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How MDMA therapy might change psychiatry, with Dan Engle MD

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Paul Saladino1h 35m · 2021-11-23

Support Rate

76%

113 of 149 claims supported

Support rate

113 of 149 claims supported

113 supported36 partial / not

Claims from this content

98

Well SupportedCold showers or ice baths can release norepinephrine and epinephrine, potentially relieving aspects of depression related to low levels of these neurotransmitters.Well SupportedMDMA therapy for PTSD has shown approximately 67% remission rates in Phase III clinical trials.Well SupportedChronic inflammatory activation can induce brain and body changes that predispose individuals to depression.Well SupportedMDMA enhances the potency of therapy within a limited number of sessions.Well SupportedMDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine are expected to significantly transform psychiatry, with psilocybin and MDMA likely to be legalized.

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A. Volkovreader

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Bookmarking — the dossier-vs-overview split is the right call. Most of the time I want overview; sometimes I want receipts.

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N. Park

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Would love a "what would change this verdict" RSS feed. Sign me up if it exists.

Well Supported

Heart and Soil's 'Gut and Digestion' supplement resolved the speaker's chronic diarrhea within days.

Partially SupportedMDMA has potential clinical applications for trauma, but is not yet FDA approved or legal.

Well SupportedAlternating heat and cold exposure can induce a hormetic experience that builds mental and physiological resilience.

Well SupportedDeliberate cold exposure and sauna use are mainstream practices supported by scientific information.

Well SupportedCold exposure triggers an immune response as the body perceives a threat of death, activating immune modulators.

Partially SupportedA dieta typically involves a long phase of solo immersion, communing with medicine on a daily basis, and can last from 10 days to several months.

Partially SupportedMDMA can spike blood pressure by approximately 20 points and increase heart rate by approximately 20 points.

Partially SupportedIndividuals should possess self-regulation practices, such as meditation or float tank use, before engaging in psychedelic therapy.

Well SupportedMDMA therapy is expected to be legalized for broader access in early to mid-2023.

Partially SupportedMDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD shows a successive and continued building process of improvement after each session.

Not SupportedPsychiatric illnesses are often incorrectly attributed solely to neurotransmitter imbalances without considering root causes like neural inflammation.

Well SupportedMDMA and psilocybin can create a neurochemical milieu that facilitates access to difficult psychological experiences and memories.

Partially SupportedMDMA may be a suitable starting point for psychedelic therapy due to promising Phase III PTSD trial results.

Partially SupportedIndividuals who have previously used MDMA recreationally report a significantly different and more profound experience in a therapeutic setting.

Well SupportedHeating the body, such as through a hot shower or sauna, can help combat infection.

Partially SupportedPsilocybin is extraordinarily safe, has no LD50, and an overdose would result in vomiting rather than death.

Partially SupportedThe optimal stacking and sequencing of various health interventions, like sauna, cold plunge, and IV therapy, is crucial for creating a beneficial outcome.

Partially SupportedSauna use can help individuals with high anxiety and elevated excitatory catecholamines by down-regulating the fight-or-flight mechanism through sweating.

Partially SupportedEffective depression treatment considers psychological factors alongside organic factors like neurochemical imbalances, adrenal fatigue, gut dysbiosis, nutrient absorption issues, and environmental toxicities.

Partially SupportedChallenging psychological experiences offer opportunities for self-exploration and integration.

Partially SupportedDuring psychedelic therapy, asking what a difficult experience has to teach is beneficial.

Partially SupportedA carnivore-ish diet initially felt amazing but did not resolve all digestive issues for the speaker.

Partially SupportedMDMA-assisted psychotherapy paired with Internal Family Systems (IFS) parts work showed an 83% cure rate for chronic severe PTSD in Phase 1 trials.

Partially SupportedMDMA works on neurochemical cascades including norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine availability, and also engenders oxytocin bonding.

Partially SupportedExperiencing spontaneous trauma recovery processes without adequate support can lead to destabilization.

Partially SupportedPreparation, experience, and integration are critical components of best practices for psychedelic therapy.

Partially SupportedSassafras and sassafras oil can produce an experience similar to MDMA, though they require higher doses and are harder to obtain.

Partially SupportedThe human body ('monkey suit') needs to be taken care of mindfully, even after periods of fasting, to effectively engage in one's work.

Partially SupportedA psychedelic medicine experience involves intrapersonal (within oneself), interpersonal (between oneself and others), and trans-personal (vertical, connected to nature/soul) processes.

Partially SupportedPsychedelic therapies may offer a superior standard of care for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction.

Partially SupportedTranspersonal experiences in psychedelic therapy involve connecting with something outside the known ego.

Partially SupportedPersonalized health protocols are developed by assessing a person's unique biometric, psychometric, neurometric, and life metrics.

Partially SupportedSetting an intention or prayer for healing before a psychedelic ceremony can accelerate confronting avoided issues, particularly trauma.

Partially SupportedThe MAPS MDMA therapy protocol is intensive and thorough, contributing to its high efficacy rates.

Partially SupportedMDMA is a gentle medicine for initiating psychedelic experiences.

Partially SupportedMDMA is likely to become federally legal for therapeutic use in early 2023.

Partially SupportedNeural inflammation can be addressed by changing diet, providing nutrients, addressing methylation, and removing mold exposure.

Partially SupportedIndigenous healers in Central and South America utilize plant medicines as pathways to the psyche and transpersonal healing states.

Partially SupportedPsilocybin is available through 'right to try' designations for patients with life-threatening conditions who have failed standard treatments and for whom the medicine has been proven safe.

Partially SupportedIdentifying the right medicine for the right person at the right time requires a robust rubric, especially with an expanding toolkit of legal medicines like MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine.

Partially SupportedMDMA and psilocybin are considered 'level one' medicines due to their forgiving nature, high likelihood of effective and safe experiences with a sitter, and relative ease of use.

Partially SupportedPsilocybin is viable from a propagation perspective due to ease of growth, though purity and potency consistency need addressing.

Partially SupportedKetamine, psilocybin, and LSD can trigger trauma recovery processes that may lead to destabilization if not properly supported.

Partially SupportedPsilocybin was legalized for therapeutic use in Oregon approximately one year ago.

Partially SupportedPsychedelics are powerful for addressing 'software' issues, especially trauma.

Not SupportedChallenging psychedelic experiences can serve as opportunities for the mind to gain familiarity with its background processes.

Partially SupportedEngaging in a tobacco dieta, whether through smoking or consuming tobacco juice, can have purgative and cleansing effects.

Partially SupportedDifferent parts of plants, such as dandelion root versus leaves, have different medicinal properties.

Partially SupportedDigestive organs like tripe, intestine, liver, spleen, and pancreas contain unique nutrients and peptides that benefit human health.

Partially SupportedApplying aloe vera gel to a wound immediately reduced pain from a perceived ten to a four for a nine-year-old.

Partially SupportedObjective data, alongside subjective experience, can support the narrative of personal transformation and healing from health interventions.

Not SupportedRecreational MDMA use may have negative effects like brain damage or post-use depression.

Partially SupportedPsychedelic medications may be more powerful than traditional psychotherapy for treating trauma.

Partially SupportedNeurochemical precursors, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and SAMe can help replenish neurotransmitters depleted by MDMA therapy.

Partially SupportedSupplementing with 5-HTP or tryptophan supports serotonin but may not address motivation issues, which require dopamine and norepinephrine precursors.

Partially SupportedColloidal silver was used by the speaker to recover from sepsis instead of antibiotics.

Partially SupportedSupplementing with antioxidants before MDMA therapy can help protect receptors from becoming depleted.

Partially SupportedTherapeutic-grade MDMA is a pure molecule with consistent purity and potency, unlike street Ecstasy.

Partially SupportedTraumatic experiences can create psychological granulomas analogous to how the body walls off tuberculosis.

Partially SupportedSan Pedro and peyote cacti may have a heart-opening effect similar to MDMA.

Partially SupportedThe MAPS protocol for MDMA-assisted therapy involves three MDMA sessions supported by 12 psychotherapy sessions.

Partially SupportedMDMA is not physiologically addictive, but individuals can become addicted to the experience.

Partially SupportedMDMA has undergone Phase III trials for PTSD.

Partially SupportedMDMA therapy, particularly when addressing trauma, can be challenging and emotionally heavy.

Partially SupportedA comprehensive assessment of health includes evaluating neurochemical cascades, adrenal function, gut health, nutrient absorption, environmental toxicities, immune system regulation, and past infections.

Partially SupportedTeachers or guides may prescribe specific medicines based on an individual's energetic state, life history, and goals.

Partially Supported30-50% of individuals experience a difficult come down from MDMA therapy lasting days to two weeks.

Partially SupportedChitic Sanango is used for opening the heart and addressing emotional blockages.

Partially SupportedMDMA therapy typically uses a dyad of therapists working with one client.

Not SupportedUsing psychedelic analogs solely as substitutes for psychiatric medications may prevent individuals from developing greater resiliency.

Partially SupportedTobacco juice can be used as a strong purgative and cleansing diet.

Partially SupportedThe speaker is taking 3-6 capsules per day of the 'Gut and Digestion' supplement and may increase the dose if necessary.

Partially SupportedA 'dieta' in the context of ayahuasca involves dietary restrictions and emotional/psychic preparation.

Partially SupportedFloat tanks help individuals experiencing sympathetic overdrive orient towards parasympathetic tone.

Partially SupportedFloat tanks can prepare individuals for integrative therapies by helping them hold space and be present.

Partially SupportedUndergoing trauma recovery processes during silent meditation retreats can be challenging due to lack of support.

Partially SupportedFloat tanks can serve as a detoxification from sensory overload.

Partially SupportedThe 'set' refers to the mindset brought to a psychedelic experience, and the 'setting' refers to how the experience is facilitated.

Partially SupportedKetamine can facilitate a neurologic reset and support the off-loading of neuro-inflammatory residue.

Partially SupportedMDMA stimulates adrenaline, increases energy, presence, alertness, and motivation, and promotes emotional availability and connection.

Not SupportedUsing powerful psychedelic molecules recreationally without adequate support can lead to negative experiences.

Partially SupportedPlants have been utilized for millions of years as a source of molecules with biological activity in humans.

Partially SupportedOnly about 3% of the biodiversity in the deep Amazon has been identified for its medical potential, and much of this is being lost.

Partially SupportedThe speaker spent a year in a setting that followed the pace of nature, sleeping with the sunset and waking with the sunrise, and not wearing shoes for close to a year.

Not SupportedMDMA has detrimental and dangerous physiologic effects, including potentially lowering seizure threshold and being dangerous for individuals with heart conditions like chronic congestive heart failure.

Not SupportedThe placebo group in MDMA therapy trials can be dangerous for individuals with severe PTSD symptoms.

Not SupportedBeing on psychiatric medications is a contraindication for MDMA therapy.

Partially SupportedMDMA relaxes the amygdala, directs energy towards the prefrontal cortex, and increases prefrontal cortex-hippocampus connectivity to facilitate memory recall.

Partially SupportedChronic severe PTSD may qualify for 'right to try' access to treatments like MDMA.

Partially SupportedMDMA, as a synthetic molecule, allows for consistent purity and potency, making it scalable for mass distribution.

Partially SupportedMDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD has shown positive results in a Phase 3 clinical trial.

Partially SupportedMDMA creates a neurochemical environment that supports accessing and processing deeply held traumas and defense mechanisms.

Partially SupportedMDMA therapy costs $14,000-$16,000 per treatment out-of-pocket due to lack of insurance reimbursement.