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Press Release: Benzinga Recognizes Women’s Impact In Psychedelics By Appointing Six Industry Trailblazers To Its Advisory Council

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DETROIT, Feb. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Benzinga, a financial news and data company, has added 6 new members to its Benzinga Psychedelics Advisory Council.

These 6 new members are:

  • Amanda Siebert, Author, Journalist, Photographer, Host
  • Kathryn Walker, CEO, Revitalist Lifestyle and Wellness
  • Lauren Taus, Psychedelic Assisted Therapist, Inbodied Life
  • Lindsay Hoover, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, JLS Fund
  • Najla Guthrie, CEO, Wellbeing Digital Sciences
  • Natalie Ginsberg, Global Impact Officer, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, (MAPS)

What Is The Benzinga Psychedelics Advisory Council

Unlock the secrets of the psychedelics industry with the elite thought leaders of the Benzinga Psychedelics Advisory Council, an extension of Benzinga’s strong commitment to content and education through its daily psychedelics coverage and its Benzinga Psychedelics Capital Conference.

Comprised of the industry’s most respected figures, the council members will share their unparalleled insights on the latest trends and news, as well as forecasts. The council not only recognizes the achievements of industry pioneers but also grants Benzinga readers and conference attendees access to credible, expert analysis.

From exclusive articles, expert opinions, and live discussions at the Benzinga Psychedelics Capital Conferences, to informative quotes on relevant news, the Benzinga Psychedelics Advisory Council is your ultimate guide to the psychedelics industry.

“Benzinga is a media giant that has dedicated a large amount of real estate to emerging markets, such as cannabis, crypto, and psychedelics. We truly care about the growth of these industries and strive to provide the most up-to-date news, data, and executive insights to the Benzinga community,” says Elliot Lane, Head of Cannabis and Psychedelics Partnerships at Benzinga. “A diverse group of thought leaders throughout the mental health industry has joined our Benzinga Psychedelic Advisory Council to communicate their firsthand knowledge directly to the individual, a value for consumers not found anywhere else in this space.”

More About The New Members

Kathryn Walker

CEO

Revitalist Lifestyle and Wellness

Kathryn Walker is the CEO of Revitalist Lifestyle and Wellness (CSE: CALM) (OTCQB: RVLWF) (FSE: 4DO) which serves as a leading mental health and wellness company lead by a comprehensive team of specialty providers. Kathryn worked at a Level 1 Trauma Center in Tennessee for 9 years before attending anesthesia school at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. She practiced anesthesia of all specialties for 8 years before opening the first Revitalist location in Knoxville, TN in 2018. Today Kathryn operates as a leading advocate for psychedelic medicine as she continues to advance her comprehensive skill set recently graduating with her second Master’s degree in Psychiatric Nursing as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Recognizing the need for community access, Kathryn founded the national mental health 501c3 nonprofit, Community Change Foundation (CommunityChangeFoundation.org). This nonprofit foundation focuses on providing financial assistance to veterans, frontline workers, and the financially disadvantaged seeking help with psychedelic therapies. Kathryn incorporated Community Change Foundation in 2019.

Recognizing the need for education and training advancements, Kathryn founded the American Association of Psychedelics (AAPsychedelics.org). This education non-profit 501c3 aims to continually bring high-quality education and training to all disciplines of providers. Kathryn incorporated the American Association of Psychedelics in 2021.

Lindsay Hoover

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

JLS Fund

Lindsay Hoover is a co-founder and Managing Partner of JLS Fund, a PsyTech venture fund. JLS is investing in the exciting convergence of science, technology and neurology, catalyzed by the enormous potential of plant-based and psychedelic medicines to heal illness and enhance wellness. We invest in drug development and delivery technologies, supporting and enhancing software and technologies, and related consumer products and services.

Najla Guthrie

CEO

Wellbeing Digital Sciences

Najla Guthrie is revolutionizing the way we treat and talk about wellness. Her extensive list of accomplishments includes founding KGK Science, publishing over 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals, becoming the CEO of Wellbeing Digital Sciences, and her research on the effects of citrus juices and their constituent flavonoids on breast cancer cells.

Najla is a global leader in the nutraceutical and emerging psychedelic industry with a focus on how the development of natural compounds can fundamentally change the way we treat and prevent mental illness. She continues to present and speak at a global level, lobby for the advancement of policy changes in the supplement and cannabis industries, and lead the team at Wellbeing Digital Science and KGK Science.

Natalie Lyla Ginsberg

Global Impact Officer

Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, (MAPS)

Natalie Lyla Ginsberg (MSW) is the Global Impact Officer at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, (MAPS), and the co-founder of the Jewish Psychedelic Summit. She works for the ethical, accessible and safe integration of psychedelics in mainstream culture and society. Natalie joined MAPS in 2014, founding the Policy & Advocacy department, and serving as its director for 5 years. She also initiated and co-developed MAPS’ Health Equity program, including MAPS’ first MDMA Therapy Training for Communities of Color. Before joining MAPS in 2014, Natalie worked as a Policy Fellow at the Drug Policy Alliance, where she helped legalize medical cannabis in her home state of New York, and worked to end New York’s race-based marijuana arrests. Natalie currently lives in Los Angeles, CA. She received her B.A. in history from Yale College and her master’s of social work (M.S.W.) from Columbia University.

Amanda Siebert

Author, Journalist, Photographer, Host

Amanda Siebert is an author and freelance multimedia journalist focusing on culture, science, business, and health in the cannabis and psychedelics spaces. She is currently a contributing writer at Healing Maps, DailyOm, and Forbes, the co-founder and editor-in-chief at Inside the Jar (on hiatus), and the host of the podcast, Root Medicine. Her first book, “The Little Book of Cannabis: How Marijuana Can Improve Your Life”, was published by Greystone Books in 2018 on the same day cannabis was legalized in Canada. In 2019, it was named the #1-selling non-fiction cannabis book in the country. In her second book, “Psyched: 7 Cutting-Edge Psychedelics Changing The World,” (published October 2022) she breaks down the history, science, and cultural and medical uses of seven different psychedelic drugs and plant medicines, contextualized with case studies and interviews with scientists, doctors, therapists, advocates, ethnobotanists, practitioners, and users.

Lauren Taus

Psychedelic Assisted Therapist

Inbodied Life

Lauren Taus is a psychedelic-assisted therapist, trained to work with both psychoactive compounds and plant medicines. Lauren leads Inbodied Life, a group therapy practice that also offers immersive educational programs for clinicians to learn psychedelic-assisted therapy and integration in contexts that hold personal healing as essential to effective facilitation. Lauren is a lifelong student, educator and activist. For decades, Lauren’s work has focused on creating aligned, and kind mind-body connections to support complete health for individuals and the collective. Lauren is a regular speaker and contributor in the larger space of psychedelic medicine. Her work has been featured in DoubleBlind, Chacruna, The Guardian, NY Magazine and more.

About Benzinga

Benzinga is a fast-growing, dynamic and innovative financial media outlet that empowers investors with high-quality, unique content.

SOURCE Benzinga



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Psychedelic Experiences Enhance Sexual Function, Study Finds

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A groundbreaking study by Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research reveals that magic mushrooms, LSD, and other psychedelics can significantly improve sexual function for months following the experience. This research, the first of its kind, suggests psychedelics could have therapeutic applications in sexual health and beyond.

Magic mushrooms, LSD, and other psychoactive substances have been found to potentially enhance sexual function for an extended period post-experience. This pioneering study, conducted by Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research, marks the first scientific exploration into psychedelics’ impact on sexual health. Nearly 300 participants reported improvements in various aspects of sexual functioning weeks after their psychedelic experiences.

The study analyzed responses from individuals using psychedelics recreationally or for wellness/ceremonial purposes and a smaller group from a clinical trial on psilocybin for depression. Results indicated enhancements in sexual enjoyment, arousal, satisfaction, attraction to partners, body image, communication, and connection, lasting up to six months.

Interestingly, the study also compared the effects of psilocybin with a leading antidepressant, finding that psilocybin users reported significant improvements in sexual arousal and satisfaction, whereas antidepressant users often experienced a decline in sexual function. This suggests psychedelics might offer an alternative treatment avenue for depression without the sexual side effects associated with standard antidepressants.

The researchers propose that psychedelics could be beneficial in various therapeutic settings, including couples therapy, by potentially avoiding drug-induced sexual dysfunction. The study’s findings also underscore the importance of sexual health to overall psychological well-being, highlighting the need for further research in this area.

Why It Matters: This research sheds light on the potential of psychedelics to improve sexual health, a crucial aspect of human well-being often impacted by mental health conditions and the side effects of conventional treatments. By offering a possible alternative to antidepressants without compromising sexual function, psychedelics could revolutionize the approach to treating depression and anxiety, enhancing both sexual and mental health.

Potential Implications: The study opens new avenues for the therapeutic use of psychedelics, suggesting they could play a role in treating conditions that adversely affect sexual health. It also highlights the need for more comprehensive research to understand fully and harness the benefits of psychedelics in sexual and mental health treatment.

Source: Imperial



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anxiety

LSD Effective in Treating Anxiety, Phase II Clinical Trial Shows

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A new drug known as MM-120, which is a more pharmacologically optimized form of popular psychedelic lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), just entered phase II clinical trials for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and other mental health disorders.  

What is LSD? 

LSD is a potent hallucinogenic which belongs to a class of drugs called ergolines (more specifically, LSD is an ergoline-based tryptamine compound), meaning it’s derived from the ergot fungus. Despite this, it still requires a lot of human processing to become LSD, so it’s not considered a natural entheogen like psilocybin or mescaline. LSD was first synthesized by Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman in 1938, but it wasn’t until 1943 that its effects were fully realized when Hoffman accidentally ingested a small amount from his lab.  

As a psychedelic, standard effects include various sensory hallucinations (visual, auditory, sensory, olfactory, etc.), as well as altered perception, feelings, and thoughts. Something that makes LSD unique is the duration and intensity of the hallucinogenic trip, which often ranges from 6 to 12 hours but has been reported to last even longer. This could be due to the way the drug binds to receptors in the brain. 

Like other tryptamines, LSD interacts with serotonin receptors, in particular, receptor 5-HT2AR. Something interesting that happens when LSD binds to 5-HT2AR, is that the receptor closes over the molecule, preventing it from leaving the brain quickly. This could explain why the effects of LSD seem to last after it has left the bloodstream.  

From this point, the serotonin receptor will activate two signaling pathways between the cells, via G-proteins and β-arrestins. LSD function primary through the latter, but that’s not always the case. Overall, ergoline compounds can be a bit mysterious in their processes, because different subgroups can have different effects on serotonin receptors. Add to that, newer research found that ergoline compounds can actually modify the structure of the receptors they interact with, in order to activate different effects.  

MM-120 clinical trials  

MM-120 (lysergide d-tartrate) is a new drug developed by MindMed, a biotech company the focuses on psychedelic-based medications. This drug is a “new and improved” version of LSD that is currently undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The most recent results from phase II of testing found that the drug candidate, particularly at the 100 µg dose, “demonstrated effectiveness, significantly reducing anxiety symptoms.” 

MindMed logo (source: www.mindmed.co)

Dr. Daniel Karlin, chief medical officer of MindMed, explained the key findings in an interview with Medical News Today: “MindMed conducted this study with participation from 198 patients, all of whom suffered with a primary psychiatric diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), across 20 clinical sites in the United States.” 

“Participants were divided into 5 study arms; each arm received a single dose of a lysergide-based drug candidate, called MM-120 (lysergide d-tartrate), or a placebo,” Dr. Karlin continued. “Among the four groups that received a dose of MM-120, doses were 25, 50, 100, or 200 µg of MM-120. Importantly, no form of additional therapy was given to any participant. The study design evaluated the stand-alone effects of the drug candidate, MM-120,” he added. 

Karlin continued: “The data available to us at this time show that patients experienced meaningful and lasting symptom reduction. Four weeks following a single dose of MM-120, 78% of participants who received either a 100 or 200 µg dose measured as having a clinically significant response to the drug. 50% of participants who received the 100 µg dose were considered to be in clinical remission at Week 4, meaning that the patient no longer suffered from clinically significant symptoms of GAD.”  

Psychedelics for mental health disorders  

Over the years, psychedelics have proven themselves to be one of the most successful treatment options for many different mental health disorders. An overwhelming 82% percent of Americans are in favor of accelerating research on this front, but federal regulations have really been a stick in the wheel of progress here. Given the introspective and sentient nature of psychedelics, it makes sense that using them therapeutically can help a person be more honest, open, and transparent.  

Although discussion of using psychedelics therapeutically is pretty fresh for most of us, many cultures have been utilizing entheogens medicinally and in religious rituals for thousands of years. Even scientists in United States and Europe were conducting research on psychedelic compounds for the treatment of mental illnesses, and it all really began to gain traction throughout the 1940s and 1950s. 

In 1943, Swiss-chemist Albert Hofmann first synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide and by the early 1950s, psychiatrist Humphry Osmond had already pioneered a treatment regimen using LSD to cure alcoholism and other mental disorders; with relative success might I add. Osmond is the one who coined the term ‘psychedelic’, meaning ‘mind manifesting’. He also oversaw author Aldous Huxley’s infamous, therapeutic mescaline trip in 1953.  

Psychedelics have been proven effective in treating various mental health disorders

Numerous psychedelic studies were in the works during that time, but all that research was derailed for social and political reasons when entheogenic compounds were banned at the start of the 1970s. Fast forward a few decades, and we are now beginning to see a growing acceptance of these compounds, especially the naturally-derived ones, and thus, an uptick in research. One of the main areas of interest is how psychedelics can help with mental health disorders such as depression, PTSD, and addiction.  

“The evidence suggests mystical experiences help people gain a new perspective on their issues,” said Matthew Johnson, the Susan Hill Ward professor in psychedelics and consciousness at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “We think the long-term biological changes will be similar to those with successful psychotherapy. Essentially, the person has learned something about this problematic behavior in their life and changed their life as a result.” 

Final thoughts 

MM-120 is the closest we’ve ever had to a clinically-proven and FDA-approved LSD-based medication. Phase II trials are currently underway, so it’s well on the path to becoming available via prescriptions in select markets, although it could still be some time before we can expect more widespread use of this drug.

Hello readers. We’re happy to have you with us at Cannadelics.com; a news source here to bring you the best in independent reporting for the growing cannabis and hallucinogen fields. Join us frequently to stay on top of everything, and subscribe to our Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter, for updates straight to your email. Check out some awesome promos for cannabis buds, smoking devices and equipment like vapes, edibles, cannabinoid compounds, amanita mushroom products, and a whole bunch more. Let’s all get stoned together!



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magic mushrooms menstruation

Shrooming During Menstruation: Can It Help?

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Taking shrooms is a disorienting experience, and its not well researched into what happens when ladies go shrooming during menstruation. Here’s a little personal experience.

Does it matter if ladies go shrooming during menstruation?

The first thing to say here, is that there is really no research on this. Sure, its expected that psilocybin has some kind of effect on estrogen, and that estrogen can affect psilocybin trips (or vice versa); but there is little else to define what happens when shrooming during menstruation. And of course, like the rest of life, there is no one answer.

We ladies are a complicated group. We have constant hormone changes throughout the month, which can cause our moods to go up and down, particularly as we get closer to menstruation. And this is without adding in any drug. Women vary, sure, with some experiencing far more of this than others; but the reality of womankind, is that we live within quite a dynamic hormonal structure.

Now, think about it. Does a drug experience change depending on how we feel and our internal dynamics? Kind of seems like it would. We are told how important set and setting are for a trip, and that’s the part that’s outside of us. Any high we undertake in life, is likely to be affected by our own bio-physiology; and for a woman, menstruation is a particularly intense time for the body.

Menstruation
Menstruation

Just to get to menstruation, a woman’s hormones must substantially drop. These drops cause low hormone levels, which are associated with all kinds of symptoms; like soreness, headaches, and flu like symptoms, mood swings, anxiety, and sometimes extreme mood drops. So, it’s not like the rest of the month, and its not that out there to expect some drugs might affect a woman differently at this time.

Before getting into a personal experience, I do want to point out a suspected connected between psilocybin and estrogen. In terms of women’s menstrual cycles, psilocybin might be able to even out irregular menstruation, help with PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), and polycystic ovary syndrome. These are not statements, as the subject must be further researched; but the idea these concepts have come up in some research, does indicate that psilocybin is affecting hormones somehow.

Me and magic mushrooms

Much like many young people in college, I did a fair number of drugs in my university days; although nothing too intense. For the most part, it was weed and alcohol, although other drugs got mixed in here and there over the years, and mushrooms were one. My clearest memory is sitting on some grassy field somewhere close to campus with a couple friends, and watching the sun come up. I didn’t do them all the time, but I never remember a bad time.

Things can change, though. And somewhere along the way, I became the kind of person who is more prone to bad trips. This was established for me with a bad acid trip, and a few MDMA experiences which were generally okay, but with a lot of stress and anxiety. It matters little what set and setting, or how relaxed I start out. I’m just one of those people that repeatedly doesn’t respond well.

The thing is, mushrooms are now associated with so many great things, right? Well, as a writer and interested user, I started taking microdose amounts, and that was fine for the most part. So I decided after many years, to try a full trip again. No heroic doses, no big ones even. I didn’t go over the equivalent of 1.5-2 grams in dried weight, although I took capsules, rather than actual mushrooms.

When I made the plans to take them with a friend, I had not considered my period. But the day before I was meant to do it, I got it…two days early. I decided, for science if nothing else, that I would go through with the trip, anyway. I did some requisite searches, realized there wasn’t much out there in terms of information, and went for it.

Magic mushrooms
Magic mushrooms

Shrooming during menstruation

As a person who is prone to bad trips, but was only planning a small dose, I had no idea what to expect. Would it calm down my not-so-bad, but still existent cramps? Would it throw me into some crazy uncontrolled mood? Would it help, or would it hurt, or would it do nothing at all?

At first I found it to help a bit. For the first hour or so after it kicked in, I felt fewer issues. But then it changed. The cramps started heavily. And with them, my anxiety rose. Beyond the cramping, I began experiencing powerful hot flashes as well. Now, I cannot say with any certainty if this was a function of my natural cycle, or if the shrooming had an affect on my period. I get these symptoms anyway, and I can’t predict when during menstruation they’ll hit, so there’s no clear answer. But they did continue intensely through the trip.

I didn’t take more at that point, it didn’t seem like a good idea. The cramps also seemed to dampen the psychedelic effects of the mushrooms. I don’t know if this has to do with prostaglandins which are released during cramping, and which are a main reason for feeling sick when menstruating, but it could have been. Prostaglandins are inflammatory, and when cramping, you can expect to feel the worst. For this reason, and the timing, I certainly don’t rule out that my natural cycle, simply overrode the good effects of the mushrooms.

What I can say, is that they didn’t exactly help. It’s not like I went from having cramps to not having them; or from a bad mood to something more level. Whether the mushrooms actually increased cramping or anxiety, I certainly can’t say. But it seemed quite possible to me at the time. It’s also quite possible that someone who ordinarily does better with mushrooms, might have a better time during menstruation.

Afterwards

The problem with trying to decipher this, is that menstruation is such a strange and, well, messed up time. Some women get by without feeling much, or without a lot of changing mood issues; but for some, it’s a real problem. It’s several days per month when things really aren’t working well. When things can be downright bad. And anything that might provide relief or an answer, is useful.

In the case of a regular bad trip, the drug wears out of the system, and the negative symptoms end. This is pretty standard. It might be uncomfortable for a little while, but afterwards things settle back into a norm. It’s highly infrequent, and barely noted, that a person has an issue after the drug wears out of their system.

Can magic mushrooms be useful for women during menstruation?
Can magic mushrooms be useful for women during menstruation?

For me, it was actually hard to tell when it wore off. Since I did not take the kind of amount that leads to intense visuals, it wasn’t about waiting for hallucinations to stop. For the most part it was an intense body high, only, with some mild brightening of colors. Because of the discomfort from the cramping, it was actually quite difficult to know when the trip was over.

And since I was in the middle of my period, it was hard to know if the psilocybin at all intensified the standard menstruation issues, or if the menstruation issues were simply strong enough to counteract the drug. I knew by the end of the night it was over, but there was certainly less of a line this time around.

While I found it to be an interesting experience; from here on out, any shrooming experimentation for me will likely be kept away from menstruation. Regardless of my experience, we should see expansion on this general topic in the next few years to come. Perhaps mushrooms really do increase cramping for some; and perhaps for others, they can actually help ease symptoms.

Conclusion

Sometimes its hard to know what you’ll get. In the case of me shrooming during menstruation, it wasn’t the most fun experience I’ve ever had; but it was certainly a learning one.

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