J Neural Transm (Vienna)
April 26, 2013
Ede Frecska, Attila Szabo, Michael J. Winkelman et al.
107 citations
DMT, a naturally occurring hallucinogen found in plants and animal tissues, may have biological functions beyond its psychedelic effects. Its role as an endogenous ligand of the sigma-1 receptor suggests involvement in cellular protective mechanisms, including effects on cellular bioenergetics, immunoregulation, and gene expression related to its synthesizing enzyme in carcinogenesis. The evidence indicates DMT is not merely a drug of abuse but an agent of adaptive mechanisms with potential for future medical therapies.
Religion, Brain & Behavior
November 24, 2023
Ari Brouwer, Michael J. Winkelman, C. Raison
6 citations
Shamanism, a cross-cultural practice, reflects an innate capacity for altered states of consciousness (ASCs) that can be triggered by stress, sought in rituals, and resemble psychotic experiences. While shamanic sickness, animal transformation, and death-rebirth experiences parallel psychotic symptoms, the key difference is that psychotic experiences worsen under uncontrollable circumstances, whereas shamanic sickness improves through ritualized, controlled engagement with ASCs. When culturally accepted, shamanic vocation does not lead to deterioration but enhances functional capacity as a healer and guide. Shamanic training methods may inform strategies for promoting mental well-being.
June 16, 2025
Bénédicte Mannix, F. Leron Shults, Michael J. Winkelman
A psychedelic healing protocol developed by Bénédicte Mannix uses psilocybin to treat childhood trauma, drawing on philosophical and psychological traditions. The protocol aims to heal minds, bodies, and souls from psychological trauma and contribute to transforming humanity's relationship with the ecological environment. The chapter outlines the therapeutic schools informing the approach, reviews clinical studies and pharmacological mechanisms supporting psilocybin therapy for trauma, and explains why childhood trauma is a key target for entheogenic healing. The three phases of the protocol are presented: pre-session, the session itself, and post-session integration. The approach's implications are summarized.