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Love your Lungs and quit Smoking!
It's World No Tobacco Day! We all succumb to being disillusioned from time to time, be it a red-flag romance, a fad diet, or blatantly ignoring signs of a food allergy because it’s a food we love that much- despite it making us ill. However, it is time we wake up to the illusion of the tobacco industry. There is a global epidemic of nicotine dependence. This harmful addiction causes us to pollute not only our own lungs but the lungs of others around us, especially those closest to us. Researchers all over the world are studying ways to stop tobacco and nicotine dependence. Take for example the following article published by Berkley News that discusses the scientific mechanisms underlying nicotine addictiveness in the brain, as well as the fact that most if not all of nic addicts experience sickness as a result of smoking. Researchers are currently designing methods to help eliminate nicotine dependence which include genetic editing technologies that would delete or create new receptors. What if we could intervene without dramatic pharmacological intervention? Imagine if something a simple as Microdosing could help stop this global epidemic of nicotine dependence? Despite the overwhelming evidence, ongoing research and even publicity of the dangers of nicotine, people continue to smoke. The prevalence of smokers worldwide has declined, however smoking remains common throughout most countries of the world and nicotine dependence continues to haunt our health and our youth. There is reason to be concerned for the nic addicts of Generation Z who have now turned to e-cigarettes, which is harmful for reasons similar to cigarettes and also comes with its own risks. It’s safe to say, there’s no “safe” alternative to smoking cigarettes and there’s no healthy way to use nicotine. Statistics and Interesting Facts According to the WHO, tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year. Of those 8 million it is estimated that more than 1.2 million of those people die from indirect use, or second-hand smoke. There are more than 7,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke and over 70% of those chemicals are linked to cancer. Not all these chemicals are added during the manufacturing phase but some are naturally a part of the tobacco plant itself. Tobacco kills half of its users that do not quit smoking, giving all the more incentive to call it quits. E-cigarettes are not considered less harmful, as they are known to carry heavy metals, volatile organic compounds and other cancer-causing chemicals. It is estimated that only 4% of users who try to quit are successful at quitting, indicating not only the level of nicotine addictiveness but also the reality that quitting smoking is an extremely difficult task. History of Tobacco: By now it is rather well known that legal drugs such as caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and nicotine are incredibly profitable products serving the addictions of millions of people worldwide. Tobacco should not be left behind when considering the reckless and morally questionable marketing tactics used by these common day industries. While tobacco itself has origins in the indigenous cultures of north and south Americas, what we know as modern day cigarettes is incomparable from how it was smoked by the indigenous people. Tobacco was initially derived from the leaves of a nightshade plant called, Nicotiana, hence nicotine, and it’s original use dates back to the Mayan people in Central America in the first century BC. It was later used by indigenous peoples for ritualistic uses and in ceremony. As colonization took place, the use and spread of tobacco increased. The modern usage of tobacco tends to be more impulsive and less ritualistic and cigarettes today are more harmful than the tobacco that was smoked in its original state. Natural does not mean healthy: While tobacco itself has many known toxic chemicals, manufactured cigarettes contain additional harmful substances that arise simply from the curing process. Curing tobacco is the process of drying the leaves to prepare them to be smoked, without curing the leaves smoking tobacco can be fatally dangerous due to high levels of nicotine and ammonia. All in all, whether the tobacco is natural or not, there are more than 7,000 chemicals found in cigarette smoke, and over 70% of those are linked to cancer. Marketing in the Tobacco Industry Perhaps the greatest 2 decades long marketing ploy of all times by the tobacco industry happened from the 1930s to 1950s, when physicians were recruited to test and approve cigarettes promising to the public that there was no health risk to smoking. Tobacco companies such as Camel’s cigarettes also forged false research studies to try to back their health claims used in their marketing, here is one such advertisement. You can imagine the influence this had on the masses, especially in a time when people relied almost exclusively on conventional medical doctors for their health concerns. Eventually science reversed its position on cigarettes and tobacco around the 1950s when research showing the link to cancer began to surface. By this time the tobacco industry was already embedded into culture, politics and the economy. There is now regulation concerning the tactics and health claims that tobacco companies are legally allowed to make, and each cigarette box comes with a warning label for the drug. One such example includes the following image: As you can see the imagery and wording is quite graphic, giving a much more accurate representation of the associated risks of smoking. Despite the graphic warning labels, including warning of cancer and death, there exists an estimated 1.1 billion smokers worldwide, correlated with 7.7 million deaths annually. Some of the highest proportions of young adult smokers are in Europe and southeast Asia. Is Smoking Really An Illusion? After this brutal history of marketing deception by media, medical doctors and politicians alike, many laws have now been enacted to correct these errors. In 1970 President Nixon signed the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act banning cigarette ads from the radio and television. And as of 2019 in the United States the minimum age to buy cigarettes was raised to 21 years old. Cigarette packs are now filled with graphic images of broiled lungs, rotting teeth, injured children, people coughing up blood and warning labels of cancer, heart and lung disease, the injury of children and death. Yet it was estimated in 2020 that 32% of adults around the world were cigarette smokers, causing roughly 7 million deaths per year. We may think we’ve woken up, but currently there exists an estimated 1.1 billion smokers worldwide. Despite all of these warnings, statistics, lost and injured loved ones, why do we continue to light up a smoke? What is it about cigarettes that has us hooked to our dying breath and ignoring the injury of others and the planet in the process? How Cigarettes impact the Body and Brain: How does nicotine affect the brain? Nicotine enters the brain by passing the Blood Brain Barrier, it then acts as a neurotransmitter and stimulates the release of dopamine. As soon as nicotine is inhaled, it takes 10 seconds to enter the brain and have these effects. This characteristic of being so fast-acting contributes to the addictiveness of nicotine. Overtime the brain learns to adapt the effects of nicotine, building tolerance. This means that the more someone smokes, the greater the amount of nicotine is required to have the same effect on the individual. Nicotine can also be considered a stressor as it causes adrenaline to be released from the adrenal glands. Adrenaline, also called epinephrine, is a hormone that stimulates the central nervous system and causes increased heart rate, blood pressure and rate of breathing. Nicotine is even passed on in the milk of breastfeeding mothers and will be passed onto the fetus inside the womb of a pregnant mother. Overtime, nicotine causes negative effects on the heart, lungs, kidneys, and reproductive system in addition to increasing the likelihood of developing cancers of the mouth and throat, stomach, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, liver, bladder, cervix, colon, rectum, pancreas, breast, and leukemia. Why Nicotine is so Addictive: How much nicotine is needed to get addicted? With so many reasons for people to stop smoking and so many people who continue to smoke, we confront the ever-pressing question: what makes nicotine so addictive? A drug’s level of addictiveness is determined by how reinforcing it is. Drug reinforcement is related to the dopamine released in the brain from a drug, and how this surge of dopamine causes someone to come back for more. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in pleasure and reward and plays a significant role in addiction. For more information about drugs and addiction please refer to the following article, From Drug to Natural Medicine. There are many reasons that nicotine is considered one of the most addictive drugs, even when compared to heroin and cocaine. One of those reasons is because as soon as someone inhales a cigarette, nicotine is immediately absorbed by the lungs and delivered to the brain stimulating instant release of dopamine. This surge of dopamine can be compared to an artificial reward, meaning that you are giving yourself an artificial feeling of “pleasure” which will eventually wear off. The addiction is not only coming from the brain and your subconscious desire for more pleasure, but the body also becomes dependent on the drug on a physiological level. This dependence causes physical illness when the drug is not received. Although nicotine is known as a “mild” drug, it is important to remember that it is extremely addictive and it still has very detrimental health effects even if they are not as immediately obvious as other drugs. Nicotine Withdrawal: Nicotine withdrawal is very real, and can be extremely painful and uncomfortable, which is why it is important to do so with guided and experienced supervision. Nicotine affects all parts of the body including the heart, blood vessels, brain, hormones, and more. When you quit, you are depleting your body of substances that it has become accustomed to, and even dependent on! Common side effects of nicotine withdrawal include symptoms like irritability, outbursts of anger, and difficulty concentrating. Feelings of sadness, depression and anxiety are also common with nicotine withdrawal. It is also common to have difficulty sleeping, restlessness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headaches and difficulty resisting strong urges and cravings to smoke. As common as it is for people to start smoking without any health advice, it is often just as common for someone to try to quit without health advice or medical support. This is part of the reason for such low success rates when it comes to quitting smoking. What you can do today to quit smoking: How many days does it take to break a nicotine addiction? Quitting Nicotine is not to be taken lightly. If you wish to quit, try to find support. Do what you can to build up a support system around you, not just one person but a few people close to you, trusted acquaintances, and even a coach, or a medical or health professional. Do not take it lightly just because it is a legal drug. It is very difficult to navigate the physical and emotional symptoms that you will face in this process. Make sure you are supported in your health by giving yourself ample time for rest, nourishment through foods and sunshine, and an accountability partner that will make it easier for you to stick to your commitment. The initial withdrawal cycle will be the worst, lasting around 3-5 days. This is when the most painful physical symptoms occur, and it often feels like an actual sickness. After day 5 for most people the nicotine is cleared out of the system. From this point the most difficult task is to overcome the strong physical and mental urges to smoke. It is important to avoid triggers during this time, including stress, environments with a lot of smokers, or any environment where you would typically engage through smoking. This can be near impossible for many people to have control over, so even if you must be in these environments, try to be conscious about it. An example would be to take your accountability partner with you while you attend a social event who can help be a support. Symptoms from quitting nicotine will last weeks after the last cigarette. It is common for people to feel mental symptoms of sadness, anxiety and depression when they quit smoking as the body is still working toward rebalancing back to its original state. Especially when these symptoms are experienced it is important to have a support system and a qualified guide who can help to ensure your safety and wellbeing. If you are quitting nicotine, and either it’s your first time or you have tried before and failed- you are so brave for going through this journey! It is not easy, and it is an accomplishment. Give yourself time, and treat yourself well in this time, try to avoid being overly harsh or critical of yourself. If you are supporting someone close to you while they quit, please try to find yourself some support as well. It can be very difficult and draining to witness someone in this circumstance, and it wears on the entire household. Remember to give yourself and those around you a lot of grace through the process. Can Microdosing help you stop smoking? An increasing amount of research is being dedicated to study psychedelics for the treatment of drug addiction. Research has emerged indicating the potential of psilocybin in treating nicotine addiction suggesting that mystical experiences might be the explanation for psilocybin being one of the most promising outcomes of addiction treatment. The topic of mystical experiences is an important one when considering the effects of micro dosing psilocybin. A mystical experience eludes to the recognition of a higher force outside of oneself, when time and space seem to dissolve. It is often associate with “ego death” and seems to be an explanation for why these substances have potential when dealing with mental illness and disorders such as drug addiction. Although micro dosing psilocybin will not emerge you into a full blown mystical experience, this element of mysticism is the nature of the medicine, and cannot go without recognition. When considering micro dosing as a support system to quit smoking, multiple factors will be at play in helping you quit. Intention – before you start micro dosing to quit smoking, we recommend you work together with a coach, therapist, or health professional to help set your intention of why you wish to quit smoking, what you want to gain from quitting, and how you want to feel by the end of your session. I recommend gaining as much clarity as you can considering not only what you will gain when you quit, but also what you might lose and how it will impact you and those around you if you don’t quit. Try to ask yourself honestly what your vision is for your future and if smoking is something that brings you deep fulfillment? Mysticism - The mushrooms work their magic even with a low dose. With the micro dosing approach you can expect more subtle hints of subconscious messages coming your way. This can be interpreted as your intuition, or downloads, but it’s likely that you will feel more attuned to a power greater than you, and more attuned to the higher power within you! This is the magic. Subconscious reprogramming – As micro dosing creates an environment of neuroplasticity in the brain, you will have the opportunity to introduce new beliefs and new habits that you prefer to carry with you in your life. This gives you the opportunity to leave smoking behind, along with the belief systems that come with it. Don’t expect any of this to happen overnight, the mushrooms only provide the right environment- you still must do the work. This is currently the best explanation for why psilocybin can be so effective with treating drug addiction. As stated by the researchers on the John’s Hopkins team, psilocybin may help break the addictive pattern of thoughts and behaviors that have become ingrained after years of smoking. Therefore, it is essential to keep your thoughts and beliefs at the focus during this process- the more patterns you can confront during your micro dosing session, the better. Researchers at John’s Hopkins carried out a fascinating study in which participants were given psilocybin in a controlled setting, with mental health professionals. The results of the study were phenomenal with over 80% of smokers being cigarette and nicotine free 6 months after the study ended. These were individuals who had been smoking cigarettes for an average of 31 years and who had previously tried to quit smoking before without success. This is quite substantial when considering other more conventional treatment options have a success rate of less than 30-35%. Smoking just isn’t sexy. While many might associate the act of smoking to rockstars, Hollywood actors, and even dreamy romance scenes in Paris, the associations cigarettes have of being anything other than harmful, life threatening and invasive need to change, immediately! Micro dosing is showing extremely promising results when it comes to helping people quit their addiction to nicotine. Perhaps it can help transform our entire world view toward nicotine addiction. Research suggests that the primary way in which psilocybin might be successful in treating nicotine addiction is the way in which it transforms our underlying belief system. The mushrooms are teaching us, once again, our beliefs and our thoughts really matter. Once we work on those, we can watch the world around us transform. Article written by Elise Renn
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Exploring the Therapeutic Benefits of Psilocybin for Women
Psilocybin, a naturally-occurring psychedelic compound found in certain types of mushrooms, has been gaining attention in recent years for its potential therapeutic benefits, particularly for women. The compound is known to produce profound changes in the way people think and perceive the world, and research has shown that it may have a wide range of therapeutic benefits for women. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the key benefits of psilocybin for women, as well as provide information on how to consume it safely. 1. Treatment of menstrual related disorders: Psilocybin has shown promise in the treatment of menstrual related disorders such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and endometriosis. These disorders can be debilitating and often have a significant impact on a woman's quality of life. Psilocybin therapy has been found to produce rapid and long-lasting improvements in symptoms of these disorders, with many women reporting a decrease in pain and emotional symptoms. The exact mechanisms by which psilocybin can help to alleviate the symptoms of menstrual related disorders are not yet fully understood. However, research suggests that psilocybin may work by influencing the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin, which plays a role in regulating mood and emotions. Additionally, psilocybin has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help to alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with menstrual cramps. 2. Addressing Trauma: Psilocybin has also been found to be effective in addressing trauma, particularly for women who have experienced sexual abuse or assault. Many women report feeling a greater sense of control and agency over their own healing process when using psilocybin, and some have reported that it has helped them to process and integrate traumatic experiences. Psilocybin may help to address trauma by influencing the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine, which play a role in regulating mood and emotions. Additionally, psilocybin has been found to have a positive effect on cognitive flexibility and the ability to think abstractly, which may help individuals to gain a different perspective on their traumatic experiences. 3. Improving self-esteem and body image: Psilocybin has been found to have a positive effect on self-esteem and body image for women. Research has shown that psilocybin can help to reduce feelings of self-consciousness, shame, and insecurity, and can improve feelings of self-acceptance and self-love. Psilocybin may help to improve self-esteem and body image by influencing the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin, which plays a role in regulating mood and emotions. Additionally, psilocybin has been found to have a positive effect on cognitive flexibility and the ability to think abstractly, which may help individuals to gain a different perspective on their self-image and self-worth.4. Relief from menstrual cramps: Microdosing psilocybin has been found to have a positive effect on reducing menstrual cramps and other physical symptoms associated with menstruation. Psilocybin has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help to alleviate the pain and discomfort of menstrual cramps. Microdosing, which involves taking small doses of psilocybin, is a safe and effective way to take advantage of these benefits without experiencing the more intense psychedelic effects of larger doses. 5. Improving overall mood: Microdosing psilocybin has been found to have a positive effect on overall mood, particularly for women. Psilocybin has been found to have an impact on the levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating mood. Microdosing psilocybin can help to improve mood, reduce anxiety, and promote a sense of well-being. It's important to note that while psilocybin has shown promise in the treatment of these conditions, it's still in early stages of research and should not be used as a replacement for traditional medical treatment. It's also important to consume psilocybin in a controlled setting, with the guidance of a medical professional or a therapist trained in psychedelic therapy, to ensure safety and optimal benefit. In conclusion, psilocybin has been found to have a wide range of therapeutic benefits for women, particularly in the treatment of menstrual related disorders, addressing trauma, improving self-esteem and body image, relieving menstrual cramps, and improving overall mood. However, it's important to approach psilocybin therapy with caution and under the guidance of a medical professional or a therapist trained in psychedelic therapy to ensure safety and optimal benefit."
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Why caffeine is not supporting your wellbeing
Why Caffeine is not supporting your wellbeing You know that friend who can’t drink coffee without feeling shaky or anxious? Do you find that when you drink caffeine past noon you can’t sleep that night? Perhaps after you have a cup or two you find yourself extremely awake and energized but feeling restless and distracted? Despite the commonly known limitations and negative effects of caffeine, it is still an extremely touted substance. Many people look over the downfalls of caffeine simply because they enjoy the initial feeling of it, or because it’s become a part of their daily ritual! Perhaps you can relate to this? I know I can, I am a recovered self-proclaimed coffee addict and coinsurer who had to overcome my addiction and dependency to caffeine. Now, if you know that caffeine is not supporting your wellbeing, but you struggle to let it go, this is nothing to feel shame about. Awareness is the first step, and if you decide you want to change your relationship to caffeine, this article is to help educate you and shed insight to the physiological processes of caffeine. Caffeine is possibly the most widely accepted drug in the world. It is found in beverages such as coffee, teas, and even plants such as cacao and guarana. While caffeine may seem relatively harmless, it can have a negative impact on their overall wellbeing. Research on this topic can be conflicting. There are clinical studies that have shown ways in which caffeine can a positive impact on certain individuals. For example, one study highlights the suggestion that coffee may help prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Other suggested benefits include a lower risk of depression, improved heart health, and boosted energy. While all of this sounds great, it’s important to keep in mind that there is a lot of financial incentive to keep people consuming caffeine! After discovering my own health difficulties associated with my consumption of caffeine, I began studying the science behind this drug and found that there is much contradicting evidence to the research supporting caffeine consumption. I also found that it is significantly more challenging to come across these studies and rarely are they posted in the public media. Let’s explore some of the contradicting research studies of caffeine while we take a little dive into the science of the drug itself! How caffeine works in the body: Caffeine is a drug of the methylxanthine class of drugs and is considered a stimulant. It works by stimulating the central nervous system, heart, muscles and other organs. It affects the centers that control blood pressure and it is also known as a diuretic, which means that it increases the flow of urine. Caffeine is generally absorbed in the body through the digestive system. The short-term effects are usually experienced within 5-30 minutes and can last up to 12 hours depending on the individual. The most commonly known short term side effects of caffeine include increased breathing rate, increased heart rate, increased physical energy, increased mental alertness, increased frequency in urination, and rise in body temperature. Caffeine affects not only the brain and central nervous system but also the following organ systems: Circulatory and Respiratory Organs -increases blood pressure -can lead to irregular heart rhythms -causes the heart to work harder -can be dangerous for those with hypertension or heart issues Reproductive Organs: -caffeine consumption in pregnancy causes an increased heartrate and metabolism in the unborn baby -caffeine crosses through the placenta and can interfere with the unborn baby’s growth and development and can even lead to miscarriage -caffeine can affect fertility and can interrupt one’s ability to conceive -caffeine interferes with hormones including estrogen production necessary for pregnancy to occur Skeletal and Muscular Organs: -caffeine consumption interferes with absorption of calcium, short term this can lead to muscle aches, pains, cramping and twitching -the interference of calcium absorption over time can contribute to bone thinning Digestive System: -caffeine increases the amount of acid in the stomach -liver is responsible for processing and filtering extra caffeine in the body, which overtime can be stressful for the liver -people with ulcers or acid reflux should be extra cautious for caffeine consumption as caffeine will only exacerbate symptoms of stomach issues Symptoms of Caffeine overdose: Signs that you have consumed to much coffee may include: -Dizziness/headache -anxiety -irritability -acid reflux -depression -difficulty concentrating -thought disturbances -insomnia/sleeplessness -shaking or trembling hands -feeling of exhausting once the caffeine has worn off Neuroscience of Caffeine: Let’s get to the brainy stuff. How does caffeine work in the brain? As we discussed in the previous article, caffeine is a drug. This means that caffeine crosses the blood brain barrier, or the BBB and is notorious for its effect on Adenosine. Adenosine found commonly throughout the CNS and is considered both an excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter. It is well known for its inhibitory effects in which it promotes sleep, causes drowsiness, and suppresses arousal. What this means is that caffeine works by blocking feelings of tiredness and thus causes you to feel artificially awake. Physiologically adenosine is known to dilate blood vessels in the brain, and this would likely cause the effect of tiredness or fatigue. What we know about caffeine is that it constricts blood vessels, meaning it causes them to become more narrow and restrict blood flow. This phenomenon explains caffeine withdrawal headaches, as the caffeine wears off and the individual does not take a dose, this can cause the blood vessels to dilate allowing more blood flow to the brain and causing a headache to occur. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), caffeine also works by enhancing dopamine signaling in the brain via the reward pathway system. This draws attention toward the addictive qualities of caffeine. Although caffeine produces withdrawals, the symptoms tend to be less severe than with other drugs. Caffeine produces symptoms of withdrawal; however, it is listed as a drug of dependence rather than a drug of addiction. This classification is made by the NIDA and the reason for this is because it produces a small rise in dopamine in the brain when compared to other more addictive drugs; including nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine that produce a larger more excessive rush of dopamine. How to tell if my body is addicted to caffeine: The most common tell-tale sign that your body is addicted to caffeine is that you get a headache when you skip your daily dose. The best way to know if your body is addicted to the caffeine is to try a few days completely without it. If you experience bodily effects that typically are not present for you, this is known as a withdrawal. When you stop your caffeine dose, look out for these well-known signs of caffeine withdrawal: - fatigue - drowsiness - depressed mood - decreased alertness - decreased motivation - feeling foggy There are physical effects of caffeine overdose which can include symptoms of nausea, muscle pain, muscle stiffness/soreness, and even vomiting. Caffeine withdrawal symptoms can start anywhere from 11-24 hours after not consuming caffeine and can last anywhere from 2-9 days, so if you want to see if your body is addicted to caffeine, it would be important to give your body at least 7-9 days to see the full effects of your caffeine dependence. Contraindications of caffeine consumption Medically speaking, there are several situations in which certain individuals should refrain from caffeine. It is important to consider, if there are so many situations that caffeine can be harmful, then is this a good indication that as a society we may want to become more conscious of how we consume this substance. Some of these people and conditions are included in this list below: -mental health disorders including Anxiety disorders, Bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia -epilepsy -children -pregnancy and breastfeeding -Diabetes -Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) -Parkinson’s Disease -Heart Conditions -stimulant drugs included Ephedrine -Adenosine -Antibiotics -Hormones including Estrogen -Medications for Depression -Stimulant drugs including Cocaine *Note! This is not medical advice and should not be replaced by the advice of a medical doctor. This list is not comprehensive and is only being shown to list examples of reasons for which people should avoid caffeine for medical reasons. Other concerns of Caffeine: Where does your caffeine come from? It is important to keep in mind the source of your caffeine. Even if you can tolerate the caffeine itself, it is wise to ensure that your caffeine is sourced from a product that is grown and produced responsibly for both you and the environment. Certain coffees have been tested positive for Mycotoxins which is a type of mold that can be dangerous for your health. It is also important to keep in mind the ethics of the company whether they are growing coffee beans or harvesting tea leaves, producing caffeinated beverages or energy bars, to know that the source is operating ethically and responsibly. Gender differences Much of the research that exists today concerning caffeine is not taking into consideration gender differences. A research study performed by the department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and the University of New York, Buffalo examined the gender differences in physiological response to caffeine. They found that male subjects had a more positive overall response to caffeine consumption than their female counterparts. Differences were shown primarily in cardiovascular responses and the researchers suggest that steroid hormones play a role in dictating these differences. Takeaway: Caffeine may not be the innocent substance many of us imagine it to be. While there is no use in demonizing it as a substance, it is important to disclose the possible harmful side effects it may have on us and our health. Even for those who do not seem to suffer harmful side effects from coffee, it is not something to be consumed limitlessly. We wish you have this conversation with you to help bring awareness to what we consume, and to better explain why it is important to eliminate caffeine from your diet during your micro dosing protocol. Even if you struggle from caffeine dependence and you wish to change it, be sure to be easy on yourself. Reach out to our team for support, talk to a friend, and most importantly give yourself time. Micro dosing can help to solidify changes you are making to your caffeine consumption so even if you are able to stop for your micro dosing journey you might be surprised that the changes further solidify by the end of your month. In the next article we will discuss the importance of eliminating caffeine for your micro dosing protocol and other ways to successfully reframe your mind around caffeine consumption. Citations: Temple JL, Ziegler AM. Gender Differences in Subjective and Physiological Responses to Caffeine and the Role of Steroid Hormones. J Caffeine Res. 2011 Mar;1(1):41-48. doi: 10.1089/jcr.2011.0005. PMID: 24761262; PMCID: PMC3621315. Levi C. Mycotoxins in coffee. J Assoc Off Anal Chem. 1980 Nov;63(6):1282-5. PMID: 7451391. Addicott MA, Yang LL, Peiffer AM, Burnett LR, Burdette JH, Chen MY, Hayasaka S, Kraft RA, Maldjian JA, Laurienti PJ. The effect of daily caffeine use on cerebral blood flow: How much caffeine can we tolerate? Hum Brain Mapp. 2009 Oct;30(10):3102-14. doi: 10.1002/hbm.20732. PMID: 19219847; PMCID: PMC2748160. Sajadi-Ernazarova KR, Anderson J, Dhakal A, Hamilton RJ. Caffeine Withdrawal. 2022 Sep 18. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan–. PMID: 28613541. Juliano LM, Griffiths RR. A critical review of caffeine withdrawal: empirical validation of symptoms and signs, incidence, severity, and associated features. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2004 Oct;176(1):1-29. doi: 10.1007/s00213-004-2000-x. Epub 2004 Sep 21. PMID: 15448977. Sebastião AM, Ribeiro JA. Adenosine receptors and the central nervous system. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2009;(193):471-534. doi: 10.1007/978-3-540-89615-9_16. PMID: 19639292. Alasmari F. Caffeine induces neurobehavioral effects through modulating neurotransmitters. Saudi Pharm J. 2020 Apr;28(4):445-451. doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2020.02.005. Epub 2020 Feb 17. PMID: 32273803; PMCID: PMC7132598. Hong CT, Chan L, Bai CH. The Effect of Caffeine on the Risk and Progression of Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2020 Jun 22;12(6):1860. doi: 10.3390/nu12061860. PMID: 32580456; PMCID: PMC7353179. Temple JL, Bernard C, Lipshultz SE, Czachor JD, Westphal JA, Mestre MA. The Safety of Ingested Caffeine: A Comprehensive Review. Front Psychiatry. 2017 May 26;8:80. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080. PMID: 28603504; PMCID: PMC5445139.
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From Drug to Natural Medicine
We will be highlighting some fewer known facts about the D-word: Drugs. Society seems to be wakening to the reality that this world has become largely consumed by drugs, or rather, consumed by consuming drugs. We are here to help place more awareness to the dangers of more general drug use and to encourage people to take a break from substances to make space for reflection and physical and mental detox. If you are abstaining from alcohol, nicotine or another substance, I invite you to use our micro dosing protocol to help you through the month. I understand it may seem contradictory to use a so-called “drug” in order to help abstain from another “drug”, but there are many misconceptions about drugs including psilocybin and I am here to clear up a few discrepancies for you. Yes! That means we are de-stigmatizing drugs- all of them- and especially the ones that have the potential to have positive impact, such as psilocybin. Remove Good/Bad language from your vocabulary when speaking on “psychoactive drugs” The first important lesson: there is nothing inherently good or bad about a drug, however, using a drug without conscious awareness or consideration for how it is impacting the neurophysiology of your brain, and subsequently the other organs and systems of your body, and life can be incredibly harmful. Even a drug as seemingly innocent as caffeine can have fatal side effects for people living with certain medical conditions. And the undeniable truth is that all psychoactive drugs will impact us in some way or another- it’s time we start normalizing this truth and speak openly about the consequences! What classifies something as a psychoactive drug? What is most important is that all drugs have one thing in common- they pass through the BBB in the brain. The BBB (aka Blood Brain Barrier) is a structural and functional barrier designed to protect the brain from destructive molecules such as viruses, fungi, parasites or bacteria that may be floating around the body. Drugs can cross over this barrier and thus impact the neurobiology of the brain. As the entire body is incredibly interconnected, this means that once the drug influences the brain it will subsequently begin effecting the other organs and systems of the body, or the other way around. The Brain is your body’s best friend and Vice-Versa It is so important to remember, the brain is never isolated!!! It is a vast, intelligent organism that communicates constantly between the other organs in the body. Just like going for a run and having physical exercise impacts the physiology of your actual brain cells, putting a drug into your body and altering your brain chemistry will always impact your body. This would explain why symptoms of body aches and muscle cramping exist in some people with alcohol addiction. The medical term for this is alcohol neuropathy which is when the nerves throughout the body become damaged from excessive alcohol intake. So, when you ingest a drug, try to not only think about its impact on the brain but also your heart, lungs, nervous system, kidneys, liver, etc etc. It’s a lot to think about and therefore it’s so important that we have a general understanding of the psychoactive substances most of us are ingesting on a daily basis. Duped by Dopamine There is one commonality between all addictive drugs which is that they all play a role on the dopamine reward system pathway. The exception that psilocybin has when compared to most other classified psychoactive drugs is that it does not play the same role in this system, thus this eliminates the element of having an addictive quality. This principle applies to many other psychedelic substances which is becoming more and more recognized through psychedelic research. This goes to say, you don’t have to worry about becoming addicted to psilocybin whether you are taking a macro or micro dose. Not all psychoactive drugs are created Equal! If I would begin listing the extensive list of psychoactive drugs on the market today you would surely lose my attention, if you haven’t already, so I’ll spare you the misery. The list includes substances that are grown as wild and natural plants, lab created substances and street drugs- which are often the most addictive and fatal ones available. Each psychoactive drug is so unique in its biochemical makeup that it is foolish to label them all into one category. In fact, this is somewhat recognized on an institutional level which is why they have been categorized into “schedules”. There are currently 5 distinct schedules and they are meant to be ranked according to levels of abuse potential, and whether there is a currently approved medical “need” or application for the substance. Unfortunately this list is biased by politics and there is much controversy as to the accuracy and relevance of the schedules as they exist today. When ingesting a substance, keep in mind the variables that contribute to the actual manufacturing of this drug. Is it nature grown, or lab grown? Has the substance been tested for pollutants and toxins? Is the drug pure or mixed with other potentially harmful molecules? These days the quality of natural/organic wine versus conventional wine can even make a remarkable difference when considering its overall impact on the body. Are you still with me? This information is dense but it is important to understand that there is a long history of the idea of a psychoactive “drug”, and the word itself is heavily weighted. Unlearning everything you know about drugs may take some time, but we’re here to help. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team and we will guide you toward resources to help you make more informed decisions in the future. Additionally, I hope this article will aim to destigmatize the word “drug” and provide a deeper understanding to what classifies a substance as a drug and at which point you can detect if you have an unhealthy relationship with a substance. Is psilocybin technically a drug? Psilocybin is a member of the psychedelic class of drugs. The word drug itself sounds a bit harsh and loaded. You may find it intimidating, off-putting and have several assumptions about this word with associations such as cocaine, heroin, and other “street drugs”. Allow me to fill you in on a little secret…. Many things we consume daily are considered drugs, albeit more socially accepted drugs, they are still drugs. This includes alcohol, nicotine, caffeine and yes, even sugar. So … by now you must be wondering.. How about psilocybin? Is it really a drug, and can it help me or does it have potential to harm me? Psilocybin is technically considering a drug under the class of hallucinogenic psychedelic drugs. It is a naturally occurring substance derived from specific types of mushrooms native to the Americas including Mexico, The United States, and South America. Psilocybin can be ingested either through the mushroom itself or it can be extracted and isolated through chemical processes. Psilocybin is a non-addictive substance meaning that it is not influencing the dopamine-driven reward system pathway. There is currently no research to support that Psilocybin has any negative effect on the organs of the body including the brain however, there are certain contraindications in which individuals should receive medical clearing before ingesting psilocybin. Those with heart disease Pregnant individuals Suffering with a severe drug addiction including symptoms of withdrawals Alcohol abuse In the middle of a life crisis Family history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder Taking drugs with MAO inhibitors including Marplan, Emsam, Parnate If you have any doubts whether you fall into one of these categories, please consult your physician. While psilocybin is a safe drug, everyone responds differently and therefor consideration and respect is a must. Please reach out to our team with any questions! If Psilocybin does not work primarily with dopamine, then how does it work? A brief explanation of the chemical mechanism of this drug is that it begins as the psilocybin molecule and later converts to the active ingredient psilocin. Psilocin activates many neurotransmitter receptors although it is best known for its affinity for serotonin receptors (aka 5-HT2A receptors). Serotonin is known for its role in regulating mood, cognition, reward and memory. It is interesting to note that most of our estimated 40 million brain cells are influenced by serotonin. Additionally, it’s important to note that although we have serotonin receptors in the brain, most of its supply is found in the digestive tract! (remember when I told you how interconnected our brain is to the rest of our body?!) What is powerful about psilocybin is that it has been found to have a positive impact in regulating the release and uptake of serotonin and does not leave the body in a state of withdrawal or dependence. The final important note to make about micro dosing psilocybin is that while a microdose does impart beyond the BBB, it is a subperceptual dose meaning that it is not high enough of a dose to alter the state of consciousness of the mind. When you think of drugs it is important to consider the dose and the body’s tolerance. Taking a subperceptual dose has very little potential to do any damage or disruption of any kind, and yet still has potential for benefiting the health and overall wellness of the mind and body! A truly miraculous drug if you ask me, in the right set and setting, for the right individual and in it’s right timing, this is a drug to rave about. In the Psychedelic and Scientific Community therefor Psilocybin is often referred to as Natural Medicine or plant medicine. Citations: Lee HM, Roth BL. Hallucinogen actions on human brain revealed. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Feb 7;109(6):1820-1. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1121358109. Epub 2012 Jan 30. PMID: 22308478; PMCID: PMC3277578. Dinis-Oliveira RJ. Metabolism of psilocybin and psilocin: clinical and forensic toxicological relevance. Drug Metab Rev. 2017 Feb;49(1):84-91. doi: 10.1080/03602532.2016.1278228. Epub 2017 Jan 31. PMID: 28074670. Nichols DE. Psychedelics. Pharmacol Rev. 2016 Apr;68(2):264-355. doi: 10.1124/pr.115.011478. Erratum in: Pharmacol Rev. 2016 Apr;68(2):356. PMID: 26841800; PMCID: PMC4813425. Johnson MW, Garcia-Romeu A, Griffiths RR. Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2017 Jan;43(1):55-60. doi: 10.3109/00952990.2016.1170135. Epub 2016 Jul 21. Erratum in: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2017 Jan;43(1):127. PMID: 27441452; PMCID: PMC5641975. Bogenschutz MP, Forcehimes AA, Pommy JA, Wilcox CE, Barbosa PC, Strassman RJ. Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: a proof-of-concept study. J Psychopharmacol. 2015 Mar;29(3):289-99. doi: 10.1177/0269881114565144. Epub 2015 Jan 13. PMID: 25586396. Dos Santos RG, Bouso JC, Rocha JM, Rossi GN, Hallak JE. The Use of Classic Hallucinogens/Psychedelics in a Therapeutic Context: Healthcare Policy Opportunities and Challenges. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2021 Mar 5;14:901-910. doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S300656. PMID: 33707976; PMCID: PMC7943545. Daneman R, Prat A. The blood-brain barrier. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2015 Jan 5;7(1):a020412. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a020412. PMID: 25561720; PMCID: PMC4292164. Avena NM, Rada P, Hoebel BG. Evidence for sugar addiction: behavioral and neurochemical effects of intermittent, excessive sugar intake. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2008;32(1):20-39. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2007.04.019. Epub 2007 May 18. PMID: 17617461; PMCID: PMC2235907.
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Then and Now: The Sacred Origin of Magic Mushrooms and what that means for modern psilocybin use
Discovery of Psilocybin As we begin to integrate psilocybin mushrooms into modern culture, it is important to recognize the long and rich history of these fungi. It has been suggested by Terrance McKenna through his book, “Food of the Gods”, that the ingestion of magic mushrooms may have contributed to human evolution and the advancement of technology, language, and culture. The use of Psilocybin as Medicine dates back thousands of years and is typically discovered through the artwork and artifacts remaining from these cultures. These fungi were notoriously used by Aztec, Mayan and Toltec people in Central America, Native Americans in North America, Siberian Tribal societies in Ancient Siberia. The initiation rituals of the Eleusinian Mysteries celebrated the use of magic mushrooms in Ancient Greece, while in ancient Egypt psilocybin mushrooms were reserved for the upper class. Images of mushrooms found on the Bradshaw Rock Art suggest that native peoples of northern Australia ingested psilocybin mushrooms dating back to 10,000 BCE. While much of the ancient use of psychoactive mushrooms likely remains unknown, what we do know is that these fungi played an influential role in these ancient cultures. What we are seeing in the Psychedelic Movement of the Western world is that too often the stories of these cultures get ignored or even erased. We want to encourage you to learn about the stories and help keep them alive as you experience your Psilocybin journey. Traditional Cultural and Medicinal use of Psilocybin The native users of psychedelics have used Psilocybin Mushrooms to induce altered states of consciousness for religious, ceremonial and medicinal purposes. These plants were commonly reserved for Shamans to facilitate communication to their ancestors and to connect to the land. It is common in these cultures that only the healer will ingest the hallucinogens and use the mushroom to treat the illness. Cleansing the mind, body and spirit in preparation Psilocybin would be used only for very intentional settings such as an initiation rite or healing ceremony. Indigenous cultures practice strict guidelines such as avoiding intoxicants and stimulants including coffee, alcohol and nicotine. Diet is also carefully monitored with the elimination of sugar, salt, spices and even sexual activity. The ceremony would be practiced in nature- an extremely important component to honoring their connectedness to earth and to their ancestors. Ritual As shown by the ancestors of psychedelic medicine, a ritual can help create an intentional and conscious experience. Try to create a ritual surrounding your micro dosing regimen that you can implement even on your days off. This might include a journaling session, saying a mantra or a prayer out loud, spending time in nature or even a meditation to help connect to your higher self and allow space for the medicines to work their magic! Giving Back Find ways to give back! We recommend looking for a way to serve your community and the environment. A great place to start is to educate yourself on ways that you can be more mindful with your impact on the environment. Service can be emotional, physical or spiritual so there are ways to get creative! The greatest lesson to learn from the relationship indigenous cultures have with plant medicines may be the way in which they give back to the earth. These mushrooms are so powerful due to their rich history with the soil of this earth, they provide us with sacred wisdom of our ancestors and through that we can heal, learn and grow as individuals and as a collective. Looking to indigenous cultures and their relationships with psilocybin can help inform us to be both conscious and reverent in our own use of these medicines. It is important not only to be intentional about our interactions with Psilocybin but also to remember the communities who have preserved their sacredness. We feel honored to share this experience with you, Happy Micro dosing! Citations: Carod-Artal FJ. Hallucinogenic drugs in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures. Neurologia. 2015 Jan-Feb;30(1):42-9. English, Spanish. doi: 10.1016/j.nrl.2011.07.003. Epub 2011 Sep 3. PMID: 21893367. Noller GE, Frampton CM, Yazar-Klosinski B. Ibogaine treatment outcomes for opioid dependence from a twelve-month follow-up observational study. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2018;44(1):37-46. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2017.1310218. Epub 2017 Apr 12. PMID: 28402682. Pettigrew J. Iconography in Bradshaw rock art: breaking the circularity. Clin Exp Optom. 2011 Sep;94(5):403-17. doi: 10.1111/j.1444-0938.2011.00648.x. PMID: 21884255. https://www.truhavn.com/news/indigenous-cultures-that-used-psychedelic-plantsWritten by: Elise Renn
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Phases of Microdosing: What to expect?
If you’re new to the world of fungi- specifically psilocybin mushrooms, you may find yourself more overwhelmed by the process of micro dosing than the psilocybin itself. This article aims to simplify the key important aspects in micro dosing so that you can feel more at ease as you begin your journey. What to know before Micro dosing? There are three main phases to micro dosing which include dosage, setting intention, and integration. We provide a detailed outline of these phases on our website and the next newsletter will provide you with additional information as to how you can properly equip yourself for these phases. It is important to keep in mind that there is a lot of information out there on the internet, some may resonate with you and other advice may not. Try to stay vigilant as you sort through this information, we recommend following the advice of those who you trust. Most importantly, trust your instinct! Although there are guidelines you can follow during this process, it is really a unique experience for each individual so don’t be afraid if you realize something doesn’t work for you, integrate that realization into your practice and trust the process. Trust your intuition There is a lot of exciting research emerging that shows the possible benefits of psilocybin. While this is an amazing prospect for mental health, and overall wellbeing, it simply is not for everyone. Try to release any pressure from the outside world as to how this “should” impact your life, or how it “should” feel for you. Remain close to your instincts as you go through this process by asking yourself, “how does this feel?” “Do I feel this is impacting me positively?” additionally, you may need to check in with yourself to make sure that you feel supported. A good question to ask is, “do I feel overwhelmed with this process?” “Is it time for me to seek additional support?” Always remember, it’s never too late to check in with yourself as some psychedelic journeys take years to fully integrate. If you’ve already experienced a micro dosing journey, to self-evaluate what the results have been for you, if you are happy with how the experience felt or continues to feel, and if there are things you would do differently in your future micro dosing journey. What are the key phases of microdosing? There are 3 main phases of the micro dosing experience. It is encouraged to walk through this process with someone who is experienced to help facilitate ease and confidence on the step-by-step process. This can free more space in the mind and soul to help absorb the full effects of the micro dosing process. Dosing: Finding the right dose is extremely important and should be done by erring on the side of caution. Be sure not to start on the highest micro dose scale but start small and you can slowly inch your way up if needed. The standard recommend dose for beginners is 0.1 grams or less of psilocybin. Keep in mind that the right dose can be influenced by factors such as body weight, level of experience and tolerance. Micro-dosing is intended to be sub-perceptual meaning you should be able to carry on with your daily tasks as usual. Intention Setting: It is important to have an intention around your micro dosing journey as the Psilocybin helps to create an environment of neuroplasticity in the Brain, that means that whatever impact there will be on your brain during this time will make a greater imprint than if you had not taken the micro dose to begin with. Setting an intention helps to ensure that you have a direction and goal in mind, whether that is mental, emotional, creative, physical or spiritual, setting an intention will help put your goal into motion before you take your first dose. Setting an intention also allows space to identify your unique needs before you begin the journey. This time is designed to create space for self-reflection, in doing so you may discover some unaddressed traumas, blocks or difficult situations that might arise during your journey. If this is the case, it would be an idea time to find someone you can trust (therapist, friend, counsellor, coach) who can help you throughout your journey. Having a guide during your journey can be beneficial even if you don’t have anything difficult to work through. A coach can also serve as a Cheerleader, helping to hold you accountable to your intentions as you strive toward achieving your goals! Set & Setting: The environment you create for yourself during the micro dosing experience can influence the extent to which you achieve the results that you desire. This is not to say that you should be afraid of going to new places, or hyper analyze any environment that you’re in, but it is a matter of awareness as to the people, places, and objects you allow into your environment and how they may shape your subconscious mind during this sensitive period. For instance, you may find that your senses are heightened during your micro dosing journey, in which case it may be important to create a calm and restorative environment every morning or evening to help you tune into those sensitivities and connect to yourself. Set and setting starts from the beginning of the intention setting phase and should extend into your integration, and beyond! It is a way to assess what you value most and to make an intention to create the environment that helps support that best. Integration: Integration is arguably the most important phase of the micro dosing journey, as this determines what you can integrate into your daily life and to which extent all the changes that took place during your micro dosing month impact you on a deeper energetic level. Integration also plays a role in ensuring that you have the toolkit necessary for coping with any personal or life changes you may wish to take as a result of your micro dosing journey. It is recommended to do this with a guide by your side especially if you are new to this process, however we provide you with some step-by-step instructions to help identify key steps to take while ensuring a smooth integration process. Article written by: Elise Renn
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Interview with CEO Earth Resonance Natasha de Jong
One of the possible benefits you mention on your website is spiritual awakening. Could you expand on that – what can psilocybin do to help people develop a spiritual connection? Psilocybin has shown to induce spiritual experiences and has been used in shamanic healing practices, initiation circles in ancient Greece to ascent and ceremonial rituals by the Aztecs already centuries ago to connect with the divine. How would we define spiritual awakening in the 21st century? The question is what are we waking up from? The illusion that we are separated from eachother and from nature, the illusion that we are competing against eachother and seeing merely with our eyes. This paradigm what we have been taught of random evolution of humanity or god’s force outside of ourselves, starts to become a path of curiosity, of discovery. This path to spiritual awakening is different for everyone, it is a journey. But often starts with the feeling of purpose, the feeling of being born with intent, that we are all connected to eachother, being of service for one another. We are pure conscious creations and have the god force within us. You will notice this connection when you go into nature and appreciate the beauty of how it grows, without us interfering, this force of energy is in us and is all around us, is flowing abundantly. Psilocybin helps to become aware of this and helps to connect you to this feeling. During your microdosing cycle we also recommend to start a meditation practice that calms the mind and fills the soul with the flowing abundance of source energy. A meditation exercise that can be helpful is connecting your energy to the dark void in space, where there is no time, no space and no ‘me’, you start to swiftly lose your identity, which is constructed by the ego. From this space you can create consciously. That opens the gates to spirituality, becoming one, in unity. One of the most deliberate ways to put it is ‘ I am that, I am’, all that is surrounding me. Amen. What about the possible benefits for professional life? Microdosing is famously popular among people in Silicon Valley – how can it help us at work? Do you often feel stuck at work, suffering from procrastination or unable to perform under pressure? Psilocybin has been shown to reduce the activity of the medial prefrontal cortex which is connected to the entire function of the brain, the CEO of the brain and is even responsible the identity of self. By this reduction of blood flow, other parts of the brain have to ability to connect in new ways, which creates new neural pathways. This helps to support neural plasticity, also called neurogenesis. This shows to support new ways of thinking, new insights and perspectives. Problem-solution becomes a less rigid way of thinking and helps you to enter a flow state of creative thinking, no worries about the future, but finding possibilities and opportunities. Especially it helps in the construction of new levels of self-awareness. How? Scientists are still finding out. But we believe that even small amounts can give you this simple benefit which is a harmonious state in the brain, that creates an open heart to create. What can be the possible negative effects of microdosing? I saw one review on your site mentioning some increased anxiety from one customer. Negative effects can occur when the expectations don’t meet the perceived experience. That is why the preparation is always very important. In our Ebook we have an intention setting exercise which helps our clients to write down which areas in their life needs focused attention and helps them to start with the right intentions, becoming aware of the blockages that might be there as well. Once you become aware of them, it becomes easy to resolve it with care and love. Also we educate our clients of the process. The first two weeks can be really tough and emotional. But when entering the third and fourth week, the recalibration phase begins, which is where the body and mind starts to become balanced. If our clients experience anxiety or a fear response this means that there is often unresolved trauma that’s trying to find it’s way out of the body, old coping mechanisms to protect you from pain and often is a fight, flight, freeze or fawn response. The microdosing cycle helps you to become aware of the pattern. This happens mostly when you become triggered by something someone said or even your own thoughts can cause this fear response. If you have experienced anxiety in your passed, we recommend to start the microdosing cycle with one of our coaches, specialized in trauma, plant medicine and behavior therapy. They can help heal and help you with the right toolbox to relieve these excessive emotions from your system. What kind of support do you give people who have that kind of negative reaction? Education, preparation, integration and evaluation, is what we are aiming for. That is why our customer care team is well trained to recommend and give tips and tricks when our clients experience a negative reaction. We do not often hear complaints, but when we do these complaints occur when the client was not prepared or did not follow our Protocol. We are currently working on our online platform, an e-learning community where it becomes much easier to follow our course and prepare for the cycle. What role do you hope that substances such as psilocybin can play in the future of society? We are currently developing different kind of protocols to help people overcome addiction, past trauma and mental health issues. Psilocybin and microdosing is not a quick fix, but it is a tool which can help in ways never seen before. Especially in combination with the righ One of the possible benefits you mention on your website is spiritual awakening. Could you expand on that – what can psilocybin do to help people develop a spiritual connection? Psilocybin has shown to induce spiritual experiences and has been used in shamanic healing practices, initiation circles in ancient Greece to ascent and ceremonial rituals by the Aztecs already centuries ago to connect with the divine. How would we define spiritual awakening in the 21st century? The question is what are we waking up from? The illusion that we are separated from eachother and from nature, the illusion that we are competing against eachother and seeing merely with our eyes. This paradigm what we have been taught of random evolution of humanity or god’s force outside of ourselves, starts to become a path of curiosity, of discovery. This path to spiritual awakening is different for everyone, it is a journey. But often starts with the feeling of purpose, the feeling of being born with intent, that we are all connected to eachother, being of service for one another. We are pure conscious creations and have the god force within us. You will notice this connection when you go into nature and appreciate the beauty of how it grows, without us interfering, this force of energy is in us and is all around us, is flowing abundantly. Psilocybin helps to become aware of this and helps to connect you to this feeling. During your microdosing cycle we also recommend to start a meditation practice that calms the mind and fills the soul with the flowing abundance of source energy. A meditation exercise that can be helpful is connecting your energy to the dark void in space, where there is no time, no space and no ‘me’, you start to swiftly lose your identity, which is constructed by the ego. From this space you can create consciously. That opens the gates to spirituality, becoming one, in unity. One of the most deliberate ways to put it is ‘ I am that, I am’, all that is surrounding me. Amen. What about the possible benefits for professional life? Microdosing is famously popular among people in Silicon Valley – how can it help us at work? Do you often feel stuck at work, suffering from procrastination or unable to perform under pressure? Psilocybin has been shown to reduce the activity of the medial prefrontal cortex which is connected to the entire function of the brain, the CEO of the brain and is even responsible the identity of self. By this reduction of blood flow, other parts of the brain have to ability to connect in new ways, which creates new neural pathways. This helps to support neural plasticity, also called neurogenesis. This shows to support new ways of thinking, new insights and perspectives. Problem-solution becomes a less rigid way of thinking and helps you to enter a flow state of creative thinking, no worries about the future, but finding possibilities and opportunities. Especially it helps in the construction of new levels of self-awareness. How? Scientists are still finding out. But we believe that even small amounts can give you this simple benefit which is a harmonious state in the brain, that creates an open heart to create. What can be the possible negative effects of microdosing? I saw one review on your site mentioning some increased anxiety from one customer. Negative effects can occur when the expectations don’t meet the perceived experience. That is why the preparation is always very important. In our Protocol we have an intention setting exercise which helps our clients to write down which areas in their life needs focused attention and helps them to start with the right intentions, becoming aware of the blockages that might be there as well. Once you become aware of them, it becomes easy to resolve it with care and love. Also we educate our clients of the process. The first two weeks can be really tough and emotional. But when entering the third and fourth week, the recalibration phase begins, which is where the body and mind starts to become balanced. If our clients experience anxiety or a fear response this means that there is often unresolved trauma that’s trying to find it’s way out of the body, old coping mechanisms to protect you from pain and often is a fight, flight, freeze or fawn response. The microdosing cycle helps you to become aware of the pattern. This happens mostly when you become triggered by something someone said or even your own thoughts can cause this fear response. If you have experienced anxiety in your passed, we recommend to start the microdosing cycle with one of our coaches, specialized in trauma, plant medicine and behavior therapy. They can help heal and help you with the right toolbox to relieve these excessive emotions from your system. What kind of support do you give people who have that kind of negative reaction? Education, preparation, integration and evaluation, is what we are aiming for. That is why our customer care team is well trained to recommend and give tips and tricks when our clients experience a negative reaction. We do not often hear complaints, but when we do these complaints occur when the client was not prepared or did not follow our Protocol. We are currently working on our online platform, an e-learning community where it becomes much easier to follow our course and prepare for the cycle. What role do you hope that substances such as psilocybin can play in the future of society? We are currently developing different kind of protocols to help people overcome addiction, past trauma and mental health issues. Psilocybin and microdosing is not a quick fix, but it is a tool which can help in ways never seen before. Especially in combination with the right treatment Protocol we believe it has a place in our healthcare system in which therapists will be trained to coach people during the process of unlearning old ways of thinking and feeling and constructing new ways of being. The main goal is to empower the individual instead of making them addicted to a new pharmaceutical. t treatment Protocol we believe it has a place in our healthcare system in which therapists will be trained to coach people during the process of unlearning old ways of thinking and feeling and constructing new ways of being. The main goal is to empower the individual instead of making them addicted to a new pharmaceutical.
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How to upgrade your brain with Psilocybin
The Upgrade Changing your life requires a new way of thinking, a new state of mind. This is not a quick fix, but a commitment which starts with acknowledging that your life is not going the way you want, stuck in the past or fearful for the future, you need redirection. How are we able to make a change and transform our lives? This starts with the way we think, the way we feel and the way we act as a consequence. Our brains develop in different stages. When we are a baby in the belly till our 7th year as a child we develop our subconscious mind, the area that makes you breathe, manage your body and emotions, your beliefs, your automatic responses (fight and flight), your habits your heartrate and the ability to listen to your feelings. This represents 95% of our brain activity and is running our programmed way of thinking. How does this develop? A child is born with a standard set of instinctual behavior, but in the age of 0-8 the child is in a state of constant hypnosis (vibrational frequency: theta brain waves), a state of imagination and develops a library of identifications and associations. This is programmed by our parents, culture, people, environment. These identifications and associations lead is linked to emotions and become a downloaded program which runs automatically. This is how the subconscious mind is formed and becomes an automatic program. Why is this important? The conscious mind which only represents 5% of our brain activity and is where you reason, make decisions and where your willpower is stored. The subconscious mind gives the direction, is always in a state of awareness, love and wants to memorize every event, the conscious mind follows and is not able to access the subconscious directly. This is how our reality is being shaped. By changing our subconscious beliefs we are able to change our reality. This is not as easy as we think, why? The older we get the more we run our automatic program which is saved on our subconscious brain, which is developed when we are 0-4, finished with saving till we are 7, fired and wired when we are 26 and completed when we are 36. After we turn 36 it becomes more difficult to create a chance, create new habits or break limited beliefs. Although we are completely programmed as a consequence of our environment and the way we process information, the brain has the ability to adapt and evolve. This is called neuroplasticity. The brain is very flexible as long as you train it with new information. But if we do not think new thoughts every day we stay stuck in our neural pathway. We have appr. 86.000 thoughts every day, which we replicate the next day. 98% chance of thinking the same things over and over again everyday. Which means there is 2% left for a new program, for a new way thinking, which will lead to a new set of emotions and actions. With that in mind, we have to hack the system for a quicker upgrade, because it takes a long time if we are only changing 2% every day. This is not as simple as just thinking a new thought, it is how it is installed. Positive thinking is not enough, it's about a new state of being. This does not happen in our conscious brain but happens in our subconscious brain. Recalling and repeating information keeps this information also installed and becomes a memory, this happens even quicker when there is a specific emotion involved. That is how you create a very sharp memory about something, someone or a specific event. The way we memorized does not go back to the event itself. How the brain is saving this memory is by repeating the memory the first, second, third, fourth time you remember it. We are not reliving the memory, but we are recalling the memory the last time we remembered it. So every time we go over a specific memory we are installing it deeper and deeper. If trauma is released, this means that the recalling of the memory is not bringing back the same emotion, but is reinstalled with a new emotional blueprint. Now how do we do that? By accessing our subconscious brain, installing a new way of thinking and creating an emotion that is giving you the feeling of love, joy or gratitude. Why? This is how you make a new memory, teaching the brain that the love of the feeling is attached to the words or image you are visualizing. This is how we can make new associations, identifications and upgrade the system. With microdosing psilocybin we are able to access a new state of the brain, which then are able to create new neural pathways. Thinking new thoughts becomes much quicker. There is more space. It opens your brain and in this way you can create change, change the way you think, creates changes in the way you feel much quicker. How to create change throughout the day: How to access your subconscious brain? Only when we are in a relaxed state. In between the subconscious and conscious is the analytical brain, our filter which protects us. This is where the input filters what goes into the subconscious and what not. If we bypass the analytical brain, we are able to access the subconscious brain directly and can become aware of our program of limited beliefs and blockages which we unconsciously run, which protects us, but can also sabotage us. That is why sometimes some situations in your life keep occurring over and over again. This happens during your microdosing cycle very easily. The gateway to your subconscious brain happens the first thing in the morning 15 minutes after you wake up and right before you fall asleep. This is the window of change. Start asking ‘auto inquisition questions’, or ‘lofty questions’, empowering questions. Become aware of how often you use the word ‘not’ or ‘don’t’ and try to avoid it, this does not exist in the language of the subconscious. Try to smile without a specific reason, this signals to the brain that it is happy and turns it into a relaxed state automatically during the day. Relaxing the body is where your new creation begins with. When our body is in a state of stress, the field of energyaround your body is constrained, we are in a high beta brainwave state, we are in a state of survival. In this way we only think about one thing: ME. Chemically this is called (nor) adrenaline and in biology it’s called ‘fight or flight mechanism’ in neuroscience it is called ‘high beta brainwaves’. This is what most people experience when they drink their first cup of coffee in the morning. What is important to know is that in a state of survival we react based on stress, external reflections will be perceived as a threat. Everyone around you can be a potential enemy and the ‘I’ needs to survive. This drives us into a behavior of egocentrism, greed and low levels of awareness, purpose and perception of constant desire, never feeling satisfied. This creates a loop of continuous chasing, whether this is money, sex, food or even feelings of low self-esteem and negativity, victimizing your life or blaming others from your pain. This can become an addiction and the brain is constantly looking for the same feedback. That is why in this state – high beta brainwaves - we can never create change. So the first step is relaxing the brain and the body, accessing a wave, a frequency called coherence between the brain and the heart. If these signal the same waves, they can create a rapid change in your energy field, sensing, experiencing and feeling a more coherent atmosphere around you, not feeling scared, depressed or mood related instability. Thank your body, put your hand on your heart and breath in, now when breathing out feel the release of tension In the body and release all thought. Most of the time, you will smile after doing this. This only takes 20 seconds of your time and sets you up for a total different way of response. The brain cannot make a distinction of what happened in the past or what you are visualizing. This is how you can trick your brain into thinking somethinghas already happened. By practicing mental visioning or meditation you are able to create new neural pathways which help you to create exactly what you would like to experience. Belief is one of the most powerful functions of the brain. If there is no thought standing in the way of you and your faith, you are already there. That is why believing in yourself is the first step of aligning to your intention. If you notice there are some thoughts that pop up which do not serve your manifestation, write them down and feel what could have created this specific thought, what can happen and release it with an emotion of love. Learning how to communicate with our subconscious brain is key into creating a new life. The Reticular Activation System, a bundle of nerves in the brainstem helps us to filter information and helps us focus. The RAS is the system which helps you to find reflections in your reality.RAS connects the subconscious part of our brain with the conscious part of our brain. It is all about the way we communicate. If we consciously look for things in our reality, RAS filters and seeks information in your environment and will consciously give you the same reflection of your belief. That is why belief is so important, words like I hope this.. or I will.. and I don’t like.. are not the language of RAS or your subconscious. It leaves room for doubt and the RAS is not able to reflect back what you are looking for. Searching for things in our reality, like ‘I have the. ‘ ‘I am’ and ‘I thank…’ feeling that you are already experiencing it. This takes away the doubt and it activates the RAS. It helps you to start filtering out those pieces that can help you with that intention and so the conscious mind brings that into your subconscious mind. But even better is to turn this around. Start to implement a new way thinking by accessing the subconscious brain directly, right thing in the morning or before you fall asleep. Your next day will be filled with exactly that what you feed it. Resonate with love and make your day amazing! Microdose and upgrade your brain
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