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Articles by Sam Gandy
An Enthusiast’s Guide to Psilocybe aztecorum
An important species of Mesoamerican biocultural heritage, the use of Psilocybe aztecorum likely dates back centuries to the Aztec empire. This mushroom is still used by Indigenous groups in parts of Mexico today, although its use is waning. Its populations appear to be declining in Mexico, threatened by habitat loss from deforestation and climate change. A temperate or cold weather wood-loving fungus, P. aztecorum can be cultivated using a similar approach to growing other wood-lovers such as P.
Liquid Culture Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Mushroom Cultivation
Liquid culture (LC) provides a means of supercharging your fungi cultivation efforts. It consists of fungal mycelium suspended in a liquid medium, which can promote faster colonization than starting with spores or colonized agar. This simple hack is the most efficient way to expand fungal biomass for mushroom cultivation. It will save you money while unlocking new levels of possibility in your mushroom-growing journey. It is cost-effective and extremely scalable, with a little LC going a long way.
An Enthusiast’s Guide to Psilocybe caerulescens
Table of Contents Psilocybe caerulescens is an iconic species of mesoamerican biocultural heritage, with a lineage of usage stretching back centuries. A likely candidate for the teonanácatl, or god’s flesh of the Aztecs, P. caerulescens is still used ceremonially today, being highly revered and used widely by a number of different Indigenous groups in Mexico.
An Enthusiast’s Guide to Psilocybe natalensis
Disclaimer: this article covers a legal theme. Table of Contents Psilocybe cubensis is the best-known psilocybin mushroom, holding center stage in cultivator circles due to its wide distribution and the ease of its cultivation.
Transpersonal Ecodelia: Surveying Psychedelically Induced Biophilia
Abstract : Objective: To explore the perceived influence of psychedelic experiences on participants’ relationship with the natural world. Method: A total of 272 participants reporting previous use of psychedelics completed free-text response requests via an online survey. Thematic analysis was used to explore group participant responses.
Psilocybe natalensis: Growing, Potency, and Benefits
Psilocybe natalensis History P. natalensis mushrooms were discovered in South Africa in the Natal region where they often grow in a xerophytic, dry habitat. They were first discovered in 1995 by scientists Jochen Gartz, Michael Smith, Derek Reid, and Albert Eicker and are known for their strong bluing feature and high potency. Due to the lack of research and evidence, details on how this unique South African mushroom strain was used on the continent are yet to be known.
Psychedelics as potential catalysts of scientific creativity and insight
Introduction “The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed.” - Albert Einstein Aspects of creative thinking Creativity is considered one of the most important and valued human traits (Andreasen, 2011).
Viewpoint: Why the FDA’s decision to overrule its evaluatory panel and approve dementia-relief drug Aduhelm was a mistake
The GLP Needs Your Help It is easier than ever for advocacy groups to spread disinformation on pressing science issues, such as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. No, vaccines are not harmful. Yes, the use of biotechnology, GMOs or gene editing to develop antigens for treatments including vaccines are part of the solution. To inform the public about what’s really going on, we present the facts and challenge those who don't. We can’t do this work without your help.
Reassessment of Pioglitazone for Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease and Defining the Need Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, irreversible neurodegenerative disease whose most fearsome clinical manifestation, and the target of most treatment-oriented human clinical trials, is dementia. Dementia does not respect ethnicities or socioeconomic groups, and the fear of descending into mindlessness is a haunting prospect. Alzheimer’s disease is, by any definition, an unmet medical need.
Why FDA's Aduhelm Approval Does More Harm Than Good
Like many people, I was shocked when the Food and Drug Administration ignored the advice of its neurological drugs advisory panel and broadly approved Biogen’s new drug, Aduhelm, even for populations never included in the clinical trials to assess the drug. Read Full Article »
Polygenic Score Models for Alzheimer’s Disease: From Research to Clinical Applications
Introduction Alzheimer’s disease (AD), an aging-related neurodegenerative disease and the most common form of dementia, is a health threat to societies worldwide. AD has a complex etiology that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, which account for its variable risk among individuals.
The lynx effect
The reintroduction of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) to Britain is a polarising and contentious issue. Lynx are a native part of British fauna, and were pushed to extinction here by hunting and loss of woodland habitat around 1,300-1,500 years ago. Unlike other large carnivores such as the wolf, there is no clear evidence of historical demonisation of the lynx in Britain.
Altered states can help us face death with serenity and levity
One way or another, we will all approach the end of life, we are all terminal, and existential anxiety can be a burden long before this. Studies by terror management theory researchers have found that when death salience is aroused in people, they adapt their behaviour and increase their reliance on defence mechanisms such as denial.
The potential synergistic effects between psychedelic administration and nature contact for the improvement of mental health
Declaration of conflicting interests The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Funding The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. ORCID iD Sam Gandy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2877-6244 Aday, JS, Mitzkovitz, CM, Bloescha, EK, et al. (2020) Long-term effects of psychedelic drugs: A systematic review.
The race to rewild
Urgent new front in environmentalism emerges from grassroots groups, backed by radical political demands to redefine who rules the land A surge in rewilding enthusiasm looks set to see thousands of acres of Britain earmarked for creating a wildlife-richer future, led by swelling numbers of grass roots groups, urban communities, big land owners and disillusioned farmers.
Clarifying the Potential Role of Microbes in Alzheimer’s Disease
We thank authors Jeong and Liu for their investment of time in formulating their Letter. Here we respond to their comments. To read this article in full you will need to make a payment Purchase one-time access Read-It-Now Purchase access to all full-text HTML articles for 6 or 36 hr at a low cost. Click here to explore this opportunity. Subscribe to Neuron References Jeong H.-H. Liu Z. Are HHV-6A and HHV-7 really more abundant in Alzheimer’s disease?. Neuron. 2019; 104 (): 1034-1035 Mohorianu I.
From Egoism to Ecoism: Psychedelics Increase Nature Relatedness in a State-Mediated and Context-Dependent Manner
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Could Psychedelics Help to Heal the Crisis of Disconnection?
Disconnection, in a broad sense, may be the root of a number of our civilisation’s major ills. Unless this disconnection - to self, self with others, and the natural world - is addressed, the future of our species on this planet is likely in jeopardy. It's widely considered that we have entered the sixth mass extinction of life on this planet, due entirely to human actions on the biosphere.
Paul Greengard, Ph.D. (1925-2019)
Paul Greengard was found unresponsive on the floor of his home on East 63rd Street in Manhattan early in the morning of April 13, 2019, by his housekeeper who was arriving to begin her day. Emergency services were summoned and transported Greengard to the NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center at the 68th Street and York Avenue in Manhattan, but he never regained consciousness, spontaneous respirations, or cardiac rhythm.
Psychedelics can have the same overview effect as a space journey
In 1966, on a rooftop overlooking San Francisco, the writer Stewart Brand felt that he could perceive the curvature of the Earth, an effect of the psychedelic substance he had consumed. He wondered why no one had photographed the Earth from space yet, and realised how much this might help people feel connected to each other and to their shared home.
Psychedelics have the same overview effect as a space journey – Rosalind Watts, Sam Gandy & Alex Evans | Aeon Essays
In 1966, on a rooftop overlooking San Francisco, the writer Stewart Brand felt that he could perceive the curvature of the Earth, an effect of the psychedelic substance he had consumed. He wondered why no one had photographed the Earth from space yet, and realised how much this might help people feel connected to each other and to their shared home.
Psychedelics and potential benefits in “healthy normals”: A review of the literature
Introduction Classical or serotonergic psychedelic compounds are a subclass of psychedelic compounds whose method of action is strongly tied to the neurotransmitter serotonin, with the compounds acting as partial agonists at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor, which is widely distributed across numerous cortical areas of the brain (Carhart-Harris et al., 2014; Glennon, Titeler, & McKenney, 1984).
Viral activity may play role in Alzheimer’s disease
New research published in Neuron revealed a link between human herpesvirus activity and molecular, neuropathological, genetic and clinical aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. “We have studied Alzheimer's for over 100 years and only now do we find definitive evidence for virus genes in Alzheimer's brains,” Sam Gandy, MD, PhD, professor of neurology and of psychiatry, Mount Sinai Chair in Alzheimer's Disease Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told Healio Psychiatry.
Mental Illness Is Far More Common Than We Knew
Most of us know at least one person who has struggled with a bout of debilitating mental illness. Despite their familiarity, however, these kinds of episodes are typically considered unusual and even shameful. New research, from our laboratory and from others around the world, however, suggests mental illnesses are so common that almost everyone will develop at least one diagnosable mental disorder at some point in their life.
What Would It Take to Get an Effective Alzheimer’s Drug?
Almost 47 million people live with dementia worldwide, and that number is expected to reach 131 million in 2050, according to Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI). Dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is estimated to account for 60 to 80 percent of cases. Dementia affects about half of the population age 85 years or older.
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