Daily Archives: March 31, 2021

Pharmadrug, a medical cannabis distributor and pharmaceutical company, announced March 16 it would be collaborating with University of Michigan Medical School professor Dr. Jimo Borjigin to research DMT, a powerful psychedelic drug.

Scientifically known as N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, DMT is also called the spirit molecule. It has been used by indigenous people in South America for centuries and is known for inducing life-changing, spiritual experiences in users.

DMT differs from other psychedelics like LSD and psilocybin (magic mushrooms) in that it is naturally found in both plants and animals, while LSD and psilocybin are only found in plants and various fungi.

Borjigin has been studying DMT since 2012, and she said she became interested in DMT after contacting DMT researcher Rick Strassman of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Strassman wrote a book and produced a documentary about his research on DMT, specifically a clinical trial he ran with human volunteers in the early 1990s.

As a neuroscientist, I wondered what DMT did in human brains, Borjigin said.

In 2013, Borjigin and other researchers found DMT in the pineal gland of rats. The pineal gland is a small gland in the brain that produces melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Through other studies, DMT has also been found in humans, but scientists still do not know how much DMT there is in our bodies or why it is there.

More recently, Borjigin and her lab found DMT in the rat brain in 2019. The amount of DMT found in the rat brains is roughly equivalent to the amount of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitters that affect mood and regulate a variety of functions in human bodies. The level of DMT in the rat brains indicated that the drug might be able to have a much larger role in human functioning than previously thought.

I think our findings contradicts other peoples criticism that DMT is just a minor presence, or a metabolic waste product, and doesnt have any physiological function, Borjigin said.

This critique has been one of many obstacles standing in the way of research on the role of naturally occuring DMT in the body. The perceptions around studying psychedelics tend to misunderstand or dismiss their importance, Borjigin said. She highlighted how difficult it was to obtain funding for her research.

We actually tried very hard to get funding from the National Institutes of Health, Borjigin said. Many people seem to be confused about our drive to study DMT. They will try to send our proposals to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is the wrong type of research. Were interested in endogenous DMT.

Research on endogenous DMT, or DMT that is made naturally in our brains, stood out to Pharmadrug CEO Daniel Cohen.

We were really interested in the fact that DMT is so prevalent in nature, Cohen said.

Pharmadrug currently distributes medical cannabis in Europe and psychedelic mushrooms in the Netherlands, where it is legal to buy and sell them.

We realized there was a lot of work already being done with psilocybin, LSD and ketamine, Cohen said. We also did some research and realized that DMT hadnt really been addressed yet in the biotech sector.

Pharmadrug got in touch with Borjigin through a connection with another psychedelic researcher.

Speaking with (Borjigin), it became apparent that shes one of the leaders in academia when it comes to DMT research, Cohen said.

Cohen said he believes there hasnt been enough research on DMT.

We want to use (Borjigins) research with future clinical studies to develop a potential commercial path for DMT, Cohen said.

Borjigin said she will continue to study DMT in rat brains and not in those of humans due to the invasiveness of the necessary procedures. Any clinical studies in humans would observe the behavioral impacts and effects of DMT and not require surgical procedures, Borjigin explained..

Doctoral candidate Nicolas Glynos has been working with Borjigin for the past two years and cites DMT research as one of the main reasons he decided to study at the University of Michigan.

Ive spent the majority of the past two years studying, thinking about and working on DMT, Glynos said.

Glynos is an active member of the Student Association for Psychedelic Studies, co-founder of the Rackham Interdisciplinary Workshop Psychedelic Neuroscience and Therapy and was a featured speaker at the TedxUofM event.

With these student organizations, Glynos said his goal is to make psychedelic studies more mainstream.

We want to provide opportunities for students, faculty, staff and members of the Michigan community to engage in research surrounding psychedelic science and therapy, Glynos said. We want to bring psychedelics into the curriculum of Michigan academia.

Glynos said he sees psychedelics as having the potential to radically shift how mental health is treated.

Weve learned that SSRIs and other pharmaceutical drugs are really ineffective at treating mental illnesses like major depressive disorder, substance abuse and anxiety conditions, Glynos said. Because DMT occurs endogenously in humans, theres a lot of potential to understand mental health disorders and psychiatric disorders.

Borjigin emphasized that DMT research is still important even if the therapeutic potential is unclear.

This could rewrite how psychiatry sees the fundamental aspects of mental function, Borjigin said. This could open up a whole new field of research and open up our eyes to entire new aspects of how our brain functions.Daily Staff Reporter Teagan Stebbins can be reached at teagans@umich.edu.

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Pharmaceutical company teams up with UM to research DMT therapeutics - The Michigan Daily

Microdosing has become something of a wellness trend in recent years, gathering traction in Australia and overseas.

The practice involves taking a low dose of a psychedelic drug to enhance performance, or reduce stress and anxiety.

While the anecdotal accounts are compelling, significant questions remain around how microdosing works, and how much of the reported benefits are due to pharmacological effects, rather than participants beliefs and expectations.

Weve just published a new study following on from two earlier studies on microdosing. Our body of research tells us some benefits of microdosing may be comparable to other wellness activities such as yoga.

Its not clear how many Australians microdose, but the proportion of Australian adults who have used psychedelics in their lifetime increased from 8% in 2001 to 10.9% in 2019.

After a slow start, Australian research on psychedelics is now progressing rapidly. One area of particular interest is the science of microdosing.

In an earlier study by one of us (Vince Polito), levels of depression and stress decreased after a six-week period of microdosing. Further, participants reported less mind wandering, which might suggest microdosing leads to improved cognitive performance.

However, this study also found an increase in neuroticism. People who score highly on this dimension of personality experience unpleasant emotions more frequently, and tend to be more susceptible to depression and anxiety. This was a puzzling finding and didnt seem to fit with the rest of the results.

Read more: Does microdosing improve your mood and performance? Here's what the research says

In a recent study, Stephen Brights research team recruited 339 participants who had engaged in either microdosing, yoga, both or neither.

Yoga practitioners reported higher levels of stress and anxiety than those in the microdosing or control groups (participants who did neither yoga nor microdosing). Meanwhile, people who had practised microdosing reported higher levels of depression.

We cant say for sure why we saw these results, although its possible people experiencing stress and anxiety were attracted to yoga, whereas people experiencing depression tended more towards microdosing. This was a cross-sectional study, so participants were observed in their chosen activity, rather than assigned to a particular group.

But importantly, the yoga group and the microdosing group recorded similarly higher overall psychological well-being scores compared with the control group.

And interestingly, people who engaged in both yoga and microdosing reported lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress. This suggests microdosing and yoga could have synergistic effects.

Through a collaboration between Edith Cowan University, Macquarie University and the University of Gttingen in Germany, our most recent study aimed to extend these findings, and in particular try to get to the bottom of the possible effects of microdosing on neuroticism.

We recruited 76 experienced microdosers who completed a survey before undertaking a period of microdosing. Some 24 of these participants agreed to complete a follow-up survey four weeks later.

The results were published in the Journal of Psychedelic Studies this month. We found that like our earlier work, the 24 participants experienced personality changes after a period of microdosing. But the changes were not entirely what we anticipated.

This time, we found a decrease in neuroticism and an increase in conscientiousness (people who are highly conscientious tend to be diligent, for example). Interestingly, a greater amount of experience with microdosing was associated with lower levels of neuroticism among the 76 participants.

These results are more consistent with other research on the reported effects of microdosing and high-dose psychedelics.

Read more: It's not all in your mind: how meditation affects the brain to help you stress less

Our most recent findings suggest the positive effects of microdosing on psychological well-being could be due to a reduction in neuroticism. And the self-reported improvements in performance, which weve also observed in our past research, could be due to increased conscientiousness.

When considered together, the findings of our research suggest contemplative practices such as yoga might be particularly helpful for less experienced microdosers in managing negative side effects such as anxiety.

However, we cannot know for certain if the changes weve observed are due to microdosers holding positive expectations because of glowing anecdotal reports theyve seen in the media. This represents a key limitation of our research.

As psychedelic drugs are illegal, its ethically complex to provide them to research participants we generally have to observe them taking their own drugs. So another key challenge of this research is the fact we cant know for sure precisely what drugs people are using, as they dont always know themselves (especially for LSD).

Given the illegal drug market is unregulated, theres a danger people could inadvertently consume a potentially dangerous new psychoactive substance, such as 25-I-NBOMe, which has been passed off as LSD.

People also cant be sure of the size of the dose theyre taking. This could lead to unwanted effects, such as tripping balls at work.

Potential harms like these can be mitigated by checking your drugs (you can buy at-home test kits) and always starting off with a much lower dose than you think you need when using a batch for the first time.

Despite the hype around microdosing, the scientific results so far are mixed. Weve found microdosers report significant benefits. But its unclear how much of this is driven by placebo effects and expectations.

For people who choose to microdose, also engaging in contemplative practices such as yoga might mitigate some of the unwanted effects and lead to better outcomes overall. Some people might find they get the same benefit from the contemplative practices alone, which is less risky than microdosing.

As a next step, one of us (Vince Polito) and colleagues are using neuroimaging to investigate the effect of microdosing on the brain.

If you practise microdosing, are based in Sydney, and are interested in taking part in this research, please email sydneymdstudy@gmail.com.

Read more: 'Microdosers' of psychedelics report improved mood, focus and creativity

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Could microdosing be as good as yoga for your mood? It's not that big a stretch - The Conversation AU

Working with artists such as Jafaris, Nealo, Soul, FLYNN and Mango X Mathman to name a few; Emijis knack for sonic versatility has no limits.

The ambient debut album from neo-classical producer/composer Emiji landed last Friday, March 26th, and the timing was undeniably apt. A project designed to cleanse the mental palette of those struggling during a chaotic era; My Journeys also delves deep into the mindscape of the creative, showcasing emotions at their most potent from Emijis childhood to the present day. The album also challenges perceptions of psychedelic drugs for therapeutic reasons, exploring the potential for psychedelics to guide those who experience them substantially closer to nature.

Originally from Poland, Marcin Ciszczon is the co-founder of one of Ireland's most successful independent production houses, Diffusion Lab. After spending nearly a decade working with some of Irelands most exciting musical talents in his role of producer, composer and engineer, the time has come for his own music to be shared.

Having first moved to Ireland back in 2005, Marcin later returned after a five-year stint in his homeland in 2015 and started Diffusion Lab alongside Chris Bubenzer and Ivan Klucka. The hip-hop, pop and R&B juggernaut helped shape the likes of Hare Squead and Soul from the beginning of their careers. Emiji used every minute of spare down-time to craft his debut album, designing My Journeys as a soundscape for meditation, breathwork or progressive relaxation exercises.

I started the album back in 2017, and finally finished it last year during COVID, Marcin tells Hot Press about the contemporary project.

The concept of the album was to portray my personal experiences with mental health and holistic medicine, which meant I was reluctant to receive any feedback. Ive made it this way on purpose, and I totally understand that its niche music, so not everybody will appreciate the sound - and thats fine! Its my unique story, and the reasons why Ive made My Journeys matter just as much as the music itself.

The moving cinematic overture examines the depths of the human psyche, considering the profound themes of natures healing power and childhood wounds. A symphony of moving tracks; each song embodies aspects of pain, uncertainty, darkness and the human spirits inner workings. Emiji utilises a newfound understanding of the world to encourage others to dive into their own potential.

In 2017, I became a bit exhausted both mentally and physically, Marcin says. Psychedelics were suggested to me, so I decided to give LSD a try. I read about the dangers and side effects of using psychedelic drugs for mental health purposes from various articles and forums. I spent four months researching what to expect; discovering that a transformative, spiritual experience requires higher doses.

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1984, Misuse of Drugs Act 2015 and the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 regulate drug usage in Ireland, while the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970 classified all psychedelic drugs in the US as Schedule I. However, before the 70s, psychedelics were of keen interest to many psychiatrists and psychologists. Dozens of research studies with thousands of patients were completed using LSD and psilocybin with promising results and evidence which entirely conflicted with the restrictive laws.

Psychedelic research began again in the early 2000s to investigate the safety and uses of psychedelic drugs in substance use and mental health treatment. MDMA, LSD, psilocybin (the active compound in magic mushrooms), ibogaine and ayahuasca are all currently being researched for their potential in treating depression, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, substance abuse, addictions and more. Psychedelic drugs are also being evaluated as treatments for Alzheimers disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

I felt like I was torn apart when I tried LSD and psilocybin, both who I was as a person and my internal values, Emiji says, reflecting on his own experiences.

Psychedelics showed me what I needed to do with my life. If youre not scared, they will show you the issues holding you back, as long as you arent resistant, Marcin adds. I was terrified at the beginning, but you have to go with the flow. I believe that if you know how to take the right dose, in the right environment, with the right people, then it can be relatively safe. The end goal is ego death, where it legitimately feels as though youre dying - but you come back. I trusted the people who guided me, they were experienced and knew that they were doing.

President Nixon criminalised psychedelics in the 1970s, and derailed research projects into their potential for mental health, but I believe that once you know what youre doing dosage-wise and are using them for the right reasons, hallucinogenic drugs are totally harmless, Emiji says, reflectively.

The first time I used LSD for therapy, it was one of the most difficult, meaningful experiences of my life. It turned the way in which I saw the world on its head. Through psilocybin and ayahuasca, I discovered what I needed to do to reach my potential. Its one thing to gain knowledge, but its another thing to actually put what you know into practice to change your life. I became much closer to nature spiritually, Maybe it is why I live in the countryside right now - surrounded by lakes and forest.

Outside of their use as treatments in clinical populations, psychedelics have been found to enhance self-acceptance, increase openness and improve social relationships. Emijis own relationship was strengthened as a result.

If you use psychedelics alone, youll experience a lot of beauty and darkness. Its like a total disconnection from the matrix but a connection to something bigger than all of us. If you have the experience with someone else, as I did with my girlfriend, it gives the effect of becoming at one with that person. At least it was like that for us, but every psychedelic experience is different.

A group of people in the Dublin area are undergoing trials to assess the effectiveness of the active ingredient of magic mushrooms in the treatment of severe depression, marking the first time a psilocybin-centred trial has occurred in Ireland. It remains an illegal drug for recreational purposes and its use in the Irish study - based out of Tallaght hospital - is heavily regulated.

I believe that psychologists undertaking the trial need to try psychotropic plants themselves to truly understand, but Im delighted that the trial is happening. There are dozens more going ahead in the US and in the UK. Psychedelics have the ability to render those who experience them totally open when talking to a therapist.

In my experience, it changed my entire outlook, Marcin continues. I feel as though they work the opposite way to regular antidepressant medication. The experience is too intense to cope with on a regular basis, and they often aid addiction rather than cause it. I stopped drinking alcohol, even though I was a moderate drinker. Ive also transitioned to a more healthy eating and lifestyle in general that I believe happened as a side effect of using psychedelics and making the right decisions. I think governments are often afraid of public reaction, but there are signs of changes in societal thinking towards psychedelics.

Emijis potent examination of his inner psyche and emotional range bleeds into My Journeys. Minimal in instrumentation, the album relies mostly on a unique blend of complex synths and intricate piano melodies. Collaborating with Dublin folk/pop duo Hvmmingbyrd on lead singles Larimar and talented vocalist Sandra Maria on Unspoken; Emiji creates serene, all-consuming musical results.

Not every song on the album is about nature, but many of them were inspired by it. The forest itself is music, and always calms me down, Emiji says, smiling.

Dawning is about the morning. The idea was inspired by the Bray Head, when I was high up in the mountains. I was trying to emanate what the rising sun would sound like. The track gets bigger and brighter, as the morning does. Youre hit with the bliss of warmth. Helpless was completely electronic originally. I was experimenting from totally electronic music to cinematic acoustic. The song was purely beats, but I introduced orchestral sounds and they took over. I wanted to portray how I fell at the time, as if I had no power, even though externally I may have looked well. Wounded Child was written about the anger you feel as a child when you cant express it, allowing it to fester and grow over time.

A voyage of self-discovery, Emiji offers the project as a gift to those needing tranquility during a chaotic era in history. Stretching his creative limits and ailing his own mental health overtook his desire to create music for the mainstream ear.

I was still experimenting and editing the album early last year, Emiji says. From my work with Diffusion Lab, Im aware that this country listens to mostly pop, hip-hop, R&B. Much of that group wouldnt be interested in ambient music, but mental health is becoming an even more critical crisis on account of lockdown. The hope is that My Journeys will offer some sense of peace and broaden the horizons of contemporary music in Ireland. You wont be hearing it in a nightclub, though!

Stream the new album from Emiji below:

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'The story behind My Journeys matters as much as the music itself': Neoclassical artist Emiji on his debut LP and exploration of psychedelics for...

Silo Wellness Inc. (CSE: SILO), a wellness company in the psychedelics and functional mushroom marketplaces, is pleased to announce the appointment of beer, wine and spirits brand marketing and communications expert, Stuart Kirby, as Vice President of Marketing & Communications as well as cannabis and hemp industries expert, Peter Holzworth, as Vice President of Business Development.

I am delighted to welcome two very accomplished senior executives to key leadership positions with Silo Wellness, stated Douglas K. Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of Silo Wellness. With a decorated career in the adult beverage industry marketing some of the most iconic brands in the space, I look forward to Stuarts creativity in delivering and amplifying the Marley licensing agreement we have just recently announced. I am equally excited to welcome Peter, who has tremendous experience in the cannabis and hemp industries, and to having him replicate that success within the psychedelic and functional mushroom category.

Kirby has more than twenty five years of experience with integrated strategic communications, brand public relations and consumer lifestyle marketing. He has overseen the marketing and communications functions for some of the most successful companies in their respective industries, such as the worlds leading supplier of wine, E & J Gallo, two leading global PR firms, Edelman and Hill & Knowlton as well as the worlds leading adult beverage supplier, DIAGEO.

Anchored to the belief that with great opportunity comes an equal measure of responsibility, Kirby has led numerous corporate social responsibility efforts from environmental sustainability plans and global responsible consumption initiatives to cause-related marketing campaigns and humanitarian relief operations partnering with non-profit entities such as Amnesty International, Surfrider Foundation, Pan-American Development Foundation, USAID and Habitat for Humanity.

Throughout my career, I have had the great privilege of being entrusted as steward to some of the most iconic, lifestyle brands in the world. Marketing and publicizing the legacy of Bob Marley a man, musician and mystic that I have long admired may be one of the most exciting professional opportunities I have ever been responsible for, commented Kirby. I look forward to transforming this fast-moving industry with a brand that stands for one love and translating that universal vision to positively impact the communities and cultures we partner with.

A veteran of the capital markets, cannabis and hemp industries, Holzworth has specialized experience in mergers and acquisitions, big data, compliance and regulatory affairs as well as brand development. As Vice President of Business Development for Silo Wellness, he will introduce and scale the Marley-branded mushroom line to the world by establishing relationships with large-scale distributors in the nutraceutical, nutrition, smoke shop and big-box retail markets.

It is my great pleasure to be entrusted with the awesome responsibility of taking one of the most beloved brand names in the world and applying my experience from the cannabis industry to scale this business exponentially in the immediate future, exclaimed Holzworth. I look very much forward to assisting Silo Wellness to lead and expand market accessibility, domestically and abroad, to the functional and psychedelics mushroom category. Given my international contacts, global market experience and new business development acumen, I am here to fast-track Silos industry leadership position and to scale the Marley brand globally in short order.

Silo Wellness is also pleased to announce the appointment of Kenny Choi to the role of Corporate Secretary, effective immediately. The appointment of Mr. Choi follows the resignation of Mo Yang as the Corporate Secretary of Silo Wellness.

About Silo Wellness

The mission of Silo Wellness is to improve health and wellness by developing and introducing psychedelic medicine to reduce trauma and increase performance by destigmatizing the active compounds in psychedelics and innovating ease of administration and ingestion. Silo Wellness intends to introduce new, safe and affordable alternatives to current medicines by facilitating entry into new and emerging markets where psychedelics are legal by conducting ketamine and psilocybin wellness retreats and elsewhere by manufacturing and distributing functional mushrooms.

Since its inception, Silo Wellness activities have focused on: (1) development of psilocybin-free functional mushroom tinctures; (2) the development of the formulation of a psilocybin nasal spray in Jamaica; and (3) offering of Jamaican and Oregon psychedelic wellness retreats as well as the cultivation of psychedelic mushrooms in Jamaica. None of Silo Wellness products claim to cure or mitigate any physical or mental disease, symptoms, disorders or abnormalities.

For further information, please contact: http://www.SiloWellness.com

Media Relations: Stuart Kirby, VP of Marketing & Communications press@silowellness.com

Silo Wellness Investor Relations: (604) 343-2724 IR@silowellness.com

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:

This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. Other than statements of historical fact, all statements are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the appointment of officers of Silo Wellness and the business plans of Silo Wellness. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and the potential impact of COVID-19. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Silo Wellness assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

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Silo Wellness Hires Two Veterans of Lifestyle Marketing and Cannabis Industry to Promote Marley Line of Functional & Psychedelic Mushroom Brand -...