Steve Tunnicliffe spent his adolescent childhood years in Somalia before it descended into chaos. He encountered traditions, customs, and practices that predate Islam, many of which are likely to have vanished by now. He witnessed the beauty of a country with a deep cultural heritage that stretches far beyond the shores of the Indian Ocean. His book “Somalia: The Land of Camel Milk and Honey” is a collection of reflections and recollections from a time long past but still deeply held dear by many Somalis and visitors to this day.
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Dr Grace Blest-Hopley is a researcher in the neurochemical and neurofunctional underpinnings of cannabis, cannabinoids *(E.g. CBD and THC) and psychedelics. Dr Blest-Hopley is also the Research Director at Heroic Hearts Project, a charity connecting military veterans with mental trauma to psychedelic therapy options: ayahuasca, psilocybin, ketamine. https://www.heroicheartsuk.com/
Takeaways
CBD has anti-inflammatory properties and can modulate various systems in the body, but the quality and potency of CBD products vary.
The endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in regulating brain and body functions, and dysregulation can contribute to disease.
Sleep deprivation can lead to hallucinations and has a significant impact on mental and physical health.
Psychedelic medicines, such as MDMA and psilocybin, show promising results in treating mental health disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder.
Psychedelic therapy requires a comprehensive approach, including preparation, the psychedelic experience, and integration into daily life. Psychedelic medicines show potential in treating PTSD and mental health disorders in the UK armed forces.
Psilocybin mushrooms have been studied for their therapeutic benefits in a psychotherapy setting. The government’s response to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy has been cautious, despite evidence of its effectiveness.
Proper screening and safety precautions are essential in psychedelic therapy to minimize risks and side effects.
The future of psychedelic medicine includes exploring different models of therapy and scalability. Psychedelic therapy has the potential to reconnect individuals with themselves, their communities, and the world around them.
Community support networks are crucial in sustaining the benefits of psychedelic therapy. Indigenous peoples have a long history of using psychedelic medicines and can provide valuable knowledge and wisdom.
Psychedelic therapy has a mystical and magical component that goes beyond traditional psychiatric approaches.
Reducing stigma and engaging the military community are important steps in making psychedelic therapy more accessible. Summary
In this conversation, Hugh Keir and Dr Grace discuss the properties and benefits of CBD, the role of the endocannabinoid system in regulating brain and body functions, and the potential of psychedelics in treating mental health disorders. They also explore the importance of sleep and the impact of sleep deprivation on mental health. Hugh shares insights from his work with veterans and the positive effects of psychedelic medicine in helping them heal and regain emotional connection. The conversation highlights the need for further research and understanding of these alternative treatments. This conversation explores the use of psychedelic medicines in treating PTSD and mental health disorders in the UK armed forces. The discussion covers the potential benefits of psilocybin mushrooms in psychotherapy and the government’s response to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. The risks and side effects of psychedelic medicines are also discussed, along with the importance of proper screening and safety precautions. The conversation delves into the future of psychedelic medicine and different models of therapy, including the use of psychedelics in the Netherlands. The importance of community support networks and the role of psychedelics in reconnecting with oneself and society are highlighted. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the significance of ancestry and cultural practices in psychedelic therapy and the need to reduce stigma and engage the military community in this healing modality.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 00:28 CBD and PTSD 01:23 Properties of CBD and THC 02:21 The Endocannabinoid System 03:14 The Importance of the Endocannabinoid System in Psychiatry 04:13 The Discovery of Cannabinoids 05:10 The Link Between Hormones and Brain Function 06:10 The Connection Between Endocrinology and Psychiatry 07:05 The Role of Hormones as Neurosteroids 08:03 CBD’s Anti-Inflammatory Properties 08:53 Cell Line Testing 09:21 CBD’s Modulatory Effect on Systems 10:17 CBD’s Effect on Muscle Recovery 11:12 The Complexity of CBD’s Mechanisms 12:36 The Impact of CBD on Epilepsy 14:33 Licensing Challenges for Cannabis Medicines 16:31 Regulations and Quality Control for CBD Products 18:25 The Home Office’s Regulations on THC in CBD 20:18 The Risk of Testing Positive for THC with CBD Use 21:14 Recommended CBD Retailers 23:13 Psychedelics and the Relationship Between Plants and Humans 24:07 The Progress in Psychedelic Medicine Research 25:01 The Impact of Sleep Deprivation 26:23 Dreaming and Hallucinations 27:37 The Causes of Hallucinations from Sleep Deprivation 28:37 The Importance of Sleep in Mental Health 29:35 The Need for Enforced Rest in the Military 30:02 The Importance of Rest in the Military 31:00 The Importance of Sleep in Society 34:13 The Progress in Psychedelic Medicine Research 36:02 The Impact of MDMA on PTSD 37:27 The Impact of Psilocybin on Major Depressive Disorder 38:14 The Use of Psychedelics in Treating Veterans 39:43 The Profound Effects of Psychedelic Medicine 43:34 The Challenges and Benefits of Psychedelic Therapy 48:23 The Resistance to Psychedelic Medicine in Society 52:32 The Progress in Rescheduling Psychedelic Drugs 53:30 PTSD and Untreated PTSD in UK Armed Forces 54:27 The Use of Psilocybin Mushrooms in Psychotherapy 55:34 Government Response to Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy 56:04 Major Risks and Side Effects of Psychedelic Medicines 57:24 Screening and Safety Precautions for Psychedelic Therapy 59:20 Risks of Cannabis Use and Psychotic Disorders 01:00:36 The Future of Psychedelic Medicine and Scalability 01:01:30 Synthesizing Psychedelic Medicines 01:03:57 Psychedelic Therapy in the Netherlands 01:04:26 Different Models of Psychedelic Therapy 01:06:21 Psychedelics and Reconnecting with Oneself and Society 01:07:49 Psychedelic Therapy and Support Networks 01:09:14 Psychedelic Therapy for Military Families 01:10:44 The Importance of Ancestry and Cultural Practices 01:12:09 Indigenous Peoples and Psychedelic Medicines 01:19:11 The Mystical and Magical Component of Psychedelics 01:25:41 Reducing Stigma and Engaging the Military Community
Tim Owen is one third of 3 Dads Walking. 3 Dad’s Walking in their own words: “Suicide is the biggest killer of those under 35 in the UK. We only learned this terrifying fact because our daughters took their own lives within the last 3 years. By raising awareness, we hope we can help prevent other families from being devastated by suicide.” https://www.3dadswalking.uk/ https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
Jen Price is a former British Army Officer who spent the entirety of 2022 undertaking an extreme set of adventure and endurance challenges on behalf of the Veteran’s Foundation. https://jennevolve.co.uk
Joshua Bethania is a comedian from India who’s been on the comedy scene since 2021. Having lived in London since 2019 his comedy tends to include his observations of life in London as an outsider and what he is doing to become an insider.
Freddie Kemp is the owner of MFS Casting and is a HAC reservist. Follow his work at https://instagram.com/mfs.casting and https://instagram.com/militaryadviserfk
Tara Austin leads hybrid behavioural, brand and data science projects for global and UK clients, focused on consumer and citizen behaviour change. Tara is also Campaign Director for the PAR campaign for Psilocybin Access Rights: a volunteer organisation which is calling on the government to reschedule psilocybin (the psychoactive compound in “magic mushrooms”) to make it accessible for medical research. This could lead to the development of new therapies and would bring hope to the suffering of millions of people in the UK with conditions that currently have limited and inadequate treatment options. For more information on the potential benefits of psilocybin please see par.global
Aron Welsh is a former soldier who, while in an induced coma battling a lethal infection, suffered from an acute onset of intensive care psychosis. He authored a book about his experiences called “Never Really Over”, available at this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Never-Really-Over-Aron-Welsh-ebook/dp/B097Z2SV6D
Stephen Murray is a teacher, the founder of Inspireland and is also an award winning poet – with two published collections of poetry which have received widespread critical acclaim. He is regarded as Ireland’s leading poetry workshop provider for young people and has delivered workshops to over 50,000 young people in Ireland. His work has featured on Nationwide, RTE TwoTube, TV3, Arena, BBC 2, The Irish Times, the Independent and Hot Press.
Bethan Middleton (a.k.a Socially Awkward Sophie) is an artist; founder of Limbitless: a company providing custom artwork on prosthetic limbs; and a veteran of the Royal Navy. https://www.instagram.com/limbitlessuk/
Jess Nesling is a London-based actress and voice artist originally from Swansea, South Wales. Jess has played Queen Elizabeth in Antic Disposition’s critically acclaimed tour of Richard III , Elvira in Blithe Spirit and Hermione in The Winter’s Tale with Changeling Theatre. Jess is currently writing her first full-length play, about the women of Kilmainham Gaol. https://jessnesling.co.uk/
Grant Kilburn is an actor who featured in the film Kajaki (a.k.a. Kilo Two Bravo) but at just 23years old, he suffered a stroke, which resulted in him taking a step away from acting for nearly a decade. He is currently performing in 2:22 A Ghost Story – a thriller play by Danny Robins showing in London’s Apollo Theatre now. www.instagram.com/grantkilburn/https://222aghoststory.com/
Dr Nick is the Founder of FactoryDAO – the place to build, launch and manage your DAO. He is also a physicist, learning theorist, governance researcher, builder.
Geraint Jones is an author, podcast host and former soldier. His latest book, co-authored with Levison Wood, is the harrowing true story of Operation Pitting and the Kabul airlift. Titled: “Escape from Kabul”. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Escape-Kabul-Inside-Levison-Wood/dp/1399718126
