist talks to them through the experience and chats with them through the experience. We're going to talk about ecstasy and magic mushrooms, just to use the street terms. Those are two things, they both require talk therapy. That's an interesting aspect. I think in healthcare, what we've seen over the last several decades is talk therapy has declined, and has been replaced with people on depression using drugs. The pharmaceuticals, Prozac and Zoloft and all these drugs that are to help with depression. Talk therapy, which has always been expensive has declined and people taking drugs instead. Well, this kind of flips it on its head and we're back to the importance of talk therapy. In this trial, they gave the people ecstasy and then they had counselors talk them through it. Obviously, you know if you had ecstasy or have not had ecstasy, so I don't know how good they were at masking the (placebo) versus the real thing. But they also did talk therapy with people who do not have ecstasy. But they saw dramatic improvements in the people that had ecstasy and were able to talk to their therapist about their issues and they're not exactly sure how the science works. Part of it is, the experience decreases your fear, and it makes you feel, I guess safe, but decreases your fear. As such, you're able to talk about traumatic events without getting upset by them. Just that talking of it takes away a lot of the stress and a lot of anxiety. Apparently, it has been very successful.

Cardina: It's for severe PTSD. It's called MDMA assisted therapy. Like you said, it's not people getting street drugs and going to their house and trying to work through things, it's very controlled. But like you said, I think what's interesting about this is a double-blind study, it's already been published in Nature Medicine. It's a really interesting read if you're interested in this. But it is hard to mimic MDMA if you're in the placebo. Definitely, I'm curious about that. I haven't read through the whole thing. But it's really interesting because it's a cutting-edge field in healthcare. Harkens back to the early days of medical marijuana. There may be some parallels in terms of the market as we overcome stigmatization and try to find medical applications.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the official recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. Were motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

Continue reading here:

Can Psychedelics Actually Cure Depression and PTSD? - The Motley Fool

Theres a strength and a maturity in seeing things the way they are and not how you want them to be. MDMA and psychedelic therapy have been used as tools for tackling trauma. It may not fit in with everyones narrative, but its about time we integrated psychedelics into mental health.

There has never been a better time to talk about the mental health benefits of psychedelics than in the midst of a global pandemic. In England, the Centre for Mental Health has predicted that up to 10 million people close to a fifth of the population will need mental health support as a direct consequence of Covid-19.

This week, BBC Two aired The Psychedelic Drug Trial, which follows research on the effects of psychedelic drugs on mental health, and in March the worlds first psychedelic-assisted therapy clinic of its kind opened in Bristol. Behind this revolution in mental healthcare is UK-based scientific group, Awakn Life Sciences. The biotechnology companyis pioneering psychedelics with psychotherapy as the next evolution in psychiatry. The scientific team is being led by Professor David Nutt and Dr Ben Sessa, author of The Psychedelic Renaissance.

Ive used psychedelics and anti-depressant drugs to help me with my mental health. The prescription drugs dont work. Ive been prescribed antidepressants a few times, during the darkest periods of my life. With antidepressants, my personality changed from being expressive to distant and vague.

I felt other to myself, so I self-medicated with psychedelics. I already knew about their unique properties as I had experimented with them when I was studying philosophy; they helped me grapple with concepts beyond my comprehension. Taking psychedelics allowed me to navigate my way through my emotions in a way that I had never been able to do with antidepressants. Instead of feeling detached from myself, as I had with the prescribed drugs, I felt engaged. Antidepressants take you away from yourself psychedelics introduce you to yourself.

Its important to state that drugs are not all the same. MDMA and psychedelics dont belong in the same category as drugs like heroin and crack. The former dont make you go against society they do the opposite they make you empathetic towards others. I take umbrage at being thought of as a waster because of my knowledge of MDMA and psychedelics. People shouldnt be crucified in their quest for truth.

Our preconceived notions of these drugs need to be challenged. A great many people like me, deemed normal, are curious and experimental. Were university lecturers, scientists, writers, office workers and every other profession you can think of. Its abominable that people who suffer from treatment-resistant depression have not been getting the help they need because of archaic and inaccurate views on psychedelics.

Im not naive about these drugs you need to be sensible when taking psychedelics. They are mind-altering they cut through the mesh of your existence. Some people are fearful of this because they think psychedelics offer a false reality, but all our realities are already skewed.

There are so many things that we are blind to; were unable to hear certain frequencies or see certain colours, there are whole worlds that exist outside our perceived perception. Even the language we speak affects our perception of reality, and only allows us to see a fraction of life.

In these unprecedented times, weve had to adapt to a new normal. There has never been a better time to open our minds and embrace the science of psychedelics. Its time we reconsidered our views on psychedelics, and properly appreciate the evidence-based psychedelic research. As my own experience has confirmed, they have great value when it comes to mental health.

Read more:

Ive experimented with psychedelic drugs to improve my mental health dont call me a waster - The Independent

With psychedelics, mental health care may never be the same. All as some of the nations top universities are racing to set up psychedelic research centers, and investors are pouring millions of dollars into a pack of start-ups. States and cities across the country are beginning to loosen restrictions on the drugs, the first steps in what some hope will lead to the federal decriminalization of psychedelics for therapeutic and even recreational use, as reported by The New York Times. Thats been substantial news for NeonMind Biosciences (CSE:NEON) (OTC:NMDBF), Cybin Inc. (NEO:CYBN)(OTC:CLXPF), Tryp Therapeutics Inc. (CSE:TRYP), Mind Medicine Inc. (NEO:MMED)(OTC:MMEDF), and Compass Pathways (NASDAQ:CMPS).

Not only has the US FDA been supportive of psychedelics, Johns Hopkins, Yale, Berkeley, and Mount Sinai Hospital are establishing psychedelic divisions, as well. Plus, theres been a substantial proof psychedelics can help with issues such as depression, anxiety, addiction, obsessive compulsive disorder, and obesity.

In fact, NeonMind Biosciences is exploring psilocybin as a potential treatment for obesity and to support weight loss. In fact, NeonMinds first drug candidate employs psilocybin as an agonist to the serotonin receptor 5-HT2A, which is involved in the hallucinogenic effect of psychedelics. The second drug candidate employs psilocybin as an agonist to the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor, which controls appetite.

NeonMind Biosciences (CSE:NEON)(OTC:NMDBF) Creating a Medical Advisory Board

NeonMind Biosciences an integrated drug development and wellness company focused on the potential therapeutic uses of psilocybin for treating obesity and weight management conditions, is pleased to announce the formation of a Medical Clinic Advisory Board to guide the planning and operation of NeonMind branded clinics across Canada. Members of the advisory board will be comprised of experts on provincial and local health care access and advocacy, ketamine treatment and psychotherapy protocols, and clinical operations, strategy, and growth.

The formation of our Medical Clinic Advisory Board is a critical next step in the creation of our clinics and treatment models. By incorporating a team of experts specializing in mental healthcare, interventional psychiatric treatment, psychedelics, and clinical deployment, operations, and advocacy, we are achieving the next step in our strategic plan to increase treatment access in local markets across Canada, said Robert Tessarolo, President & CEO of NeonMind.

Currently, ketamine and esketamine may legally be prescribed and administered in Canadian medical clinics, however there is a need for these clinics and treatments to be tailored to community and local health needs. As psychedelic drug development and treatment programs evolve to include additional psychedelic-enhanced therapies with substances like psilocybin, NeonMind will be positioned to have the infrastructure in place to safely and effectively administer these treatments.

Our Medical Clinic Advisory Board will ensure that NeonMind is able to develop protocols and treatment programs at the cutting edge of mental health research and ensure that we are prioritizing value, access and advocacy for those who need them, added Rob Tessarolo.

Other related developments from around the markets include:

Cybin Inc., a biotechnology company focused on progressing psychedelic therapeutics, announced that it has filed a new provisional patent application in support of its ongoing drug candidate programs. The application discloses novel compositions which are expected to have improved pharmacokinetic profiles while retaining key efficacy measures of the original molecules and discloses innovative methods of deploying the novel compositions with faster therapeutic onset of Cybins psychedelic tryptamine, while reducing psychedelic side effects and decreasing duration of the therapeutic effect thereof.

Tryp Therapeutics Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on developing clinical-stage compounds for diseases with unmet medical needs, announced a master service agreement with Clinlogix, a Contract Research Organization (CRO), to support Tryps clinical development of its Psilocybin-for-Neuropsychiatric Disorders (PFNTM) program. Clinlogix has global experience with providing CRO services for the development of novel pharmaceutical products. The company will collaborate with Tryp and its clinical partners in a number of areas including medical writing, biostatistical analysis, data management, and trial monitoring.

Mind Medicine Inc., a leading clinical stage psychedelic medicine company, and Nextage Therapeutics, an Israeli innovative drug development company, announce the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the launch of an exclusive collaborative development program to optimize the delivery of certain psychedelic drug candidates, leveraging Nextages proprietary Brain Targeting Liposome System (BTLS) delivery technology, for which it has an exclusive license. MindMed and Nextage will initially collaborate to optimize the delivery of drug products based on noribogaine, and ultimately other ibogaine derivatives, and will share development costs and intellectual property arising from the collaboration.

Compass Pathways, a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health, reported its financial results for the first quarter 2021 and gave an update on recent progress across its business. George Goldsmith, Chairman, CEO and Co-founder, COMPASS Pathways, said, Our recent financing gives us additional resources to work even faster and to expand our efforts, grow our team, and focus on developing new indications, new compounds and new technologies, building on our leadership position in psilocybin therapy and mental health care. Far too many people are suffering with mental health challenges today. We are focused on developing evidence-based therapies that can make a difference and be accessible to as many patients as possible who might benefit. The COMP360 data published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed promising signals in a small investigator-initiated study. We are approaching the completion of our phase IIb trial of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression, and on track to report data by the end of the year.

Legal Disclaimer / Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Winning Media is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. NeonMind Biosciences Inc. has paid three thousand five hundred dollars for advertising and marketing services to be distributed by Winning Media. Winning Media is only compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation. Winning Media owns ZERO shares of NeonMind Biosciences Inc. Please click here for full disclaimer.

Contact Information: 2818047972[emailprotected]

The rest is here:

With Psychedelics, Mental Health Care May Never be the Same - Baystreet.ca

A novel compound similar in structure to the psychedelic drug ibogaine, but lacking its toxic and hallucinogenic effects, has been found to rapidly reverse the effects of stress in mice.

Researchers found that a single dose of tabernanthalog (TBG) can correct stress-induced behavioral deficits, including anxiety and cognitive inflexibility, and also promotes the regrowth of neuronal connections and restores neural circuits in the brain that are disrupted by stress. The study waspublished May 25 inMolecular Psychiatry.

It was very surprising that a single treatment with a low dose had such dramatic effects within a day, said corresponding author Yi Zuo, professor of molecular, cell, and developmental biology at UC Santa Cruz. I had a hard time believing it even when I saw the initial data.

TBG was developed in the lab of coauthor David Olson at UC Davis. Zuos lab worked with Olson on the initial studies of TBG,reported inNaturein 2020. The new study focused on the deleterious effects of stress using a protocol in which mice are subjected to mild, unpredictable stressors over a period of several days.

On the behavioral level, stress causes increased anxiety, deficits in sensory processing, and reduced flexibility in decision-making. In the brain, stress disrupts the connections between neurons and alters the neuronal circuitry, resulting in an imbalance between excitation and inhibition.

Amazingly, TBG reversed all of the effects of stress, Zuo said.

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the use of psychedelic substances for treating illnesses such as addiction, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The hallucinogenic effects of these drugs remain a concern, however, and scientists have been unsure whether the hallucinations are therapeutically important or just a side effect.

Ibogaine has shown promise for treating addiction, but it causes dangerous heart arrhythmias in addition to being a powerful hallucinogen. TBG has not yet been tested in humans, but it lacks ibogaines toxicity in animal tests, and it doesnt induce the head-twitch behavior in mice caused by known hallucinogens.

Initial studies of TBG found that it had antidepressant effects and reduced addictive behaviors in rodents. The new study was initiated by co-first author Michelle Tjia, then a graduate student in Zuos lab studying the effects of stress. After Tjia left for a postdoctoral position, co-first author Ju Lu, a project scientist in the lab, led additional studies. The researchers conducted a range of tests to evaluate behavioral responses to stress and the effects of treatment with TBG. They also performed imaging studies to assess changes in the brains of the mice at the neuronal level.

This study provides significant insights into neural mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of psychedelic analogs on mental illnesses and paves the way for future investigations to understand their cellular and circuit mechanisms, Zuo said.

Studies using animal modelsconducted in accordance with NIH regulations and reviewed and approved by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committeesremain vital to investigating complex psychiatric disorders.

In addition to Lu, Tjia, Olson, and Zuo, the coauthors include Brian Mullen, Kacper Lukasiewicz, Sajita Shah-Morales, and Sydney Weiser at UC Santa Cruz, Bing Cao and Lu Chen at Stanford University, and Lindsay Cameron at UC Davis. This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Max Planck Society.

Reference: Lu J, Tjia M, Mullen B, et al. An analog of psychedelics restores functional neural circuits disrupted by unpredictable stress. Molecular Psychiatry. 2021:1-16. doi:10.1038/s41380-021-01159-1

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

Read this article:

Non-Hallucinogenic Psychedelic Analog Reverses Effects of Stress in Mice - Technology Networks

A psychedelics-related bill and acannabis-focused measure were both given thegreen light by the Texas Senate this Saturday and Friday, respectivelyreported Marijuana Moment.

House bill 1802 to research the therapeutic effects of psilocybin and MDMA was first presented in February by Texas state Rep. Alex Dominguez (D). The initiative requires the Department of State Health Services and Texas Medical Board to study psilocybin, MDMAand ketamine for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other health conditions.

Research would be conducted at the Baylor College of Medicine and a military veterans hospital or a medical center that provides medical care to veterans, as the bill was amended by a House committee to place a special focus on veterans with PTSD.

The bill wasapprovedin the House earlier this month and last Wednesday it also passed Senate Veteran Affairs and Border Security Committee in a 5-0 vote.

Instead of hitting Gov. Greg Abbotts desk, both bills must goback to their initial chamber because they were amended by senators, noted the outlet.

A balanced budget amendment to the bill, which the Senate approved, states that psychedelic research cannotbe conducted if there is no funding to support it.

The cannabis-related measure that was approved by the Texas Senate would make possession of up to two ounces of concentrates a class B misdemeanor. As a class B misdemeanor, the offense is still subject to the threat of jail time but is much less serious than the felony classification, which such an offense normally warranted.

An amendment to this bill added by senators asksthat when calculating THC potency in legal hemp products all forms of tetrahydrocannabinol must be included.

Photo by Janet Reddick at Pixaby

For the latest in financial news, exclusive stories, memes follow Benzinga on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram. For the best interviews, stock market talk & videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

2021 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Visit link:

Texas Psychedelics Research Bill Continues To Advance, Passes Senate Together With Cannabis Concentrates Measure - Benzinga

Get inside Wall Street with StreetInsider Premium. Claim your 1-week free trial here.

Daniel Carcillo retired from the National Hockey League in 2015, after nine seasons in the game. He had been diagnosed with several concussions and had struggled with insomnia, depression, anxiety, headaches and even slurred speech in his professional seasons as a hockey player.

Determined to get better, Carcillo implemented lifestyle changes that included the use of psilocybin, an active ingredient found in magic mushrooms, as well as eating healthier and getting more sleep. This, he said, helped improve his overall heath tremendously&

Read more >>

NOTE TO INVESTORS:The latest news and updates relating to Pure Extracts Technologies Corp. (CSE: PULL) (OTC: PRXTF) are available in the companys newsroom athttps://ibn.fm/PULL

About PsychedelicNewsWire

PsychedelicNewsWire (PNW) is a specialized content distribution company that (1) aggregates and distributes news and information on the latest developments in all aspects and advances of psychedelics and their use, (2) createsPsychedelicNewsBreaksdesigned to quickly update investors on important industry news, (3) leverages a team of expert editors to enhance press releases for maximum impact, (4) assists companies with the management and optimization of social media across a range of platforms, and (5) delivers unparalleled corporate communication solutions. PNW stays abreast of the latest information and has established a reputation as the go to source for coverage of psychedelics, therapeutics and emerging market opportunities. Our team of seasoned journalists has a proven track record of helping both public and private companies gain traction with a wide audience of investors, consumers, media outlets and the general public by leveraging our expansive dissemination network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets. PNW is committed to delivering improved visibility and brand recognition to companies operating in the emerging markets of psychedelics.

To receive instant SMS alerts, text Groovy to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

For more information please visithttps://www.PsychedelicNewsWire.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the PsychedelicNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by PNW, wherever published or re-published:https://www.PsychedelicNewsWire.com/Disclaimer

Do you have questions or are you interested in working with PNW?Ask our Editor

PsychedelicNewsWire (PNW)San Francisco, Californiawww.PsychedelicNewsWire.com415.949.5050 OfficeEditor@PsychedelicWire.com

PsychedelicNewsWire is part of theInvestorBrandNetwork.

See original here:

Wesana Health, WBC Partner to Study Psychedelics as Treatment for TBIs - StreetInsider.com

Feeling stressed? New research might help, as weve identified a substance that can revert stress-induced behavioral deficits and restore neural circuits affected by stress in the brain in mice, so far.

The compound tabernanthalog (TBG) is similar in structure to ibogaine, a psychedelic drug. However, it lacks its toxic and hallucinogenic effects and has been found to quickly reverse stress-related issues in mice. A single dose of TBG is enough for the job, the authors add, to address issues such as anxiety and cognitive inflexibility, regrow neuronal connections, and restore neural circuits all possible effects of stress.

It was very surprising that a single treatment with a low dose had such dramatic effects within a day, said corresponding author Yi Zuo, professor of molecular, cell, and developmental biology at UC Santa Cruz.

I had a hard time believing it even when I saw the initial data.

TBG was developed in the lab of David Olson at UC Davis, a co-author on the current paper, and was first reported on in 2020. The study focused on its activity against the effects of stress, using a protocol in which lab mice were subjected to mild but unpredictable sources of stress over a period of a few days.

Stress, the team explains, especially sustained over longer periods of time, can lead to increased levels of anxiety, difficulty in processing sensory input, and reduced flexibility in decision-making. In the brain, it can lead to disruptions between neurons and changes in the structure of our neuronal circuitry which, overall, impacts how well our brain can function on a day-to-day basis.

One dose of TBG, however, had reversed all of these effects in the mice used in this study. The team also performed imaging studies to assess changes in the brains of the mice at the neuronal level.

This study provides significant insights into neural mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of psychedelic analogs on mental illnesses and paves the way for future investigations to understand their cellular and circuit mechanisms, adds Zuo.

Psychedelic drugs have been receiving a lot of attention lately as they might be useful in treating addiction, depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder. However, their hallucinogenic effects can be quite impairing for some patients and remain a point of concern.

Ibogaine is one such compound that showed promise in the treatment of addiction. It does, however, also cause heart arrhythmia and is a very strong hallucinogenic substance. TBG is chemically and biochemically similar to Ibogaine, but seems to lack its toxic and hallucinogenic effects in mice. The compound has not yet been tested on humans, so we cant be sure, but it doesnt induce head-twitching behaviors in mice after administration, as known hallucinogens do.

Previous research on mice has shown that TBG can act as an antidepressant and can reduce addictive behavior. The current study was meant to expand on these initial findings by evaluating its potential in the treatment of stress and its symptoms.

Initial studies of TBG found that it had antidepressant effects and reduced addictive behaviors in rodents. The new study was initiated by co-first author Michelle Tjia, then a graduate student in Zuos lab studying the effects of stress. After Tjia left for a postdoctoral position, co-first author Ju Lu, a project scientist in the lab, led additional studies. The researchers conducted a range of tests to evaluate behavioral responses to stress and the effects of treatment with TBG.

The paper An analog of psychedelics restores functional neural circuits disrupted by unpredictable stress has been published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

Read more:

Psychedelic-like drug could fix the symptoms of stress without giving you hallucinations - ZME Science