Manifesting Minds is an anthology of articles from the MAPS Bulletin and is edited by Rick Doblin and Brad Burge. It contains the highlights of articles written until 2014, which are grouped per theme. The book does a great job of offering different perspectives, but for specific information one can best search on their website itself.
Quick Take
The essays are divided into eight categories. They are the following:
Arts and Creativity
Coming of Age
Science and Medicine
Therapy
Sexuality
Spirituality
Ecology
Technology
The essays range from articles written about the topic, to interviews and recollections of experiences. One learns about doing 2C-B with your children, doing (macro) doses of psychedelics and their relationship to extreme sports, and the connection between meditation and psychedelics.
Amongst the many authors are the luminaries like Ann Shulgin, Ram Dass, Aldous Huxley, but also lesser-known voices and perspectives like that of one of the MDMA trial participants.
As mentioned in the intro, the book provides some insights, but one could also find these by searching the MAPS Bulletin website.
One quote that stood out to me is the following in the interview with Aldous Huxley, speaking about a psychedelic experience:
“You remember something extraordinary having happened. And to some extent you can relive the experience, particularly the transformation of the outside world. You get hints of this, you see the world in this transfigured way now and then-not to the same pitch of intensity, but something of the kind. It does help you look at the world in a new way. And you come to understand very clearly the way that certain specially gifted people have seen the world. You are actually introduced into the kind of world that Van Goh lived in, or the kind of world that Blake lived in.”
Wall of Storms by Ken Liu is the second installment in the dandelion trilogy (preceded by The Grace of Kings). It’s another epic story that entices emotions, uncovers plots, and keeps on surprising with the large level of creative innovation.
In this mini-review I wanted to touch upon two aspects. The characters, which are very well done. And the story structure according to the 8 steps of the hero’s journey.
The Characters
The main protagonist is Kuni Garu, you get to know him as a kid in the first book, and experience him as Emperor Ragin (people get new names sometimes, which is somewhat confusing) in the second book.
The great thing is that the characters all have their own personality, shaped by the earlier history in the book. Their strengths also show their weaknesses and most of them are strategic thinkers with great theory of mind. They think about what others think about them (many times over).
This not only includes thinking about what the person directly in front of you thinks, but also what the others there think, or what the general population will think (in the long term).
The book is highly political, but then more in a Game of Thrones-way then in a left/right party politics way. All I can say is that I was really captured by the considerations that all the characters had, the flaws that you got to see, and outcomes of their actions on the world.
Story arch
A character is in a zone of comfort,
Kuni Garu and the gang are in peace, they rule the country
Luan Zyu is a noble without titles
But they want something.
Succession needs to be planned far ahead / want to keep the piece
Wants to do the most interesting thing
They enter an unfamiliar situation,
Intrigues, world outside of Wall of Storms
Teaches Zomi and/or ventures outside the Wall of Storms
Adapt to it,
Squash rebellion? And/or teaching kids to grow up
Survives, is at other island
Get what they wanted,
Things are in balance/united
Finds new people
Pay a heavy price for it,
Has to give own life in the end, deaths/temporary peace from others
Dead, guides other people to Dara
Then return to their familiar situation,
But family wins partly, people are united, daughter is (temporarily) empress
Student had learned much (Komi, could also do her arch someday!)
Having changed.
New situation with other people, learned to innovate quickly
DMT: The Spirit Molecule by Rick Strassman offers his account of a large scale study on the effects of DMT on the human brain and psyche. The book gives a detailed account of the research, how it came to be, the difficulties in getting it started, and the outcomes. Strassman puts an emphasis on the experiences of the participants and tries to fit them into categories and explanations. Although he makes several disclaimers that he ‘takes the experience at face value only as a thought experiment’ he often shines through that the second part of that sentence had been dropped.
Quick Take
From my perspective, the book is a great resource if one wants to understand what is involved with doing psychedelic research. Without a doubt, he has been responsible for restarting our interest in psychedelic research and paved a path through the regulatory jungle. The latter chapters where he decides not to further pursue research with psilocybin and LSD can be seen as a delay in developing the field, or possibly a blessing because of the non-optimal circumstances of room 531 where they were doing their research.
The experience described by the participants ranges from feelings of euphoria to episodes of terror. They see fractals, beautiful colors, and alien figures. As mentioned in the introduction, I think Strassman went too far in characterizing these experiences as ‘real’, or as being on another plane/place/universe that DMT lets us tap into. Is there not a better explanation to be found in the brain functions that get changed by adding a substantial amount of DMT.
By analogy, if we add caffeine, a lot of us become more alert and focused. If you add MDMA, many feel a warm embrace and safe. How things work in the brain specifically is currently being studied. But that doesn’t preclude one from stating that there are brain structures that let us identify faces, others that let us instinctively respond to patterns that seem dangerous (e.g. the shape and/or movement of a spider). What if DMT activates or brings to consciousness these parts of our brain. And, maybe even more plausibly, what if DMT evokes a dream state (many volunteers showed rapid eye movements (REM), like that in our most dream-prone sleep phase).
All that being said, it’s a great book to read and learn about what DMT does and how it has been studied in the 1990s. Much more research has been done since and the author of this post is less familiar with that. One could say that in general, the psychedelics-as-medicine framing has become much stronger (with very positive trials for psilocybin and MDMA in Phase 2 and Phase 3 of FDA approval). Who knows if DMT will have a significant role to play here too.
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries and Jack Trout is a great book that I thought I had already summarized here, but apparently not.
It lays the groundwork of what marketing is, positioning. Find a space in the market, nee, in the mind of the consumer.
There are ways to modify this, but only a few ways. You can’t be better and hope/believe that you’re going to win the market. You have to position yourself as the challenger brand, make a new submarket, and some other variations are possible.
But even the same product, in a different market (cars and beers are often used as examples) don’t fair well when introduced somewhere else.
The curse of line extension is one that I think I/Queal should be most wary of, be good at doing one thing, but don’t try and broaden it too much. The consumer will only remember you for doing one thing (quick drinkable meals vs providing all quick meals?)
Ok, enough rambling. I will, one day, do a more structured summary. Probably when I have crystallized my ideas around the new business enough that I can say I’ve followed the guidelines here.
How The Mind Works by Steven Pinker presents his enlightening views on how the mind works. Even though the book dates back to 1997, the ideas are still relevant as ever and most of the (neuro)science is alike to what we think now.
Going by my own memory, the book argues that we learn from combining smaller pieces into larger structures. At least, that is what works on the computational/neuron level. But, the same also goes for learning bigger concepts and also how smaller modules led us learn/enjoy other (more complex) things (like music).
He ends the book with something I don’t fully grog yet, that we are not made to understand consciousness. That from our perspective we can’t really. I do get this if we are talking about an intuitive psychologist (just you and me), but we (humanity) also get/compute prime numbers into the millions. So couldn’t we also figure this out by writing stuff down and learning from the work of others? Time will tell.
Ecstasy: The Complete Guide edited by Julie Holland gives a solid and near-complete overview of the scientific and therapeutic knowledge about Ecstasy (MDMA, XTC, Adam, Molly). Although the book dates back to 2001, it’s more complete than one would expect, as much was then already known about Ecstasy. Next to chapters by Julie Holland herself, other contributors are from Ralph Metzner, Andrew Weil, Rick Doblin (MAPS), Sasha & Ann Shulgin, and David Nichols.
Summary
Introduction: Medicine for a New Millennium (Julie Holland, M.D.)
The book starts with an overview of the recreational and widespread use of MDMA, the punishing laws, and the lack of (therapeutic) research that was possible in the decades leading up to 2001. “This book is about the importance of bringing MDMA back into the fold of medicine.” Julie wants MDMA to be researched again, and to become available to the people who need it the most.
Part I: Let X = MDMA
Chapter 1 – The History of MDMA (Julie Holland, M.D.)
MDMA was first synthesized somewhere before 1912 by Merck (pharma company)
The mention of MDMA was only as a intermediary chemical
MDA (more psychedelic-like experience) became popular before MDMA
Later on, it’s learned that (bad) research on this substance was used (in part) to ban MDMA
Sasha Shulgin didn’t invent MDMA but did synthesize it in 1976
In 1985 it was discussed that the therapeutic use of MDMA exceeded 1000 sessions
Only in the 1980s did the recreational use of MDMA take off
After some legal back-and-forth, MDMA was banned on July 1st, 1985 (and finally again on March 23rd, 1988)
Therapists argued that it should be in Schedule III (with medical uses approved), but it was placed in Schedule I, next to cocaine and heroin)
The consequent crackdown on MDMA, of course, made it more popular than ever before
Currently, based on self-reported data on drug use, 33% of participants used MDMA in the last year (GDS, 2019)
Chapter 2 – What Does MDMA Feel Like? (Gary Bravo, M.D.)
Although MDMA’s effects are dependent on the set and setting, there are distinct features of the experience:
Reduces or eliminates the neurophysiological fear response to a perceived threat to one’s emotional integrity
Loving and forgiving awareness
Powerful empathy towards others (feelings of closeness)
Insight into personal patterns or problems (improved self-examination)
Elevated blood pressure, pulse rate, and pupillary dilatation
The chapter lists more effects from different surveys and studies. It also notes that multiple doses (2-3 hours later) lead to less desired outcomes (less empathy, more amphetamine-like side effects). The same is true for repeated use over multiple occasions.
Chapter 3 – How MDMA Works in the Brain (Jessica Malberg, Ph.D., and Katherine R. Bonson, Ph.D.)
“MDMA acts in the brain through three main neurochemical mechanisms: blockade of serotonin reuptake, induction of serotonin release, and induction of dopamine release... MDMA can directly interact with receptors in a variety of neurotransmitter systems and can act as a monoamine (MAO) inhibitor.“
The rest of the chapter explains the exact mechanisms behind these processes (and that the combination of them is needed to create the distinct MDMA effects). It also notes the interaction with other drugs. SSRIs may (completely or partially) block the effects of MDMA. Dextromethorphan (DXM) and MDMA together may lead to serotonin syndrome. The combination with MAO-A inhibitors is dangerous. The combination with hallucinogens (e.g. LSD) may lead to combination effects that can be positively perceived.
Chapter 4 – The Chemistry of MDMA (David Nichols, Ph.D.)
This chapter explains the chemistry of MDMA in layman terms. It explains how MDMA is an organic base (versus acid), and looks very similar to MDA (but with a methyl group added). MDMA is derived from safrole, which comes from sassafras root. You can have two types/mirror images of MDMA, (+)-MDMA and (-)-MDMA, and if your mix consists of both in the same quantities, you have a racemate or racemic mixture. Because MDMA is more lipd (fat) soluble (than MDA), the onset is quicker and the duration is shorter. The added methyl group also mean MDMA doesn’t fit in the 5-HT2a receptor, which produces LSD-like effects. The (-)-MDMA is thus not ‘active’.
There are many crazy myths about MDMA and this short chapter dispels them.
Chapter 6 – The Godparents of MDMA: An Interview with Ann and Sasha Shulgin (Julie Holland, M.D.)
Some quotes from the interview with two legends of the psychedelic world:
“It is an insight drug. That’s its main use. The effect of MDMA, for most people, is that it allows insight without fear.”
“MDMA is also great for marital therapy. It enables two people to step out of the negative patterns that they might set up between themselves so that they can’t communicate openly anymore.”
“[MDMA] is the kind of drug that cannot be used frequently.”
The Shulgins note the positive effect of MDMA on rave culture and even football culture
Part II: Risks of MDMA Use
Introduction
The table at the end of the introduction does a good job of grounding the next few chapters:
tobacco
400.000
alcohol
110.000
prescription drugs
100.000
aspirin and over-the-counter-painkillers
7.600
MDMA
9
Estimated U.S. Deaths in 1998 attributed to
Chapter 7 – Medical Risks Associated with MDMA Use (John Henry, M.D., and Joe Rella, M.D.)
It’s difficult to say how many deaths have been caused by MDMA as in many cases users did other drugs two, were dancing all night, and pills might have contained adulterants. Without saying it, the introduction might also have said that prohibition is the most likely killer when it comes to MDMA.
Hyperthermia is an effect that has been shown to occur occasionally in recreational (club/rave) use, but hasn’t been found in therapeutic settings. Hyponatremia (low plasma sodium level) has also been seen, and is caused by dilution of the blood by drinking too much water. The serotonin syndrome is again mentioned, as are cardiac conditions and liber abnormalities. One interesting fact about the latter is a genetic difference (polymorphism) where the specific enzyme that breaks down MDMA (CPY2D6) is inactive in 5-10% of the Caucasian population. This is, however, only a theory as to this being the reason why some first time users at reasonable dosages have adverse events.
Neurologically MDMA may have negative effects. Studying that with animal models has led to some results, but also highlights that it’s very difficult to make a direct link between e.g. rats and humans (very different (drug) metabolism).
The chapter ends with the following precautions:
Do not take more than one pill
Avoid dancing for prolonged periods of time
Drink electrolyte-rich fluids (sports water), but don’t overdo it, and only drink more if you’re dancing
Wear light loose clothes (to dissipate heat)
Seek medical help early
Chapter 8 – Mental Health Problems Associated with MDMA Use (Karl L. R. Jansen, M.D., Ph.D.)
This chapter also highlights the trouble with researching the negative effects of MDMA use. Adverse psychological effects discussed are psychosis, anxiety disorders and panic attacks, depersonalization and derealization, depression and mania, cognitive deficits, the Pandora’s Box Syndrome, flashbacks and PTSD, and sleep disturbance. Each with limited to no widespread occurance.
The rest of the chapter discussed the ways of treating people with acute or long-term problems resulting from MDMA use. Discussed are psychotherapy, medication, meditation and other calming activities, and antioxidants and food supplements (sources of tryptophan – e.g. banana, chocolate, milk, turkey).
Chapter 9 –Does MDMA Cause Brain Damage? (Matthew Baggot and John Mendelson, M.D.)
There have been limited findings of neurotoxicity in behavioral and animal studies. But for the user who does MDMA a handful of times per year, one should not expect any adverse effects. The chapter mentions the serotonergic changes, and oxidative stress resulting from MDMA use and studies that compare MDMA and non-MDMA users. What is most notable is that in 2001, much more research was needed to establish the specific effects MDMA has (especially long-term) on the brain.
Chapter 10 – The Legal Status of MDMA around the World (Julie Holland, M.D.)
Alas, this chapter is not as outdated as one would hope in 2020. MDMA is still illegal in most countries and only some countries don’t have penalties if someone is caught with an amount for personal use.
Chapter 11 – Minimizing Risks in the Dance Community: An Interview with Emanuel Sferios (Julie Holland, M.D.)
Emanuel Sferios is the founder and executive director of DanceSafe, a drug abuse prevention program/organization. The organization does pill testing and other harm reduction services (e.g. chill-out areas), mostly related to clubbing/festivals. The interview talks about this work and the causes of deaths related to MDMA (adulterants, hyperthermia).
The good thing is that the focus is on harm reduction and not the prevention of drug use (‘just say no’) and DanceSafe seems to be giving honest and reasonable advice that helps save lives.
Part III: MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy
Introduction
MDMA acts as a catalyst to the psychotherapeutic process in four ways:
Connection: it enhances the therapeutic alliance (doctor-patient relationship)
Recall: lowering barriers to remembering childhood or traumatizing events
Insight: able to draw conclusions and make decisions (partially based on the recall)
Acceptance: able to develop compassion and forgiveness for others and self
Chapter 12 – Using MDMA in Healing, Psychotherapy, and Spiritual Practice (Ralph Metzner, Ph.D., and Sophia Adamson)
“It is the primary thesis of this chapter that the empathogenic substances induce an experience that has the potential for dissolving the defensive intrapsychic separation between spirit, mind, and body and that therefore physical healing, psychological problem solving, and spiritual awareness can, and usually do, occur at the same time in the same experience.”
The chapter recounts how MDMA is able to open the heart center/chakra and offers guidelins for sacramental use of empathogenic substances (MDMA being one of them). One key point of individual sessions is the recalling (see introduction), for group sessions there are two possibilities where there is (ritualized) communication or none (inward journey) during the session.
Chapter 13 – Experience with the Interpersonal Psychedelics (Claudio Naranjo, M.D.)
This chapter recounts Claudio Naranjo’s extensive experience with MDA, MMDA, and MDMA and their use in therapy.
Chapter 14 – Clinical Experience with MDMA-assisted Psychotherapy: An Interview with George Greer, M.D. (Julie Holland, M.D.)
George Greer used psychedelics in his private practice when this was still legal and this chapter recounts his experience. He is also involved with the Heffter Institute as a medical director, secretary, and treasurer.
Part IV: Potential Clinical Uses for MDMA
Introduction
“MDMA is a unique medication … that works in an hour to enhance feelings of happiness and relaxation…”
There are many possible clinical uses of MDMA and as of now (2020) some of the uses are going through FDA approval (e.g. PTSD, Phase 3). But it is believed by many that MDMA could be used for most mental disorders. Some of these are laid out in the next few chapters.
Chapter 15 – Using MDMA in the Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (José Carlos Bouso)
José Carlos Bouso was one of the first to do research (again) with MDMA, but after the first six patients, the program was shut down again (this took place right after the book was published). The chapter itself talks about the characteristics of PTSD, how it could be treated, and how MDMA could help. Both recall and acceptance are two very important points for people suffering from PTSD.
Chapter 16 – Using MDMA in the Treatment of Depression (June Riedlinger, R.Ph., Pharm. D., and Michael Montagne, Ph.D.)
Depression is very prevalent in the population (between 10-25% and 5-12% for women and men respectively, lifetime prevalence). The underlying (biological) problems of depression may be changed by MDMA (as a serotogenic agent), but most of the research for depression with psychedelics is focused on psilocybin and ketamine.
Chapter 17 – Using MDMA in the Treatment of Schizophrenia (Julie Holland, M.D.)
Schizophrenia and MDMA use has not been rigorously studied, but this chapter does recount some anecdotal findings. Most of the chapter is dedicated to explaining schizophrenia and the two sides (active/passive) that possibly indicate the imbalance of chemicals in the brain.
Chapter 18 – Using MDMA in Alternative Medicine: An Interview with Andrew Weil, M.D. (Julie Holland, M.D.)
Julie Holland interviews Andrew Weil, an author and alternative medicine proponent. It offer some insight in how MDMA is viewed from his perspective and how it could match with (other) alternative healing protocols.
Part IV: MDMA Research
Chapter 19 – Clinical Research with MDMA: A Worldwide Review (Andrew Kleiman, M.D., and Julie Holland, M.D.)
Chapter 20 – Giving MDMA to Human Volunteers in Switzerland (Alex Gamma, Ph.D., Matthias E. Liechti, M.D., and Franz X. Vollenweider, M.D.)
Chapter 21 – Giving MDMA to Human Volunteers in the United States: An Interview with Charles Grob, M.D. (Julie Holland, M.D.)
These three chapters about the research ongoing with MDMA are a good snapshot of what was known at the turn of the century.
For an overview of the MDMA research one could best go to the MAPS website.
Some common findings from the research at that time are:
Increase in certain cardiac parameters (blood pressure, heart rate)
Subjective effects are caused by an enhancement of serotonergic neurotransmission through an interaction with the presynaptic 5-HT uptake site
Women show a bigger response to MDMA
This is in correlation with bigger mood disorders prevalence in women, implicating the same 5-HT system
Part V: MDMA and Society
Chapter 22 – Ecstasy: Prescription for Cultural Renaissance (Douglas Rushkoff, Ph.D.)
Douglas Rushkoff offers his esoteric view on how MDMA is leading/can be used as a catalyst for a cultural renaissance.
Chapter 23 – MDMA and Spirituality: An Interview with Rabbi Zalman Schachter (Julie Holland, M.D.)
Rabbi Zalham Schachter offers his perspective on MDMA as a rabbi and as someone who has used MDMA and other psychedelics.
Chapter 24 – MDMA’s Promise as a Prescription Medicine: An Interview with Rick Doblin, Ph.D. (Julie Holland, M.D.)
The book ends where the rest of the last two decades have remained, with an interview with Rick Doblin. He recounts his personal history with MDMA research and advocacy and the uphill battle that is still being fought. He recounts how he (and the community at large) wasn’t surprised when it got put in Class I, but of course still deeply saddened by it. And how he, with MAPS, is hoping to have MDMA available as a therapeutic agent as soon as humanely possible.
