Daily Archives: May 14, 2017

UVCC SkillsUSA receives national honor – Troy Daily News

Posted: May 14, 2017 at 6:04 pm

Provided Photo The SkillsUSA chapter at Upper Valley Career Center was named among the top 24 SkillsUSA chapters nationally as a Model of Excellence. Pictured are senior officers and national officers: front row, left to right: Emilie Carter, Hadley Johnson, Sabrina Black; back row, left to right: Nicolas McGovern, Dylan Hensley, Keaton Pfeiffer, William Woodyard.

PIQUA The SkillsUSA chapter at Upper Valley Career Center was recently named among the top 24 SkillsUSA chapters nationally as a Model of Excellence recipient. This national program recognizes the exceptional integration and application of personal, workplace and technical skills in SkillsUSA chapter activities. This is one of the highest awards bestowed on chapters by SkillsUSA, which is among the largest student organizations for career and technical education.

The Models of Excellence program represents the very best in chapter achievement and community involvement, Timothy W. Lawrence, executive director of SkillsUSA, said. The Upper Valley Career Center chapter defines excellence across the board, serving as a model for other chapters to emulate in strengthening their local programs. These students represent our future workforce and reflect the future of their communities. What a tremendous honor that validates this outstanding SkillsUSA program.

In fact, the Upper Valley Career Centers SkillsUSA chapter is a repeat Model of Excellence recipient having received the recognition in 2016. The chapter operates under the direction of advisors Sara Plozay and Jeff Bertke.

We were thrilled with the 2016 award, but to earn this distinction two years in a row is very rare and especially gratifying, Plozay said.

Bertke added, We ask a lot of our student leaders and they continue to exceed our expectations.

The 24 Models of Excellence chapters will participate in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, June 19-23. Activities include finalist interviews, an awards dinner at the Kentucky Derby Museum, and recognition at an awards ceremony in front of more than 12,000 students, instructors and business leaders. The Upper Valley Career Center chapter will also receive a grant of up to $4,000 from program sponsor Lowes Companies Inc.

The Models of Excellence program promotes the intentional learning of personal, workplace and technical skills outlined in the SkillsUSA Framework for student development. Specific characteristics defined within each skill area help ensure tangible benchmarks for student achievement and chapter programming. Achievement is measured by the effectiveness of student efforts in implementing essential workplace skills including personal responsibility, integrity, work ethic and organization in chapter activities. The hands-on approach of this program actualizes the SkillsUSA mission of empowering members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.

Provided Photo The SkillsUSA chapter at Upper Valley Career Center was named among the top 24 SkillsUSA chapters nationally as a Model of Excellence. Pictured are senior officers and national officers: front row, left to right: Emilie Carter, Hadley Johnson, Sabrina Black; back row, left to right: Nicolas McGovern, Dylan Hensley, Keaton Pfeiffer, William Woodyard.

http://tdn-net.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_SkillsUSA_officers_cmyk.jpgProvided Photo The SkillsUSA chapter at Upper Valley Career Center was named among the top 24 SkillsUSA chapters nationally as a Model of Excellence. Pictured are senior officers and national officers: front row, left to right: Emilie Carter, Hadley Johnson, Sabrina Black; back row, left to right: Nicolas McGovern, Dylan Hensley, Keaton Pfeiffer, William Woodyard.

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Yakima Valley women contribute to boom in health care industry – Yakima Herald-Republic

Posted: at 6:04 pm

This school year, women made up very nearly half of the roughly 28,000 students accepted to medical schools in the U.S., and about 46 percent of medical school graduates in 2016.

In Yakima, 48 percent of Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences current medical students are women. The past two graduating classes seesawed from 38 percent women in 2015 to 60 percent women in 2016.

Its a long way from the early 1980s, when barely a quarter of all medical school graduates were women. Meanwhile, nursing is roughly 90 percent women, and women physician assistants outnumber men nearly 2 to 1.

But health care leadership remains overwhelmingly male: A 2016 report by consulting firm Strategy& found that only 1.6 percent of CEOs in the health care industry were women. In Yakima, women hold a third or fewer of top executive positions at most major health organizations; only Yakima Neighborhood Health Services has a female CEO.

As poor patient outcomes, soaring costs and legislative uncertainty continue to plague U.S. health care, leaders say innovation is key to righting the system and innovation means new ideas from new people.

If we look around the table and we dont have all the voices represented, then Im not sure were going to figure out the best solutions, said Diane Patterson, chief clinical officer at Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital and longtime nurse.

That means more women, as well as more leaders from different cultures, socio-economic backgrounds and temperaments, she said.

One of four women in Memorials 12-person C-suite or top-level adminstrative team, Patterson has thought extensively about how to bring up more women to fill leadership roles.

How do we make sure that were supporting women in leadership, and what does that look like? she asks. And how do we create the dialogue to talk about that in a safe way, thats not threatening?

Gains in medical school parity still have not resulted in equal pay or parity in specialties, said American Medical Womens Association president Dr. Suzanne Harrison, who also is a professor and Family Medicine Education director at Florida State University College of Medicine.

Only a third of active state-licensed doctors are women, national data show, and the gender pay gap is huge: A recent JAMA article found that female orthopedic surgeons and cardiologists earn $41,000 and $34,000 less, respectively, than their male counterparts.

Cardiology, urology and orthopedic surgery see especially low rates of female practitioners. Health care data analyst firm Amino reported last year that women only outnumber men in pediatrics and gynecology.

Academic positions are still male-dominated, with women making up only about 16 percent of medical school deans and 22 percent of tenured professors, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. And federal research grants go more often to male doctors than women.

Everything is just that much more difficult for women to achieve, Harrison said.

Even fewer leadership positions are held by women of color.

As an industry we struggle because we dont have (leadership) populations that reflect our community, said up-and-coming leader Bertha Lopez, senior director for community health and planning at Memorial. I think from a person of color, its hard for you to picture yourself in those roles because you dont have a lot of people that look like you, so youre paving the way.

While leadership methods differ from person to person and cant be ascribed solely to one gender or another, Women bring a different style of leadership to the table, Harrison said.

Where men tend more toward authoritative, top-down leadership, broadly speaking, (Women) bring that collaborative nature to the table and in their project planning, their care of patients, she said. We tend to listen to what peoples struggles are and hear them before we make a decision, rather than just deciding.

But it can take a critical mass of about 30 percent women at the table in order for women to feel comfortable displaying a different kind of leadership, and getting women into those roles can be a catch-22, says Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic chief human resource officer Lisa Picatti.

Many studies have shown that women dont tend to seek higher-level positions until they see women in higher-level positions in their organization, she said.

Lopez said shed like to see more outreach into the community so current female leaders can be visible examples to young women, particularly in communities of color.

We have groups of people that really cant picture themselves in higher skilled jobs or going to college, because their parents may have never been talking about it at home, or they couldnt help dream that, she said. She grew up a child of immigrant farmworkers, moving to Zillah at 15, and attributes much of her success to a high school counselor, Ms. Maldonado, who helped her apply to college.

I do think there needs to be intentional or purposeful mentorship programs that are developed in communities, as well as more diverse representation on hospital boards and in executive positions, she said.

But in the workforce, women often disqualify themselves from seeking weightier roles if they feel they dont match the job description 100 percent, Picatti said.

My advice to an organization would be to really look at the key competencies that theyre seeking for those key C-suite roles, and be very careful about gender bias when theyre listing their key traits, and instead, add some of the key traits that women are good at, such as empathy, collaboration and emotional intelligence, Picatti said.

Those arent just touchy-feely buzzwords, she says: Employee productivity and output is greatest when employees are happy, and a major determinant of morale is a good relationship with supervisors. If supervisors dont have the emotional intelligence to cultivate good relationships, the overall business will suffer.

And as health care increasingly emphasizes wraparound services and patient-centered medical homes, with different specialists meeting daily to discuss patient care plans, the ability to collaborate across departments becomes even more crucial.

Historically, women are the caregivers of society, says Terra Palomeraz, interim chief nursing officer at Toppenish Community Hospital.

Thats what we do, she said. People definitely perform better in whatever role you give them in a business when they feel cared for, and so I think again not to put anyone in a box but I think in general, women have an amazing capacity to provide care to one another, to the people they consider their responsibility.

That doesnt mean men cannot also be empathetic, collaborative leaders; many female leaders in Yakima cited male role models who encouraged them all throughout their careers.

And those women never waited to see themselves reflected in leadership roles before charging ahead, either.

Dr. Vicki Black was the second person hired at Community Health of Central Washingtons residency program in 1993, where she served as its first residency director and later chief medical officer of the clinic before retiring in 2012.

When she graduated from Loyola Universitys medical school in 1974, she was one of 15 women out of a class of 125.

Though she may have faced gender discrimination during her career such as not getting her first-choice residency match after interviewing at 81/2 months pregnant she never paid any attention, she says.

I sort of have my path of where I want to go and I keep pushing for it, she said. Im somebody who likes leadership positions. In organizations and clubs I belonged to, I tended to end up being the president, including of the Washington State Rural Health Association.

While Black doesnt believe leadership traits are solely male or female, she thinks women still undervalue themselves in the marketplace and need better training in aspects such as pay negotiation to be more assertive.

Though women who are parents today may face greater demands on their time than mothers in the past, she hopes they dont shy away from taking on responsibilities in committees and other career-building opportunities. Black had her children during medical school and residency.

I worry a little that now because there are so many women in medicine, but they somehow feel like they cant have it all or they cant have a family and a full-time career too I dont know what to tell them, because I think they can, she said.

Supporting women in health care, not just in leadership, includes greater flexibility for women to achieve better work-life balance, leaders say.

Palomarez does a self-care check with a fellow woman who supervises, giving themselves permission to go home at a reasonable hour in the evening, because whether youre at home or at work, theres always going to be more work to be done, she said.

She earned her nursing degree while working two jobs with two children at home. The balance has remained challenging as shes moved up the ladder: As women, were in these roles where we do hold leadership positions and we can do phenomenal work; but we dont want to let go of those opportunities at home to be the caregiver.

Anita Monoian was a single parent preparing to move her family to Seattle when the CEO role at Neighborhood Health was thrust upon her in 1979, after shed spent a few weeks writing a grant for the clinic. Neighborhood Health was founded by a woman in 1975.

In those days, women were nurses and office managers but rarely decision-makers, she said. There were only a few female doctors in the Valley.

Sometimes it was exciting to be the sole woman in the room for meetings, but other times, she said, You realized that the real conversations were going on when you werent present, because women just dont understand these important things.

Major discussion topics at the time included immunization of schoolchildren and womens access to birth control. Moving into the 1980s, Monoian said, community health centers took a lead role in treating HIV/AIDS patients, who were often rebuffed by other physicians.

The decisions involved in building up community health care were daunting.

I had not given this any thought 38 years ago, she said, but, how different it is when you have diversity at the table; how much more productive it is.

And I dont just mean male-female: If you can bring true diversity to the table, youre going to be more productive, she said. But thats not always easy to do.

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Singularity is rocket science – Gadget

Posted: at 6:03 pm

Jonathan Lun, a Wits University and Stellenbosch University alumnus, presented an ambitious asteroid metal-fuelled rocket solution. He has been given a full scholarship to attend Singularity Universitys 9-week Global Solutions Programme in Silicon Valley.

Im absolutely thrilled and honoured to be offered this life-changing experience, said Lun. The support from friends, family and colleagues has been astounding and I hope to make them proud.

Lun called Singularity University the perfect place to share and refine this idea with like-minded people who pursue ambitious and grand efforts to build the future.

Singularity University (SU) is a California benefit corporation with a mission to educate, inspire and empower leaders to apply exponential technologies towards solving humanitys grand challenges. Together with a highly engaged alumni community in over 90 countries, SU is committed to creating positive and sustainable global impact via three core areas: education, innovation and community.

Headquartered at NASAs Research Park in the heart of Silicon Valley, it was founded in 2008 by Ray Kurzweil and Peter Diamandis.

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Ascension Episcopal wins first state title in program history – The Daily Advertiser

Posted: at 6:00 pm

Blue Gators' leadoff hitter Seth Kerstetter had two hits in Ascension Episcopal's 3-0 win over Houma Christian in Wednesday's Division IV state semifinal game.(Photo: SCOTT CLAUSE / USATODAY Network)

Carter Dooley pitches a complete game and Jeffrey Elkins is named MVP of the Division IV state title game as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators beat Central Catholic for the first time in school history to win the first state championship in program history.

Ascension Episcopal had a huge chance to blow the game open with only one out and the Blue Gators two best hitters coming to the plate in Elkins and Brady, but Central Catholic's Mire did a great job to wiggle out of the jam. Blue Gators lead 6-3 heading into the bottom half of the inning.

Big inning for the Blue Gators as they take advantage of some mistakes from Central Catholic. Elkins scored after reaching via a hit-by-pitch then scored from third base after an error on Central Catholic's catcher.

Both Lightfoot and Mouton picked up RBI singles in the inning before Central Catholic changed pitchers and put in Thomas Mire. Mire stopped the bleeding, but Ascension Episcopal leads 6-3 now heading into the bottom half of the inning.

Brooks Thomas has done a tremendous job for the Eagles since coming in. Eli Mouton walked to open the inning for the Blue Gators, but was thrown out stealing second and exchanged some words with Central Catholic's shortstop. Ascension Episcopal is tied 3-3 with Central Catholic heading into the bottom third of the inning.

Super quick bottom half of the inning for Dooley on the mound and all of a sudden we are more than halfway through this game. Still tied 3-3 heading into the fifth inning.

Elkins led the inning off with a triple over the center fielder's head, showing some pretty impressive speed, and John Michael Brady drove him in with a sacrifice fly an inning later. Ascension Episcopal leads 3-1 heading into the bottom of the third inning.

Central Catholic tied the game on a Mitch Lemoine single that scored runners from second and third base. Eagles and Blue Gators are locked at 3-3 heading into the fourth inning.

Central Catholic inserted Brooks Thomas into the game as a new pitcher after a lead off walk to start the inning and Thomas shut down the Blue Gators. Ascension Episcopal still leads 2-0 going to the bottom of the second inning.

Gregory Leger hits a home run for Central Catholic to halve the lead for the Eagles on the first pitch that he saw. He was pulled from the mound after one inning of work that saw him struggle. Blue Gators lead 2-1 heading into third inning.

Ascension Episcopal didn't even need to swing the bat to get on the board in the top of the first. A couple of walks, hit batters and wild pitches give the Blue Gators a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the inning Carter Dooley got the Eagles to go down in order in an impressive half inning.

Ascension Episcopal is gearing up to play Central Catholic in the Division IV state title game in Sulphur.

The Blue Gators have never beaten Central Catholic and are trying to win the first state title in program history.

Game is running late due to other games running slow. First pitch will be roughly around 8:30 p.m.

PREVIEW:Blue Gators ready to compete for state title

More:PHOTOS- Teurlings vs STM Baseball Playoff

More:State Baseball Tournament Glance

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FOOTBALL | Eagles show some defensive chops, offensive promise against East Ascension – The Livingston Parish News (press release) (subscription)

Posted: at 6:00 pm

WATSON -- Live Oak showed off an experienced defense and an inconsistent offense, but both had their converse moments in a scrimmage on Saturday against East Ascension to wrap up spring practice.

At times, the Eagles offense showed flashes of good play while the defense had its lapses.

East Ascension outscored Live Oak 14-7. The Spartans turned a medium-range pass into a long touchdown play and they also converted a Live Oak fumble into a short scoring drive.

There were no kickoffs or punts in the scrimmage, and all of the scoring came in the second part of the scrimmage in two timed quarters. The first part was structured with the teams alternating offensive possessions with limited plays.

Live Oak, which scored its touchdown on Jordan Lees interception return, outgained East Ascension 309 yards to 250, but lost two fumbles.

Defensively, we flew around the ball, Live Oak coach Brett Beard said. We saw some guys play faster than weve seen them, and thats always exciting. When the live bullets are flying, you want to see them playing fast and with an attitude.

Offensively, Beard was most impressed by a drive where the Eagles didnt reach the end zone. The drive, which featured first-team offensive and defensive units, came during the opening session and ended after Live Oak had run 12 plays.

The Eagles started at the LOHS 30, and picked up three first downs. Highlights included quarterback Sal Palermos 11-yard completion to Bryson Snapp and Gabe Schenks 18-yard run with an option pitch. The drive was halted with Live Oak facing a fourth-and-short yardage inside the East Ascension 10-yard-line.

I thought that second (drive), offensively, the work was as good as weve done in almost the last two years, Beard said. I thought it was really good. It was flawless. We would have finished the drive if we had the chance.

Live Oak struggled to match that efficiency later in the scrimmage.

The problem is thats kind of who we are offensively, Beard said. Well be very bad, very bad and good. Then very bad, very bad and good. Were putting ourselves behind the 8-ball kind of like we did last year. Weve got to be more consistent on offense.

The quarterback position, where the Eagles must replace graduated two-year starter Ryan Morris, will be a key to finding that consistency. Beard describes the competition as a three-headed monster featuring Palermo, Schenk and Cameron Dickerson.

All three played Saturday, but Palermo saw the most time.

Weve got a good battle going, but if we played a real game today then Palermo is our No. 1 right now, Beard said. But live bullets changes everything. This is what we needed, to see those guys in the fire and see how they responded to it.

Palermo completed 4-of-8 passes for 85 yards with two interceptions. He gained 16 yards on seven rushes not including three sacks.

Schenk didnt attempt a pass and also split time at running back. He had four carries for 33 yards. Dickerson rushed five times for 24 yards, and completed his only pass for 5 yards.

We kind of struggled a little bit, Palermo said. We didnt put it all together at times, but on the second drive we did. We took it down the field and just ran out of plays. I think well get work in over the summer and well get better.

Lees touchdown was the big play for a defense that gave East Ascension problems for most of the scrimmage. Late in the first quarter, Lee stepped in front of Jason Wakefields pass intended for Shaivonn Robinson, and ran up the right sideline 33 yards for the score.

I read the play, Lee said. He ran a 5-yard out and I jumped it. I was happy to be in that position. It was exciting.

Nathan Hollidays kick made it 7-0, but two plays later Wakefield found Thomas Levy on a 20-yard crossing pattern. Levy turned upfield and outran the Live Oak secondary for an 85-yard score.

These are all teachable moments, those coaching points that weve got to have,Beard said. When you score a defensive touchdown you should win the ballgame. But when you score those points, youre not going to win the game if you flip it around and relax.

In the second quarter, East Ascension forced a fumble with 8 minutes left. After penetrating the backfield, a Spartans defensive linemen deflected Palermos option pitch and recovered it at the Live Oak 17.

From there, it took East Ascension five plays to score. The final yard came on a quarterback sneak by Cameron Schexnaildre.

Coming on the heels of a turnover, more important than the score itself, the touchdown underscored that Live Oak has lessons to learn.

Weve got a great group of young men that are eager to get back to work, that are going to fight and continue to give us what we need, Beard said. I really am excited where were at. We just need to continue cleaning up some things.

EAST ASCENSION 14, LIVE OAK 7

East Ascension 7 7 -- 14

Live Oak 7 0 -- 7

LO -- Jordan Lee 33 interception return (Nathan Holliday kick)

EA -- Thomas Levy 85 pass from Jason Wakefield (Ryan Gremillion kick)

EA -- Cameron Schexnaildre 1 run (Gremillion kick)

EA LO

First downs 9 17

Rushes-yards 33-27 58-206

Passing yards 223 103

Passes 17-29-1 6-10-2

Total yards 250 309

Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-2

Penalties-yards 6-45 5-32

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FOOTBALL | Eagles show some defensive chops, offensive promise against East Ascension - The Livingston Parish News (press release) (subscription)

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North Korea crisis: China amasses new anti-warship missiles as WW3 tensions continue – Express.co.uk

Posted: at 5:57 pm

Sino-US tensions over disputed territory in the South China Sea, along with sabre-rattling from North Korea which is mostly backed by China, have seen tensions in the region rise dramatically recently.

The situation has also been enflamed by US President Donald Trump sending the aircraft carrier the Carl Vinson, along with an armada of warships to the region to undergo military drills in the area.

Images of the Yulin naval base, located on Hainan Island of the hotly disputed islands off southern China close to Vietnam, now appear to show Beijing has stock-piled a range of land-base missile launchers that have the capability of reaching and knocking out the US military vessels.

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Israel-based ImageSat International snapped the images from its Eros B satellite with missiles being deployed on the bases west side.

Imagery analyst Amit Gur confirmed the new builds are anti-ship missiles.

He said: "The direction in which the launchers are facing leads us to believes these are shore-to-ship missiles."

Mr Gur added that the missiles pictured in the satellite looked to be fully operational and ready to fire.

He added: "They must have concluded renovation work, as the systems are clearly visible.

"We don't just know if they are new systems, or a redeployment of the ones that were stored during the renovation."

AFP

ERIC LAFFORGUE/EXCLUSIVEPIX MEDI

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Soldiers enjoy a ride at the funfair in Pyongyang

The missiles appear to have been installed on Monday after the base was essentially empty.

While the US has said that the warships are there to put pressure North Korea who has threatened to attack the US with nuclear weapons, China is increasingly worried over the presence of the fleet so close to its own waters.

Although China and the US have been enjoying improved relations lately after a visit to the US by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mr Trump referring to the premier as his friend both sides have remained cautious.

ImageSat International

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ImageSat International

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Getty

China has come under fire for building man-made islands near the Spratly archipelago, smack in the centre of the South China Sea.

But as recently as March 30, its defence ministry insisted that no such islands existed and that any work being done strictly served civilians rather than the military.

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How to Treat Depression with Psychedelics

Posted: at 5:57 pm

Many people find their day to day experience of life is filled with anxiety, limiting the activities they do and the enjoyment they have in life. Psychedelics like mushrooms and LSD have been used for decades to treat anxiety disorders and to reduce anxiety levels.

In some cases, these substances seem to directly alleviate feelings of anxiety, even at very small doses (below the level at which they subjectively alter consciousness). For other people, psychedelics help them explore the root causes of their anxieties and fears and find peace with them. And for many people, psychedelics bring them to a place a spiritual peace and openness that can become a new touchstone for letting go of anxiety or learning not to identify with it so strongly.

This description of the process may sound abstract to someone suffering from anxiety day to day, but like talking therapy, the healing process of psychedelics can be a little difficult to convey until youve tried it.

Recent clinical research has shown dramatic reductions in anxiety even after a single psychedelic experience with psilocybin mushrooms. Even for patients facing the extreme anxiety of terminal illness, psilocybin allows them to embrace their fate and find peace with their loved ones.

Heres one womans story of being treated with mushrooms as she was facing death, described in a New York Times article (see below):

Before Pam Sakuda died, she described her psilocybin experience on video: I felt this lump of emotions welling up . . . almost like an entity, Sakuda said, as she spoke straight into the camera. I started to cry. . . . Everything was concentrated and came welling up and then . . . it started to dissipate, and I started to look at it differently. . . . I began to realize that all of this negative fear and guilt was such a hindrance . . . to making the most of and enjoying the healthy time that Im having. Sakuda went on to explain that, under the influence of the psilocybin, she came to a very visceral understanding that there was a present, a now, and that it was hers to have.

Two weeks after Sakudas psilocybin session, Grob (the researcher) readministered the depression and anxiety assessments. Over all among his subjects, he found that their scores on the anxiety scale at one and three months after treatment demonstrated a sustained reduction in anxiety, the researchers wrote in The Archives of General Psychiatry. They also found that their subjects scores on the Beck Depression Inventory dropped significantly at the six-month follow-up.

Whats remarkable about the research results from this and many other studies is that even a single dose of a psychedelic substance can create long lasting changes, reducing anxiety, depression, and creating more emotional openness.

LSD, MDMA, and mushrooms have all been studied for anxiety reduction. Remember that a psychedelic experience can sometimes produce anxiety or can focus the mind on sources of anxiety, as part of the process of addressing the root causes. Starting with small doses and following all the safety guidelines can help reduce anxiety.

Psychedelics have been misunderstood and misrepresented for decades. That's changing. Please help us share safe, responsible information on using psychedelics by sending this page to friends, and posting to Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

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Slice of PLOS: Psychedelics in the Lab and Clinic: Making Up for Lost Time – PLoS Blogs (blog)

Posted: at 5:57 pm

Nearly 50 years ago, psychiatrists lost access to one of the most promising tools theyd found to study consciousness and treat a range of refractory psychological conditions: psychedelic drugs. Psychedelics were banned in the United States in 1970 and by the United Nations the next year, classified as Schedule I drugs with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. Many scientists blame Timothy Leary, the Harvard psychologist who became one of the most prominent psychedelic proselytizers of the sixties, for fueling both the drugs popularity and the media frenzy that inevitably triggered a legal backlash [1].

These restrictions have severely impeded research into novel therapies to treat brain disorders. As British psychiatrist David Nutt argued in PLOS Biology a few years ago [2], Most researchers do not have the time, money, or energy to work through the regulatory jungle. And with no federal support for this work,scientistsmust rely on private organizations like the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and the Beckley Foundation, which funds Nutts group at the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London. Both organizations are dedicated to breaking the bureaucratic logjam.

Last month, Nutt joined hundreds of other clinicians and researchers whove received private funding to pursue psychedelic medicine and research at the third MAPS-sponsored Psychedelic Science 2017 conference in Oakland, California.

Scientists and clinicians presented evidence from ongoing research suggesting that psychedelics, used in a controlled psychotherapy setting, have the potential to alleviate conditions that dont respond to conventional drugs and therapy, including depression, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction. Some are harnessing psychedelics to study the neural basis of consciousness, using advanced imaging techniques to map changes in brain activity and chemistry to altered perception, moods and perspective.

Much of the recent work with psychedelics picks up where early psychiatric pioneers left off, in many cases confirming what researchers hypothesized but lacked the tools to test.

Early evidence of positive results

Clinicians started experimenting with LSD in the late 1940s, soon after Albert Hofmann, the Swiss chemist who first synthesized the drug while studying the ergot fungus as a potential medicine, accidentally dosed himself. Hofmann reported an extraordinary disturbance marked by an uninterrupted stream of fantastic images of extraordinary plasticity and vividness and accompanied by an intense, kaleidoscope-like play of colors.

The potential of this mind-altering drug was not lost on Hofmann, and psychiatrists soon began experimenting with psychedelics to treat addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorders, depression and anxiety. Some used LSD to model the delusions and psychosis seen in schizophrenia, while others explored its mind loosening effects to help patients work through repressed thoughts and feelings. Experimental psychiatrist Joel Elkes took LSD with a small group of volunteers in 1952, the first to do so in England. He noted in a retrospective commentary that observations from these experiments led him to propose that the drug selectively inhibited the organization of sensory information through a serotonin-mediated receptor.

Elkes was remarkably prescient, Nutt says, because thats what we have shown.

Historians of psychedelic science say that by the mid-1960s researchers had published over 1,000 clinical studies involving over 40,000 patients, reporting few side effects, though many of the studies would not meet contemporary research standards. Even so, Learys promotion of LSD as a panacea for the unenlightened masses, many scientists say, led regulators to slam the door on research that held great promise for unlocking the mysteries of the mind.

Despite a lack of accepted safety designation that goes along with a Schedule I classification, most studies have found no evidence that psychedelics produce serious adverse effects when used under controlled conditions. That may hold for recreational use as well, according to a 2012 PLOS ONE study, which found no indication of psychological problems in healthy people who used LSD, psilocybin, peyote or mescaline [3]. Another PLOS ONE study came to the same conclusion about ayahuasca, a psychedelic tea brewed from bark and leaves traditionally used as part of ritual healing ceremonies in the Amazon Basin [4].The research doesnt claim that adverse events cant happen. But they are likely rare and in some cases may be related to pre-existing conditions.

Placebos, probes and treatments

Early studies of psychedelics typically failed to use controls, raising an obvious question: how do you design a placebo-controlled trial when the active drug under study produces profound changes in perception and cognition?

It helps to work with people whove never experienced the drug before so they dont know what to expect, says Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, a PhD student working in Draulio Barros de Araujos lab at the Brain Institute at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil. In a recent study to test ayahuascas potential to alleviate treatment-resistant depression, she and her colleagues used a placebo brew designed to mimic the potent teas color and nasty taste, and even its capacity to cause nausea.

Participants were randomly assigned to receive a placebo or a single dose of ayahuasca and, as often happens in depression trials, both groups improved somewhat the next day. But by the end of the week, people in the ayahuasca group showed much greater gains than the placebo group. The study, which involved just 35 patients, hasnt been published yet (but is available on bioRxiv [5]).

To better understand how ayahuasca affects mood and perception, Palhano-Fontes and Araujo have been studying its effects on the brain in healthy people, using fMRI. They reported in a 2015 PLOS ONE paper [6] that ayahuasca caused reduced activity in whats known as the default mode network, a connector hubof brain regions that tends to be more active when people are resting or daydreaming. Its been associated with sense of self, and emotional and cognitive processing. Studies have associated increased activity in this network with schizophrenia, depression, social phobia and several other psychiatric conditions. This increased activity has also been linked to intense rumination and obsessive thoughts. One theory holds that by suppressing the default mode network, psychedelics may help release the brakes on severely constrained thinking, opening the door to more effective psychotherapy.

For David Nutt, psychedelics hold a unique capacity to probe the neurobiology of mental states, and to reprogram circuits to recover from psychological distress. These drugs can change your attitude to life, Nutt says. In a study of psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression, he found that patients became less pessimistic. My outlook has changed significantly, one patient said. Im more aware now that its pointless to get wrapped up in endless negativity.

Stanislav Grof, a Czech psychiatrist who conducted clinical trials with LSD before it was illegal, once said, Psychedelics, used responsibly and with proper caution, would be for psychiatry what the microscope is for biology and medicine or the telescope is for astronomy.

But that promisewont be realizeduntil regulators change the restrictions on psychedelics and recognize their potential as a medicine. Hofmann immediately recognized that psychedelics release constraints on consciousness to offer a glimpse into a world we otherwise cant perceive. Now scientists have the tools to figure out how psychedelics do that by interrogating the underlying brain mechanisms in a reproducible, scientifically valid way if only we let them.

Credit for featured image: Psilocybe zapotecorum from Michoacan, Mexico, by Alan Rockefeller via Wikimedia Commons.

Further reading

[1] Moreno, J. D. (2016) Acid Brothers: Henry Beecher, Timothy Leary, and the psychedelic of the century. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, vol. 59 no. 1, pp. 107-121. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/pbm.2016.0019

[2] Nutt D (2015) Illegal Drugs Laws: Clearing a 50-Year-Old Obstacle to Research. PLoS Biol 13(1): e1002047. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1002047

[3] Krebs TS, Johansen P- (2013) Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study. PLoS ONE 8(8): e63972. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0063972

[4] Bouso JC, Gonzlez D, Fondevila S, Cutchet M, Fernndez X, Ribeiro Barbosa PC, et al. (2012) Personality, Psychopathology, Life Attitudes and Neuropsychological Performance among Ritual Users of Ayahuasca: A Longitudinal Study. PLoS ONE 7(8): e42421. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0042421

[5] Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca in treatment-resistant depression: a randomised placebo-controlled trial (2017) Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Dayanna Barreto, Heloisa Onias, Katia C Andrade, MorganaNovaes, Jessica Pessoa, Sergio Mota-Rolim, Flavia L Osorio, Rafael Sanches, Rafael dos Santos, Luis Tofoli, Gabriela Silveira, Mauricio Yonamine, Jordi Riba, Francisco RRSantos, Antonio A Silva-Junior, Joao Alchieri, Nicole Galvao-Coelho, Brunoj Lobao-Soares, Jaime Hallak, Emerson Arcoverde, Joao Maia-de-Oliveira, Draulio B de Araujo bioRxiv 103531; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/103531

[6] Palhano-Fontes F, Andrade KC, Tofoli LF, Santos AC, Crippa JAS, Hallak JEC, et al. (2015) The Psychedelic State Induced by Ayahuasca Modulates the Activity and Connectivity of the Default Mode Network. PLoS ONE 10(2): e0118143. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118143

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Slice of PLOS: Psychedelics in the Lab and Clinic: Making Up for Lost Time - PLoS Blogs (blog)

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What is the Difference Between Entheogens and Drugs?

Posted: at 5:56 pm

James Oroc, Guest Waking Times

The word Entheogen means God contained within and in some other translations it means to awaken the divine within, which is closer to the word Entheogenesis, describing the process of doing away with all that which is transient and impermanent, while allowing the unchanging aspect of our being to awaken to itself. An Entheogen is a compound that induces a spiritual or mystical experience. There have been many kinds of Entheogens or plant based psychoactive substances used by humans. However, there isnt much known about these plant medicines commonly, as a result of which humanity has been for long exploited by psychological manipulation at the hands of the powers that be. Constant repetition of lies and negative propaganda seem to be working well on the sleeping masses, however with more information and awareness on these subjects things are quickly changing globally.

It is good to see great change manifesting when people join hands and come together against this regressive oppression and tyranny that act out through the various world governments, big greedy corporations and the Military Industrial Complex. One of the ways to beat the system is through creating more awareness by disseminating useful information, sharing knowledge speaking your truth and more importantly, living it ! We came across this brilliant source of information on various drugs and their effects on human consciousness and thought it must be shared here

In 2010 I was fortunate to be a presenter on the subject of entheogens at a fascinating conference in San Rafael, California, titled Beyond the I the end of the Seeker. The conference organizers had recruited a remarkable collection of physicists, neuroscientists, consciousness researchers, and spiritual teachers, all with a common interest in what turned out to be the rather hazy subject of Science and Non-Duality. (I say that I was fortunate to present because I was also able to attend workshops and lectures with some of my personal heroes including the physicist/authors Peter Russell, Amit Goswami, NASAs zero-point scientist Bernard Haisch, anesthesiologist Stuart Hammerhof on his and Roger Penroses theory of Quantum Consciousness, and a remarkable presentation by Nassim Haramein exclusively on his paper about the Schwarzschild Proton). The entheogen section of the conference titled Entheogens as a Portal was a panel comprising of Rick Doblin (MAPS), Dr. Martin Ball, James Fadimann, myself and a couple of other speakers (whose names I must confess I dont remember) all who received 20 minutes to speak about entheogens and (I presumed) non-duality.

So for this conference, rather than discussing my usual subject (the endogenous entheogens, DMT and 5-MeO-DMT), I decided to consider the broad spectrum of different mood-enhancing compounds available, and rather than considering how each particular drug affects our bodies or our mental well-being as most scientific studies would, I would instead rank each drug on how it affected our sense of Ego, our sense of I. Since the total loss of Ego and the sense of I is the core of the transpersonal mystical experience (and I am an experiential-mystic at heart) I decided that I would assign each drug its own Mystical Value, with the drugs that can induce the transpersonal state of total loss of Ego and Identity having the highest value (most value to an experiential mystic), while the drugs that reinforced or inflated the sense of the Ego would have the lowest. After having ranked the various compounds (according to experiential reports in literature, EROWID, etc), it was interesting to note that the scale naturally descended by the chemical class of the compoundtryptamine, phenethylamine, opiates, amphetamines, alcohol and that this corresponded to a noticeable increase in toxicity.

Here is how I ranked the various compounds, along with my personal commentary on the effects of the compound, its toxicity, and human history.

The endogenous entheogens/ Simple tryptamines:

1. 5-Methoxy-DMT: Regularly capable of inducing a classical mystical experience of transpersonal oneness with complete dissolution of Ego and Identity, even at dosages as low as 5 micrograms. Endogenous. Which means that it is naturally produced within our own bodies and thus 100% physically non-toxic. Also present in nature in the leaf, bark, and roots of trees, and in the venom of the Bufo Alvarius toad. 5-MeO-DMT has been used in South America in the forms of snuffs for an estimated 3000 years. 5-MeO-DMTs modern use, first in the form of smoking toad venom, and then as synthesized 5-Meo-DMT, is approx 35 years old.

2. DMT (dimethyltryptamine): Capable of inducing a classical mystical experience of transpersonal Oneness, with complete dissolution of Ego and Identity, mostly at high dosages, and in certain individuals. Endogenous. Found in the leaf, seeds, bark, and roots of plants, DMT has been used in South America as snuffs, and as the active alkaloid in ayahuasca, for more than 1500 years. These plant admixtures are regarded as sacred medicines amongst the Amazonian cultures from which they originate. After being discovered to be psychologically active by the Hungarian psychologist Stephan Szara in 1957, DMT was used by IM sporadically throughout the early 1960s (most notably by William S Burroughs and Timothy Leary) before experiencing a brief burst of popularity in the late 1960s (after the underground chemist Nick Sand discovered that the fumurate was smokable), before disappearing almost completely by the end of the 1970s. The writings of Terence McKenna subsequently rekindled interest in the compound and its natural analogue ayahuasca, which combined with the unsubstantiated theories of Dr Rick Strassman presented in the more recent book DMT: The Spirit Molecule, has resulted in a significant modern mythology amongst the current psychedelic counter-culture.

The Complex Tryptamines:

3. LSD-25. (lysergic acid) Also a tryptamine, LSD is capable of inducing a classical mystical experience of transpersonal Oneness, with complete dissolution of Ego and Identity, in high dosages, and in certain individuals. Synthetic, with close analogues found in nature. The Eleusinian mysterieswhich could only be attended once in a lifetimewere considered the high point of Greek Society and ran for more than 2000 years, tremendously influencing Greek Philosophy and thus Western Thought. Kykeon, the entheogen at the heart of these mysteries, was most likely an LSD analogue produced from an ergot (grain) fungus. (The Temple at Eleusis was dedicated to Demeter, the Goddess of Wheat). LSD-like compounds have also been isolated from the Aztec ololiuqui (morning glory) seeds. Lysergic Acid LSD 25, which captured the public imagination like no other entheogen in modern history during the late 1960s and early 70s when an estimated 75 million people tried the drug is the synthetic counterpart of these natural plant analogues. While the very high dosages (800+ micrograms) recommended by Leary, Metzner, and Alpert in The Varieties of the Psychedelic Experience (1963) to induce a transpersonal-mystical experience ultimately proved to be more than most people liked to handle psychologically, LSD is physiologically one of the safest compounds known to man, since it requires the smallest known amount (1/10,000th of a gram) to be psychologically active, and is thus has an incredibly low toxicity to dosage. (You can ingest the same amount of cyanide, or even plutonium, and it will pass through your body with affecting you). Wikipedia reports a suspected fatal overdose (Kentucky, 1975) medical literature on LSD, which involved the IV injection of a ridiculously large amount of LSD (1/3rd of a gram more than 3000 of todays hits!) but notes most sources report that there are no known human cases of such an overdose.

4. Psilocybin (4-OH-DMT). Can induce transpersonal-mystical experience in high dosage. Naturally occurring in some 200 mushroom species. The presumed entheogen in Terence McKennas Stoned Ape theory. The least powerful of the tryptamines, psilocybin is of low toxicity although overdoses are reputedly possible on synthetic psilocybin, such as in the death of John Griggs, the leader of the notorious LSD-and-hashish cartel, The Brotherhood of Love, although none are reported on EROWID.

Ketamine/PCP

5. Ketamine/PCP: Capable of inducing a classical mystical experience of transpersonal Oneness, with complete dissolution of Ego and Identity, mostly at high dosages, and in certain individuals. The only legal PCP analogue (estimated 5-10% the strength of PCP), Ketamine, which acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system, requires inclusion due to its impressive record for inducing mystical experiences in individuals (mostly by IM injection) and it could be argued that it deserves a higher ranking than the complex tryptamines. Since it is used as a medical anesthetic, it is considered physically very safe and overdoses are rare. While PCP was first synthesized in 1926, with an illegal street use that peaked in the mid-70s, Ketamines illegal use as an entheogen (and increasingly as a party drug in small doses) is a relatively recent human development.

The Psychedelic-Phenethylamines:

6. Mescaline: Can induce transpersonal-mystical experience in high-dosages. Naturally occurring in various cactus species, mescaline is one of the oldest psychedelics known to man. The San Pedro cactus cults of Northern Peru are the longest known continuous shamanic tradition having existed for at least 3000 years, while there is evidence of peyote use in Mexico and North America dating back 5700 years. In these cultures, the mescaline-containing cacti were considered sacred medicine. Although very rare today, synthetic mescaline was the main subject of Aldous Huxleys The Doors of Perception, which helped spark the 60s psychedelic revolution. (Mescaline, Psilocybin, LSD, and DMT would be the 4 compounds listed in the introduction to Leary, Messner, and Alperts The Psychedelic Experience in 1965.). Like most psychedelics, mescaline is physically non-toxic and non-addictive.

7. 2-CB, 2-CI: Structurally related to mescaline, both 2-CB and 2-CI can induce transpersonal-mystical experience in high-dosages. Synthetic phenethylamines, these are notoriously dose-sensitive and little is known about their toxicity, but due to the extremely low toxicity of mescaline and virtually all psychedelics, they can be assumed to be physically non-toxic and non-addictive. Both are creations of Alexander Shulgin (most famous for popularizing MDMA), which rose to popularity in the LSD drought of the early 21st century caused by the infamous Kansas Silo bust, proving once again that prohibition simply results in diversity.

FATAL OVERDOSE LINE

The Empathagenic-Phenethylamines:

8. MDA: (Sassafras). Empathogen. The original 1960s Love Drug. As with all the compounds in this class, empathogens can decrease the effect of Ego by inducing love and compassion to others, weakening the sense of I. Empathogens also differ from psychedelic/entheogens in their acute toxicity, with deaths caused by cardiac arrest/brain hemorrhaging at a fatality rate of approx 2 in 100,000 users, approximately the same as the more popular (though less toxic) MDMA.

9. MDMA (Ecstasy). See MDA. Rediscovered and popularized by chemist Alexander Shulgin in the 1980s, MDMA held great promise for psychiatry before becoming illegal in a wave of Federal paranoia. Currently being used in hospital trials in Israel, the organization MAPS (Multi-disciplinary Association of Psychedelic Sciences) wants to start clinical trials on returning soldiers with post-traumatic stress syndrome here in the USA.

Other Popular Illegal Compounds:

10. THC (Cannabis or marijuana). Decreases the effect of the Ego by shifting perspective, often towards the humorous side. Relatively low toxicity, no possibility of physical overdose. While cannabis related crimes are the number one reason for incarceration in the USA, with over a million people in jail for its sale, distribution, production, or possession, there has never been a single death related to THC consumption itself.

11. Opiates/Heroin: Nullifies the Ego by negating all desire although not the sense of I. Highly physically addictive with regular fatal overdoses, heroin was involved in 213,118 Emergency Room (ED) visits in 2009. Meanwhile Oxycodon fatalities (OxyContin is a semi-synthetic opiod pain reliever derived from opium) have increased 66.7% over the last five years due to this pain-medicines relatively high toxicity. (14,459 in 2007 82,724 people died from FDA approved drugs in 2010.) ED visits involving nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals (either alone or in combination with another drug) increased 98.4 percent between 2004 and 2009, from 627,291 visits to 1,244,679. OxyContin sales currently exceed $4 billion per year.

12. Cocaine: The ultimate Me drug. Physically and psychologically addictive. Highly toxic. A nervous-system stimulant, cocaine dependence (addiction) can result in cardiovascular and brain damage. The Greed Culture of the 1980s that came only 15 years after the Psychedelic Revolution can almost be epitomized by its reverence to cocaine, the most expensive drug that does the least for the shortest amount of time. In 2009 Cocaine and crack cocaine overdoses were responsible for over 400 000 ED room visits in US hospitals. While the first cocaine epidemic in the USA was in the 1880s, cocaine has greatly grown in popularity since the 1970s, with the estimated U.S. cocaine market exceeding $70 billion in street value in 2005 a greater revenue than a corporation such as Starbucks. The multi-billion dollar War against Cocaine has been waged at the military level in foreign countries since the 1980s with no noticeable affect on supply, while drug violence long the border of Mexico mostly over the cocaine and methamphetamine trade is killing more than 5000 people a year.

13. Methamphetamines. Physically and psychologically addictive. Highly toxic. The highly lucrative illegal underground market of the USAs most-popular legal drug (Ritalin and Adderall are legal methamphetamines the USA consumes 85% of the worlds prescription speed.) Sometimes called white-trash cocaine, methamphetamine abuse is reaching epidemic proportions at many levels of American society with over 93,000 ED room visits in 2009. Crack cocaine and methamphetamine addiction have long been associated with both forced and voluntary prostitution in every country that they appear in, while the violence associated with Mexican drug cartels fighting for control of a cocaine and methamphetamine market valued in excess of 50 billion dollars is currently responsible for over 15,000 fatalities a year.

(And finally, our Societys chosen legal inebrient)

14. Alcohol: Considered a psychoactive depressant. Highly toxic and physically addictive. The United States Center for Disease Control estimates that medium to high consumption of alcohol leads to the death of approx 75,000 people a year in the USA. While the last three compounds on this chart Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and Alcohol are the only three compounds most likely to reinforce the Ego to the point of physical violence, alcohol is the one your most likely to do yourself physical harm on due to self-loathing. Alcohol is the most common extenuating factor for homicides, rapes, beatings, and suicides, not to mention vehicular fatalities. Alcohol is arguably the least sophisticated drug in both its production and its crude inebriating effects. The first alcoholic beverages can be traced back 9000 years to Neolithic times, which is why I like to call it our stone-age drug. Paradoxically, (or perhaps because of its ancient origins) alcohol it is the only 100% legal drug on this list in the vast majority of countries around the world.

My conclusion from ranking these various compounds by their unique Mystical Value and comparing their relative toxicity can thus be expressed quite simply (as):

Orocs Law: The more a compound disrupts the Ego (the sense of I), the physically safer (less toxic) that compound will be, while the more a drug reinforces and inflates the sense of Ego, the more physically harmful (toxic) that compound will be.

After my presentation a number of the enthusiastic audience asked me if I had ever written anything about this Mystical Value Scale and I had to confess that I had not, but that some time in the future I would try to. But in all truth, I would probably have stored it away in the back drawers of my very messy mind had not the former Chief Advisor on Drugs to the British Government published a very interesting report in the respected Lancet medical journal that was released just a month later (Nov 2010) and made world-wide news. In this report by the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs, every common drug in British society was scored by a panel of social health experts on the harm it created including mental and physical damage, addiction, crime and costs to the economy and the community, thus basically ranking the public health effect of the various drugs. The maximum harm score was 100 and the minimum zero. When the results were tabulated, the most harmful drug was alcohol (72), then heroin (55), crack-cocaine (54), methamphetamines (33), cocaine (27), cannabis (20), ketamine (15), and MDMA (9), with LSD (7) and magic mushrooms (5) being ranked as the least harmful substances to British society! (Neither DMT or 5-MeO-DMT were on the list). The esteemed authors also wrote that our findings lend support to the previous work in the UK and the Netherlands, confirming that the present drug classification systems have little relation to the evidence of harm.

Based on this highly scientific report, my observation about the related toxicity of my Mystical Value scale would seem to have been validated, with those drugs that most eradicate the effect of the Ego being deemed (by public health experts) the safest. Non-addictive and of low toxicity, psychedelic drugs offer no threat to your physical health, and yet they are considered by our Society to be extremely dangerous and are amongst the most illegal substances on the planet.

The word drug incidentallywhich means (in this context, according to the Websters dictionary) a chemical substance which enhances physical or mental well-being is a ridiculously misleading and almost meaningless word if you think about it, since nearly everything we eat and drink can be considered a drug. Nitrous oxide, a gas, is a drug. Coffee, tea, sugar, and chocolate are all drugs. Even McDonalds french-fries under this broad definition could be considered a (highly addictive) drug. Now, as much as I love chocolate, coffee, and even I hate to admit it the occasional McDonalds French-fry, I see little purpose in comparing them in any way, shape, or form, to LSD, DMT, or 5-MeO-DMT, which are far more likely to completely change your consensual reality then they are enhance your physical or mental well-being. But the very use of a word/term as broad as drugs (drug law, drug war, illegal drugs, dangerous drugs etc) to describe and legally regulate (DEA) such a ridiculously broad range of compounds is in its self a verbal smokescreen designed to help limit the distinctly society-changing possibilities of psychedelic-entheogens.

If I may diverge for a moment, it is my personal opinion that the first psychedelic revolution in the United States (1963 Saturday 6th December 1969) failed ultimately due to the mass influx of a variety of distinctly non-psychedelic drugs into the chaotic and highly exploratory youth culture of that time. Psychedelics when used in high-dosages have proven to be safest when used in a thoughtful and controlled set-and-setting, but as the Youth revolution took hold many teenagers were exposed to super-powerful entheogens like LSD-25 and STP (DOM) in what can only be described as a cavalier and Dionysian manner. Considering the fact that an average hit of LSD in 1968 (400-500mg) was 5 times stronger than a hit of street acid (80 to 100mg) today, and that first-timers LSD users were frequently encouraged to take two hits if they wanted to see Tim Learys promised white light, with little thought to their set-and setting, then it is easy to see how a large number of young hippies feared acid as much as others revered it. (You still witness this same phenomena today many of the 20 somethings that I talk to at festivals seem to love DMT but are terrified of LSD having already experienced a trip too long and arduous for them and they probably ate a quarter of what their parents did for their first time in the 60s!). This tendency to push all experiences to the limit (the Prankster ethic) opened the backdoor for the more seductive and much easier rides of first heroin, and then cocaine. (Which when it was first introduced was not thought to be addictive.)

Disregarding the potential (and well-documented role) that the CIA played in the introduction and distribution of virtually all the illegal drugs that became available, by failing to recognize the essential difference of psychedelics/entheogensthat they are best used carefully in a sacred manner with trusted guides and not wildly in recreation amongst crowds of strangersand then by lumping the wide-variety of compounds that followed into a singular Drug Culture that fails to distinguish between the wide variety of experiences that this vast family of so-called drugs can produce, the Alternative culture that had been inspired by psychedelics and the chance for change, ended up settling for uppers-and-downers and the Status Quo, as heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines became the most popular illegal drugs of the last thirty years of the 20th century. (And the use and abuse of legal prescription drugs sky rocketed).

It is interesting now with more than 40 years perspective to realize the fact that our Societys so-called Drug Culture has increasingly turned away from the 60s psychedelic ethos of the mystical destruction of the Ego (and consequently the social structures that the Ego creates) towards a range of compounds that actually reinforce the concept of the Ego (and thus maintain the existing social structures that Ego has built). It could be argued that the last thirty years of the twentieth century that came after the failed psychedelic revolution of the 1960s were the most egocentric years in human history, as television and a global communication network have relentlessly promoted the cult of the Ego as the highest human ideal to the post Vietnam generations of techno-capitalists, with the constant accumulation of individual wealth and power seen as a Darwinian function inherited from our hunter-gatherer days. This obsession with the role of the Individual has resulted in 5% of the worlds population now controlling 50% of its wealth, as multi-national corporations controlled by a handful of families continue to strip the globe of its resources to line the pockets of shareholders and board members in those industrialized nations whose military are effectively the World Law, a treacherous and seemingly unstoppable situation that is threatening life on this planet as the military-industrial complex lurches increasingly erratically through the last of its days. The cult of the Individual Ego has now grown so predominant, we have a societal case of what I call extinction denial where the fate of the individual has become paramount, best expressed in the concept You better get yours while you can.

A radical reassessment of the effect of capitalism and consumerism on both the human condition and our planet is clearly required, but what can bring about a change in a viewpoint that has been steadily being programmed into us by the very technology whose reckless use we need to reassess? According to the Dalai Lama achieving genuine happiness may require bringing about a transformation in your outlook, in your way of thinking, and this is not a simple matter and I believe this applies to us as much as a Society as it does to each of us individually. But what can any of us really do other than reorganize deck chairs on the Titanic? What action can actually have a chance of bringing about a fundamental transformation in the way Humanity perceives and values Life on this planet?

In July of 2003 when first introduced to the super-entheogen 5-MeO-DMT, I underwent what I now believe to be a classical mystical experience of transpersonal unity with the Source of Being. This event had a profound effect upon my world-view since I found myself changed from an agnostic scientific-rationalist to believing in the existence of a God far greater than I could have ever imagined, all in the space of a single 40 minute drug-induced trip. The result for my subsequent search for answers on how such a radical transformation could have occurred is contained in my book Tryptamine Palace: 5-MeO-DMT and the Sonoran Desert Toad. (Park Street Press, 2009), and within the pages of that book I make the claim that this discovery of a spiritual element to the Universe, and the realization that God not only CAN exist but exists as the mystics have always insistedas a part of you, is the most exciting realization that a human being can make. More than eight years have now past since I myself made that unexpected discovery, and while I still agree that is ultimately the most exciting discovery possible, I must concede it is not always the most practical, a dilemma that mystics have known and have suffered for since the beginning of time. The personal discovery of Godany kind of God or Buddha-State, for they are all streams of the same Cosmic rivercan never be scientifically proven and inevitably any entheogenic realizations or enlightenment can only offer the same proofs as any other spiritual system the sticky dual-problem of personal testimony and faith.

I have however come to realize that while entheogens can never prove the existence of God (rather one can only experience God-Consciousness through the use of them and thus form your own opinion), true-entheogens can be used as the most powerful tools of exploration available for investigating some of the most perplexing philosophical questions that humanity has managed to conceive, especially those concerning the role and reality of Consciousness, and its human-shadow, the Ego. As our Society and technology begins to progress beyond the Newtonian-Darwinian paradigm, we are coming to scientifically realize that nothing in the Universe exists as an individual point in space-and-time, since the emerging quantum view of the Universe states that all things are linked and connected thru a matrix of fields of energy that far surpass the energy of physical matter, matter is merely the froth on the wave of reality if you like, while our consciousness, the vehicle of this discovery, far from being an accidental by-product of chemical reactions produced within the matter of the brain as purported by the old paradigm, increasingly seems to be a part of an infinite field of consciousness that both permeates, and creates, the Universe itself. I can also personally testify that thru the use of entheogens one can actually experience a moment outside of time and space as pure Consciousness, with no idea or memory of who you are or where you came from, and in that instant the realization arises of the interconnectedness of all things, that all is truly Onethe transpersonal experience as Stanislav Grof calls itand that this is quite possibly the most profound human experience available, a speculation that the recorded history of all varieties of mysticism would seem to support.

Which brings about the about the very interesting possibilityas suggested by the psychologist Julian Jaynes in his increasingly influential book The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mindthat the modern highly-individualized human Ego that has been so venerated in the 19th and 20th centuries may be a comparatively recent development in both human history (and perhaps the history of the Universe), and that the voice in our head that we now all constantly hear, a few thousand years ago would only arise only in times of severe crisis and danger. (And was often thought to be the voice of the Gods). The non-denominational spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle in his modern classic A New Earth argues that our highly refined sense of I has come from the development of our technology-driven Society, since the narrowing of our mental focus away from the transpersonal has allowed us to develop our fantastic technology, but at the expense of disconnecting us with another deeper layer of consciousness that we share with all other things in the Universe. We can no longer see the woods for the trees so to speak, as we have become prisoners of our own inflated sense of self.

As our scientists start to discover the outer realms of Quantum Consciousness, and our psychologists and spiritual masters begin to return our attention to the idea of a Cosmic or Absolute Consciousness that both unites and transcends all religion, with the role that the Individual Ego plays in our Society coming under increasingly critical scrutiny, then it would seem clear the lesson that the careful use of entheogens can teach virtually any of us. It is a scientifically verifiable fact that entheogenic compounds can cause a human ego to be disrupted or even momentarily wiped away, and that when this happens, to paraphrase the poetic words of William Blake, the doors of perception are cleansed, and all things appear to man as they are, Infinite. Throughout the recorded history of Humanity there has been no experience considered more profound or more valuable then the singular realization that All is indeed One, and now as the scientists have begun to catch up with the mystics on realizing the simple undeniable fact that all systems are linked, and that the very idea of the sacredness of the individual is somewhat absurd, we now need to reform our governments, our religions, our financial institutions, our schools, and most importantly ourselves, to this fundamental Universal Truth.

In a world where we have been programmed by the constant sounds and flashy moving images of our rapidly developing modern technology since we have been born, the ancient schools of meditation and contemplation have had little chance to reform the Ego or the society that our love of technologythe human child of the Egohas built for us, since we have long since forgotten that the death of the Ego is a desirable goal. Deepak Chopra once wrote that synchronicity is the universe showing its intention, and therefore I do not find it strange that mescaline was first synthesized the year that Rntgen discovered radiation, or that Albert Hofmann had a strange dream to reinvestigate a compound that he had put on a shelf many years earlier, thereby instigating a chain of events that would cause him to discover LSD-25s remarkable psychoactive qualities while the Manhattan Project was months away from igniting the worlds first atomic bomb, arguably humanitys most egocentric invention. Lysergic Acid (LSD) is a remarkable 20th century invention in the fact that it is the only entheogen that a competent chemist can make a million hits of in an afternoon, and its mass-production qualities (for a mass-production society) should not be under-valued, since it has been responsible for reintroducing the mystical/shamanic concept of the death-and-rebirth of the Ego into our Society at a time when it is most desperately needed. An entheogenic moment outside of space of time can cause a lifetime of egocentric programming to come tumbling down like a house of cards, an illumination almost impossible to ignore, and it is for exactly this reason that our Governments so fear them. If we build the foundations of the Entheogenic Revolution the 2nd Psychedelic Revolution upon the basis of a constant awareness of the influence of the Ego, and seek out a deeper connection with the Mind of the Universe that we all share in a process of liberation theology, then we have a chance to rebuild our tribes into a true World Family that will find a way through the troubling times to come. For if there is one thing that is for sure, it is that none of us will make it alone.

James Oroc

References: DMT Site&Psychedelic Adventure

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Meet The Racetams: Powerful Family of Nootropics – MilTech

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Racetams are a group of synthetic Nootropics which are known to be among the most popular compounds used for cognitive enhancement. This family includes many types of popular compounds such as Piracetam, Aniracetam, Oxiracetam, and many other variations. Each of the compounds found in this family of Nootropics are related through their common Pyrrolidone nucleus, which is a type of compound know as a Lactam. Each member of the Racetam family has its own unique qualities, and is known to provided uniquely different experiences. Racetams are generally regarded as being best stacked with a Choline compound, to help maintain levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine during use.

First, its important to recognize that much of what is known about Racetams, and Nootropics in general, is related to anecdotal evidence. Piracetam, one of the most-popular Nootropics, is reported by many to offer a calming and holistic-enhancing effect. This focused calm is described by many as being experienced in the form of being more fluid in conversation, more socially-relaxed, and able to retain new memory better. Other Racetams, such as Oxiracetam are regarded more as mental stimulants, and are less affective towards overall mood and emotion. These compounds offer a rush of mental energy that many find preferable to other slightly comparable compounds like caffeine.

Two of the primary neurotransmitters thought to be affected by Nootropics in the Racetam family are acetylcholine and glutamate

There is a distinct lack of clinical data to offer explanation on how exactly Racetam compounds are able to affect such experiences in the mind. It is generally accepted that these molecules act by the modulation of certain neurotransmitters, though much of that premise has been assumed from anecdotal accounts. Two of the primary neurotransmitters thought to be affected by Nootropics in the Racetam family are acetylcholine and glutamate. Acetylcholine is used in a wide range of applications including muscular movements, memory formation, attention, arousal, and even motivation. By acting on these types of neural pathways, its believed that the Racetam family can contribute considerable cognitive-boosting effects when taken.

Most of the research on Racetams comes from the original research done by a Romanian psychologist known as Dr. Giurgea. Through his attempt at discovering a neurological relaxing agent acting on the GABAergic neural pathways, he discovered Piracetam. While this compound didnt demonstrate the relaxing and sleep-aiding benefits he set out to discover, it did show remarkable cognitive enhancing properties. Beyond this research, much of the data surrounding the benefits of Piracetam, Aniracetam, and other Racetam compounds stems largely from anecdotal evidence from shared personal experiences.

There is some clinical data that suggests Racetams may offer beneficial neuroprotective, and properties, and have been shown to benefit some patients with dementia

Much of the modern clinical research done regarding Racetam compounds has been conducted on rats and in vitro neural samples. One study found that Piracetam was able to inhibit severe cramp-like seizing of the muscles to do medically-induced reactions or genetic deformity, known as a Dystonic reaction 1. In another study, Piracetam, Oxiracetam, and Aniracetam were all shown to positively modulate AMPA receptor sites within neural tissue samples 2. AMPA receptor sites are areas of the brain which are able to make use of Glutamate, one of the most prevalent neurotransmitters and responsible for quick synaptic responses.

Aniracetam is a cholinergic compound, and is regarded to be a positive modulator of AMPA receptor sites throughout the brain. This Nootropic compound not only positively modulates AMPA receptor sites, but also acts to maintain sensitivity levels of the AMPA receptor sites as well. During periods of positive stimulation, AMPA receptor sites begin to become desensitized, thus affording a less profound effect as time increases. Many users of Aniracetam regard it asenhancing communication ability, creating a more collective sense of thought, and also allowing for more fluid discussion and recollection of complexity. Aniracetam should be regarded as a mood-affecting compound, with the ability to create a more positive outlook in most. Aniracetam is a popular choice among Nootropics enthusiasts that are not able to experience effects from Piracetam, but want more of a social experience than that offered by Oxiracetam.

Piracetamhas been noted by users to induce a deeper sense of memory recall, better learning, and an increased sense of social ease. Many of these experiences are underlined by the general sense of being on a peak energy level, which can be unsettling for some. One interesting aspect of Piracetam is that may be integrally dependent on adrenal function to exhibit full effect. One study found that the removal of adrenal function (adrenalectomy) completely eliminated the memory-enhancing effects of Piracetam in mice 3. This research suggests that the effects of Piracetam might be able to be more fully optimized when stacked with compound such as Phosphatidylserine, which has been shown to help maintain adrenal balance during period of physical stress such as exercise 4. This would suggest that the use of supplements such as Phosphatidylserine with Piracetam might help increase the magnitude of Piracetams effects. Piracetam is regarded as the first Nootropic compound every to be synthesized with the intent of affording cognitive enhancements. Its long history among users has lead most to regard it as completely safe, although less potent than many other compounds.

Oxiracetam is a bit different from other members of the Racetam family chemically-speaking, but is still centered about a Pyrrolidone molecule. This Nootropic compound is one of the few Racetams that has a fair amount of clinical data to support ideas of how it may function, and the benefits it may offer. Oxiracetam positively modulates AMPA receptor sites similar to Aniracetam and Piracetam, but is thought to increase the overall release of glutamate and acetylcholine. This type of increase in activity ultimately works to increase the overall metabolic rate of neural pathways. Oxiracetam offers many benefits, but one of the most-notable is its ability to help treat the neurodegenerative effects of dementia. One study found that Oxiracetam was able to significantly increase the quality of life for patients that were suffering from dementia 5. Oxiracetam has more clinical data to support the ideas of its benefits and action, but would still benefit from further investigationas would most Nootropics.

All the Nootropic compounds found in the Racetam family share a similar chemical structure, and tend to offer similar benefits. While each compound differs in the exact nature of how it may affect the brain, most users tend to report a moderate increase in learning ability, memory retention, and overall sociability. There is some clinical data that suggests Racetams may offer beneficial neuroprotective, and properties, and have been shown to benefit some patients with dementia. The compounds in this group are regarded by many as being the original Nootropics, and have been used fondly by many throughout the years. Piracetam is the oldest member of this family, and has the most established account of its applications and effects. Newer members such as Aniracetam have been known to exhibit more energetic and potent effects, and are often preferred by many users.

The Racetam family is full of unique and energetic members

Many of the compounds found in this family of Nootropics have been experimented with recreationally for decades, while others are just now being fully recognized as offering potential benefits. The lack of clinical data suggests that caution should be used when experimenting with any of these compounds. That said, the internet is full of anecdotal accounts of these compounds which paint them as relatively safe. Any compound that is taken with the intent of altering brain function and mental perceptions should be done so with a heightened intentbeing cognizant that negative effects will pass eventually. Having your balance of perception shifted can be unsettling if youve never experienced such shifts, and for those new to these types of compounds its very much recommended to start small, and work your way up. The Racetam family is full of unique and energetic members, each with the potential to afford you great benefit when used effectively.

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