Presentation Description:
Psychoactive substances commonly referred to as psychedelics or entheogens have been utilized by humans worldwide for millennia to facilitate access to beyond-ordinary states of consciousness, divination, and healing. Indigenous cultures from Siberia to the Amazon utilize plants, fungi, and animal secretions such as ayahuasca, psilocybin-containing mushrooms, and toad venom for their therapeutic effects in treating ailments of body, mind, spirit, and beyond. The use of these remedies emerges within an enchanted cosmology and holistic model of health which has informed and is congruent with the principles and practice of Naturopathic Medicine.
 
Clinical trials sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, the Heffter Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Imperial College London, and several other prestigious institutions are exploring the therapeutic value of psychedelic-assisted therapies with very promising results. Not only are these studies demonstrating safety and efficacy, the long term follow up data has shown that these therapies have conferred lasting benefits for many study participants.
 
Ayahuasca, ibogaine, psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine are among several of the compounds being studied for the treatment of conditions such as PTSD, depression, problematic substance use, social anxiety in autistic patients, and existential anxiety in terminal cancer patients. Many patients with these conditions do not experience benefit with standard methods of treatment, and furthermore, no reliably effective treatment yet exists for many of these conditions. The associated morbidity is often a matter of grave concern for patients and their caregivers, contributing to further stress on individuals, communities, and the healthcare system.

The mechanisms of action by which these psychedelic agents impart their unique therapeutic effects are actively being researched by physicians, neuroscientists, pharmacologists, psychologists, and other specialists. A review of the basic pharmacology of psychedelics, proposed mechanisms of action, and indications for psychedelic-assisted therapies will highlight some of this research and invite new questions.
 
Case studies of individuals who have benefitted from these clinical trials will illustrate the role of psychedelics as catalysts in health and wellness. A glimpse at the history of human psychoactive explorations, and a brief summary of current clinical research, evolving protocols, and outcomes will demonstrate the profound healing potential that psychedelic agents have for the future of medicine.
 
This is the first of a series of webinars which will present an overview of psychedelic-assisted therapies. Upcoming webinars will focus on the clinical research and applications of MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine.
 

After the presentation, participants will be able to confidently:

• Understand basic neuroscience, pharmacology, and proposed therapeutic mechanisms of action of psychedelics including neurobiological, psychological, and holistic models.

• Describe basic history of psychoactive practices and substances in indigenous and clinical contexts.

• Demonstrate familiarity with current clinical trials exploring the therapeutic potential of select psychedelics and distinguish between their unique indications & applications.

• Review the outcomes of select clinical trials and long term follow up data with case
studies, demonstrating the overall safety and efficacy of select psychedelics as
therapeutic agents.

• Appreciate the influence of indigenous wisdom traditions on the evolution of
Naturopathic Medicine & psychedelic-assisted therapies.