#73 Dan: Hallucinogens “The Spirit Molecule”

Show Notes   For the last two shows I have attempted to discover the basic tenets of atheism and theism in an effort to understand how people approach their inner and outer lives. In the theistic case we would call it spirituality.  Well, today I plan to discuss spirituality through a third medium—an hallucinogen called Ayahuasca, the chemical that the scientist Rick Strassman called the “Spirit Molecule” in the 1990’s. I’ve discovered several substances that would have once been referred to as recreational drugs, are now being studied by major institutions like Johns Hopkins and the University of San Francisco, especially regarding the use of psilocybin for managing PTSD, Depression and Anxiety. But today, we are here to talk about the medicinal use of the plants that make up the hallucinogen, Ayahausca. My studies show that thousands of people from around the world travel to the Amazon every year to drink Ayahuasca for mental health conditions including alcoholism, depression, anxiety, PTSD, eating disorders, and drug addiction. My guest today, whom I will refer to as Dan, has attended 18 Ayahuasca ceremonies and is a strong advocate of the medicinal advantages of the chemical, physically, mentally and spiritually. Dan is not a druggie. In fact he seasoned business executive with an MBA and 30 years experience in founding and running businesses. Dan was also an officer in the Marine Corp. Obviously, Dan is not your typical recreational drug user. Finally Dan has been happily married for 20 years, chose not to procreate and likes to save needy dogs. So, let’s get onto educating ourselves on the advantages or disadvantages of the use of Ayahuasca, Strassman’s “Spirit Molecule”.    You can get more information and regular updates from Charlie at thenextchapter.life