How ayahuasca ceremony may help with PTSD?

 

In recent years, the use of psychedelics in treating PTSD has gained notice in the scientific community. Past studies on the effectiveness of psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), methylene dioxin methamphetamine (MDMA), dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and Psilocybin (mushrooms) have shown some efficacy in treating various mental health conditions. Ayahuasca brew, which contains DMT, is a popular alternative for those with PTSD who have tried more traditional treatments such as therapy and medication unsuccessfully.

What is Ayahuasca?

Ayahuasca is used by numerous indigenous tribes throughout the Amazon Basin for both medical and ritualistic purposes. It has gained some popularity among North American scientists, physicians, and laypeople interested in its spiritual, psychological, and medicinal benefits. For the indigenous people of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela, Ayahuasca is used for healing ailments and is viewed as a means of connecting with one’s soul.

Ayahuasca is a mixture of Chacruna leaf, Chagropanga vine, Ayahuasca vine, and assorted admixture plants. Once ingested, it affects the human consciousness starting approximately half an hour after consumption and its effects last about six hours. In some cases, individuals experience significant psychological stress, increased heart rate, and higher diastolic blood pressure during the experience. These potential side effects raise concerns for those being treated.

Psychedelic effects

The psychedelic effects of Ayahuasca include visual and auditory hallucinations, the mixing of sensory modalities, and psychological introspection that may lead to great elation, fear, or a sense of illumination. The visual hallucinations have been reported to begin with intense light shows swerving in and out of one’s field of view. Regardless of whether eyes are closed or open, these visuals persist and eventually turn into images, from gods to snakes to anything else imaginable. Though many seek Ayahuasca to treat a variety of mental health issues, the experience is often unique to the individual.

When ingesting Ayahuasca brew, individuals will very likely experience a wide variety of symptoms that include dizziness, weakness, tremors, abnormal sensations, nausea, and altered consciousness. Intense vomiting and occasional diarrhea, known as “the purge," is also common, and is considered by many shamans and experienced users of Ayahuasca to be an essential part of the experience. And many who have consumed the substance report a kind of “spiritual awakening.”

Warning!

Ayahuasca can be dangerous, as it might increase the risk of having a manic episode in people with bipolar disorder or a family history of the disorder. And, excessive use can lead to serotonin syndrome, especially when used in conjunction with SSRIs. A few deaths due to the consumption of Ayahuasca have also been reported. These deaths may have been due to unscreened pre-existing heart conditions; interactions with other drugs, such as antidepressants, recreational drugs, caffeine, or nicotine; or the result of improper use.

What Is PTSD?

Now, before the assessment of how and why Ayahuasca may help not just with PTSD symptoms, but also the PTSD sources, let’s review what PTSD is. PTSD, or Post-traumatic stress disorder, is a condition that develops in some people after experiencing dreadful and frightening events – also known as trauma. This could be a personal assault, a serious accident, a natural disaster, or war.

It can happen to anyone – of all nationalities and cultures, and at any age. An estimated one in 11 people will actually be diagnosed with PTSD during their lifetime, with women being twice as likely as men to have PTSD. The number of undiagnosed cases would probably make that number much higher, as many people learn coping mechanisms and repress the symptoms.

The Causes of PTSD

What causes PTSD? It remains unclear why some people get PTSD following events that involve threatened or actual death, or serious injury. PTSD causes may also include:

·         A family history of anxiety and depression – linked to inherited mental health risks

·         Temperament – inherited features of your personality can play a part

·         Stress responses – how your brain regulates the chemicals and hormones released into your body

·         Early childhood traumas – such as abuse and neglect

·         A history of mental illness – this includes substance abuse

·         In early years of life, even minor events can cause trauma as children are very vulnerable and sensitive, and the effects can last lifelong if not worked upon

The Symptoms of PTSD

PTSD symptoms can vary in severity, last longer than a month, and often persist for years. Symptoms may appear early on, or later, causing immense distress and problems with functioning. Symptoms are categorized as:

·         Re-experiencing – flashbacks reliving the traumatic events time and time again with physical signs of sweating and an increased heart rate. Frightening thoughts and bad dreams are included as they can be triggered by words, objects, and situations

·         Avoidance – these characteristics of staying away from certain places and avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the events can cause changes in everyday routine and habits

·         Reactivity – feelings of tension, having difficulty sleeping. and being easily startled make it difficult to focus, eat, and sleep properly

·         Cognition and mood – distorted guilty feelings alongside negative thoughts and difficulty in remembering can cause a loss of interest in activities that should be enjoyable. This may result in alienation and detachment from family and friends

·         Patterns of behavior – all the above can be summarized into one thing. PTSD causes the victim to develop a pattern of behavior that persists based on a “conclusion” or “decision” made during the traumatic event. This conclusion becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy which causes repeated trauma for the person with PTSD.

The Types of PTSD

Types of PTSD that take years to develop are known as delayed-onset PTSD and is diagnosed in less than 20% of cases. The symptoms are the same as those mentioned above.

Secondary trauma can be developed if you’ve been supporting someone who has experienced severe trauma – making the impact of the event distressing to you

Acute stress disorder is characterized by panic reactions, mental confusion, severe insomnia, and being unable to manage basic self-care

Uncomplicated PTSD involves the persistent re-experiencing of the traumatic event, emotional numbing, and symptoms of increased arousal

Comorbid PTSD is normally associated with depression, alcohol or substance abuse, and panic and other anxiety disorders

Complex PTSD has similar symptoms to PTSD but has increased after-experience signs such as:

·         Avoidance of friendships and relationships

·         Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness

·         Difficulty in controlling emotions

·         Suicidal thoughts

The Treatments for PTSD

Treatments for PTSD include immediate support, medication, and psychotherapy. Depending on the PTSD diagnosis good responses may be achieved with group and cognitive-behavioral approaches. Carefully managed treatment will be given for psychiatric and addiction problems.

Some people may turn to religion and have great faith in the help and support of others. And now there’s preliminary evidence that the visionary element in the sacred brew Ayahuasca can help people with PTSD.

Ayahuasca and PTSD

This is a new topic for scientific research, but there are already very promising studies’ outcomes, suggesting positive therapeutic benefits of ingesting Ayahuasca. One study found that a single dose of Ayahuasca had rapid, sustained antidepressant effects in patients with recurrent depression who had not responded well to medication in the past. In another study examining a six-month evaluation of the ingestion of Ayahuasca on psychiatric symptoms, results showed improved mental health and a change in attitude towards emotional independence.

How Ayahuasca may Help?

One way that ayahuasca ceremonies may help with PTSD is by allowing participants to confront their fears and traumas directly. Many people with PTSD avoid situations or triggers that remind them of their trauma. This avoidance can be a significant barrier to recovery. Ayahuasca ceremonies may help people face their fears and work through them in a safe and supportive environment. The intense emotional experiences that occur during an ayahuasca ceremony can also help participants process and release traumatic memories.

Another way that ayahuasca ceremonies may help with PTSD is by promoting a sense of connection and meaning. Many people with PTSD feel disconnected from others and struggle to find meaning in their lives. Ayahuasca ceremonies often involve group settings and communal activities, such as singing or dancing. These experiences can help participants feel connected to others and to a greater sense of purpose. The profound experiences that occur during an ayahuasca ceremony can also help participants gain a new perspective on life and their place in the world.

Ayahuasca is not a magic pill, just drinking ayahuasca will not fix all your problems. It is a deep spiritual journey that helps you to see yourself with greater clarity. After this experience, if you go back and continue with the same habits and patterns, you will very likely experience the same life issues you had prior to drinking ayahuasca.

The term entheogenic means something that induces an experience of god within. It leads to experiences of spiritual enlightenment and conscious-modifying journeys into different realms. When this is done with proper support where a trained facilitator can help you to integrate the insights to apply in your everyday life, the effects can be long lasting, if you commit and follow through with the changes that are experienced during the ayahuasca retreat.

Ayahuasca alkaloids enhance the processes used in memory reconsolidation and fear extinction. This fear response triggered by the memory can be extinguished or reprogrammed with the proper techniques.

Traumatic memory plays a huge role in the development of PTSD and how those memories get processed and dealt with are a key factor in modern therapies. While individuals are under the influence of ayahuasca, emotional processing is highly activated. The part of the brain area linked to PTSD is the amygdala, and when this gets activated, traumatic memories can be relived and addressed. During an ayahuasca journey, this is accompanied by higher perspectives and lessons that help to integrate the experience.

Is it legal in the USA?

Ayahuasca contains DMT, a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States. This means that DMT is a highly restricted and illegal substance, except for scientific research and some religious or spiritual ceremonies. Some states such as Oregon, for instance, have decriminalized the personal use of certain drugs, including psilocybin-containing mushrooms, but Ayahuasca use remains fully illegal.

However, there are multiple religious organizations that may legally use Ayahuasca under federal law. The most notable of these organizations is the Church of Santo Daime, which was granted a historic exemption from the Controlled Substances Act in 2009 after winning a case in federal court. This exemption allows members of the church to import, distribute, and consume Ayahuasca as part of their spiritual practices.

Therefore, while Ayahuasca may be legal in a few select circumstances, it remains a highly restricted and illegal substance in the United States. It is important to note that the safety of the drug is also a concern, as improper use can lead to serious health risks. Thus, those who wish to seek the benefits of Ayahuasca should do so under the guidance of a qualified practitioner in a legal and safe setting.

 

Sources and Additional Information:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/talking-about-trauma/202008/ayahuasca-and-its-potential-treat-ptsd

https://spiritvineretreats.com/ayahuasca-blog/what-is-ptsd-can-ayahuasca-help-for-ptsd/

https://soltara.co/ayahuasca-therapy-is-just-the-start-for-veterans-healing-from-ptsd/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidcarpenter/2020/01/27/saved-by-psychedelics-after-traditional-methods-fail-ayahuasca-heals-a-deep-emotional-trauma/

Why your hair turns gray as you age?

 

Why does hair go grey?

Natural hair gets its color from a pigment called melanin. The type and amount of melanin determines each person’s hair color. Melanin is produced by melanocyte cells. These cells are located in the (deepest) basal layer of the skin, just above the hair papilla (the bottom part of the hair follicle).

There are two types of melanin. Eumelanin is a dark pigment that is responsible for brown and black hair. Pheomelanin is a reddish pigment that results in ginger and strawberry blond hair types. Blond hair happens when melanocytes produce low levels of eumelanin.

Type of melanin based on hair color:

·         Black: lots of eumelanin

·         Brown: average amount of eumelanin

·         Blonde: little eumelanin

·         Red: lots of pheomelanin and small amount of eumelanin

Melanocytes infuse melanin into the hair shaft, giving it a distinctive color. Hair goes grey as the body ages because there are fewer melanocytes and melanin production decreases. Air pockets replace melanin in the hair shaft, resulting in silver-grey hair, and grey pubic hair too.

Reports have suggested that the leading cause of gray hair is oxidative stress, a process where free radicals damage cells, including melanocytes. Free radicals are particles that are derived from everything from pollution to fried foods which are often absent in our diets.

 

Grey hair and genetics

The average age for grey hair varies greatly, and one of the main causes of grey hair in your 20s is genetics. The age at which a person’s hair turns grey is influenced by the IRF4 gene, and one specific variant (rs12203592) is a marker for premature greying.

The IFR4 gene controls that activity of another gene called TYR, which encodes an enzyme that is needed for melanin production. It has been suggested that the rs12203592 variant affects the activity of melanocyte precursor cells, but it’s currently unclear whether this hypothesis is correct.

 

Other causes of grey hair

In addition to ageing, other causes of grey hair include genetics, stress, nutrient deficiencies, and health problems. These factors affect how melanocytes function and can cause premature grey hair by lowering the production of pigment.

 

Stress and grey hair

There are several ways in which psychological stress can affect the hair shaft. The most common hair-related side effect of stress is telogen effluvium, which makes hair fall out about three times faster than usual. In middle age and later, the hair may grow back grey.

In rare cases, hair may suddenly turn white. This condition is known as Marie Antoinette Syndrome, whose hair reportedly went grey overnight before her beheading.

But does stress cause grey hair? In humans, we don’t know. One study in mice showed that, when exposed to stress, their fur turns grey, but whether this is true in humans remains unknown.

 

Nutrient deficiencies

Several micronutrient deficiencies have been detected in people with premature grey hair. Low levels of group B vitamins (folic acid, biotin, and B12), vitamin D, iron, and selenium have been associated with grey hair in childhood and young adults.

 

Smoking

Early grey hair is more likely to affect people who smoke according to a 2013 study. It has been suggested that smoking, like air pollution, generates reactive oxygen species (unstable oxygen molecules) that damage the biochemical process of melanin production.

 

Medical Causes

The vast majority of people with gray hair have age-related graying. However, sometimes graying hair indicates an illness, especially if it occurs at a particularly young age. Health problems that may be heralded by gray hair include:

·         vitamin B₁₂ deficiency

·         neurofibromatosis (also called Von Recklinghausen's disease): this group of inherited diseases causes tumors to grow along nerves and abnormal development of the bones and skin.

·         tuberous sclerosis: an uncommon, inherited condition that causes benign tumors in multiple organs (including the brain, heart, kidneys, eyes, lungs, and skin).

·         thyroid disease

·         vitiligo: this condition causes melanocytes (the cells at the base of hair follicles that produce color) to be lost or destroyed — perhaps because the immune system "misfires" and attacks the scalp rather than an infection.

·         alopecia areata: a disorder in which patches of hair may be suddenly lost, especially the colored (non-gray) hairs. This may lead to "overnight" graying because previously present gray or white hairs suddenly become more obvious. When hair growth resumes, it may be white or gray, but colored hair may eventually return.

 

Mechanism

A study published April 19, 2023, may have answered why our hair turns gray as we age.

Researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine studied melanocyte stem cells in mice — a type of cell that’s also found in humans — and discovered that these cells may eventually get “stuck” as one ages, eventually losing the ability to move between growth compartments in hair particles and produce the pigment that provides hair color.

If this result is also applicable to humans, researchers are hopeful it could lead to the discovery of a way to prevent hair from losing its youthful hue.

“The newfound mechanisms raise the possibility that the same fixed-positioning of melanocyte stem cells may exist in humans,” Qi Sun, the study’s lead investigator, said in a press release. “If so, it presents a potential pathway for reversing or preventing the graying of human hair by helping jammed cells to move again between developing hair follicle compartments.”

 

Sources and Additional Information:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05960-6?

https://atlasbiomed.com/blog/grey-hair-causes/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/hair-turn-gray-2017091812226

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gray-hair-can-return-to-its-original-color-mdash-and-stress-is-involved-of-course/

Jack Teixeira: What we know about him?

 

Court Appearance

Jack Teixeira appeared in federal court for the first time on Friday, April 14, 2023, in handcuffs. Authorities have charged him with unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents and materials. If found guilty, Teixeira faces up to 15 years behind bars. He did not enter a plea.

 

Security Breach

Jack Teixeira allegedly first leaked the files on the online chatroom platform Discord, which is popular among gamers. Known as "OG", he was seen as the leader of an invitation-only chatroom called Thug Shaker Central which he created during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

The Washington Post reported that the group - which had about two dozen members - swapped "memes, offensive jokes and idle chitchat". They reportedly watched films together, discussed their favorite guns, and messaged extensively about the war in Ukraine.

Before he shared the images of the intelligence in January, Mr Teixeira allegedly wrote up versions of the sensitive information and shared it to the chatroom. But he reportedly began sharing photos of the files after becoming frustrated with the lack of response. This began around January 2023. At first, the leaks were kept inside the small chatroom, but in early March, members began posting them on other Discord servers, including ones dedicated to the game Minecraft and a Filipino YouTuber.

 

Jack Teixeira Views

The channel leader and his team shared the following interests:

·         Video gaming

·         Orthodox Catholicism

·         Guns

·         Racist and antisemitic memes

·         Right-wing ideology

This information came from the group members, but also from the video clips, and among them Jack recorded himself making antisemitic and racist slurs before opening fire on a target.

No surprise that Donald Trump Jr. praises Jack Teixeira as a "hero" in interview with Catturd, and Marjorie Taylor Greene said that the only faut of the guy is that he is white, male, Christian, and antiwar. That makes him an enemy to the Biden regime.

 

Further Investigation Steps

Upon his return to the U.S. from Ireland Friday evening, President Joe Biden addressed a couple of questions that have not yet been answered. He told reporters he has asked the Defense Department "to make sure they get to the root of why [Teixeira] had access in the first place, No. 1, and No. 2, to focus extensively on the extent to which it all occurred. And that's going on right now." The president told reporters he didn't think the investigation would take long: "We are getting to the bottom of it quicker than I anticipated."

Earlier in the day, he issued a statement commending "the rapid action taken by law enforcement to investigate and respond to the recent dissemination of classified U.S. government documents." Mr. Biden added, "I have directed our military and intelligence community to take steps to further secure and limit distribution of sensitive information, and our national security team is closely coordinating with our partners and allies."

 

Sources and Additional Information:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65271348

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/14/1169952771/jack-teixeira-background-pentagon-document-leak

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jack-teixeira-what-we-know-man-charged-pentagon-leaks-case/

https://thehill.com/homenews/3949172-what-we-know-about-suspected-pentagon-leaker-jack-teixera/

https://forward.com/fast-forward/543082/leaker-of-classified-documents-posted-antisemitic-content/