Psychedelics and Their Therapeutic Benefits
Psychedelics, including ketamine, psilocybin, and ayahuasca, are gaining recognition for their therapeutic potential in treating mental health conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and addiction. Research, particularly with veterans, shows that these substances can lead to significant improvements, with up to 85% of individuals experiencing relief from symptoms. Unlike traditional treatments, psychedelics help reset the brain’s neurotransmitters, clearing mental "clutter" and promoting emotional healing.
In addition to scientific studies, personal stories from individuals who have undergone psychedelic therapies highlight their transformative effects. Veterans, in particular, have reported life-changing benefits, with some overcoming severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and addiction after just a few treatments. These experiences, combined with growing clinical evidence, suggest that psychedelics offer a powerful tool for mental health recovery, providing long-lasting emotional and psychological benefits.
Highlights of the Podcast
00:03 - Introduction
00:39 - Dr. Matt Chalmers on Research
01:45 - Personal Conversations with Veterans
02:54 - Personal Experience with Ketamine
04:03 - Experience with Ayahuasca
04:41 - The Effect of Psychedelics on the Brain
Host - Woman [00:00:03] I don't mind, because I think that, you know, for for some people who are constantly looking to the forefront of research and treatment options for physical and mental health, this is not new news. But for a lot of people hearing something like psychedelics still very taboo, still kind of rooted in all of that doctrine from the 60s. It's like, this is bad, it's so awful. And there was so much from the government that came out to support all of that. And so maybe can you talk a little bit about some of the research that's out there and what led you to believe that this is an avenue that you wanted to play in and support?
Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:00:39] So a lot of the stuff that we started reading was research that was done on veterans like Delta Force, like like guys who've seen bad, bad stuff. Yeah. And they would they would take them through and they would do a variety of different psychedelics, you know, the surgical acid or LSD. They do ayahuasca. They do, you know, all the different psilocybin, the different varieties. When they were asking them afterwards, they're like, What did you think about it? And the stats on like, you know, most emotional, most religious, most psychological was like everything and how much better they felt afterwards. And there were never any fatalities like it has. It doesn't it didn't kill anybody. It didn't really mess anybody up. Like, all the research afterwards was that it was like vastly positive. Like the worst thing that was happening was the people just weren't getting better. But the research shows 85% of the time you'll break PTSD or get substantially better addictions, stuff like that. Then I started going out and talking to the veterans who actually done it. And one of the guys the stories are crazy because you talk to them and you're like, How bad was it? And they're like, I know what all my guns tastes like, if that means anything to you.
Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:01:45] And I guys were like, every single day. It was a I have to come up with a reason not to kill myself every single day. And then it was like, what happened there? Like, so I did this. I did the series. It depending on the person. The series varied a little bit, but all within like 3 or 4 weeks. So all within a month. And they were like and it was gone afterwards. Like the problem was just gone. And one of the guys I talked to, I spoke about at an event, the veteran came up to me afterwards and he was like, Hey, it's like ketamine saved my life. And I was like, Really? And he was like, Yeah, he knows. I had decided I was going to kill myself on a Saturday. And one of my platoon buddies on a Wednesday asked me to go to ketamine with him because he didn't want to do it by himself. And so he leans and he goes, He's like, So I agreed because what's it going to do, kill me? And I was like, That's the most uncomfortable joke I've ever heard. Yeah, respond to that. And so he was like, what happened was when he did his first one, he goes, It didn't fix me. Is knows it took enough pressure off that I knew it was going to help. Yes. Imagine you're laying on the ground with 1,045 pound plates on your chest and somebody comes in, pulls two off, is like you still feel the eight. But you know, those two just laughed. And he was like, That's yours.
Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:02:54] That's where I decided that there might be hope. And so he went through it. He told me it took him 11 series sessions, but he was like, Now I'm fine. It's like I don't have really any issues at all. So it's a long term functional stuff. And so I'm one of those guys where part of my research is that I'm going to do it because I don't feel like I can speak to something with integrity unless I've done it. And so the guy who I work with down the street, I went in, I was like, Hey, go ahead and do mine. And he was like, All right, cool. What's wrong with you? And it's like, nothing. I love my life. He was like, Yeah, I need a reason. I was like, All right, anxiety. He's like, Fine, cool. So let's pause there for a second. For the first thing I do it when I didn't realize was that I actually had a bunch of PTSD for 20 years. My heart rate has been in the 90s. After I trace it back to a car wreck that I was in when I was a teenager. My heart rates in the 1990 beats a minute was my standard guy, and then we figured out a way to fix Covid. And so we were working on Covid a lot. And so I got a lot of Covid. And so my heart was beating way too hard every night when I would lay down for like a year, year and a half, like lay down, like you're not, you know, it's too hard. I did echos. I did everything. Nobody could figure it out. So.
Dr. Matt Chalmers [00:04:03] So now we fast forward nights. You know that about my heart. We fast forward back. I do the ketamine, and everyone's like, You're going to have so much fun. You're going to see all this stuff. And I saw nothing. And when I came down, I was horribly nauseous, like like my dad's drive me home. I'm throwing up outside the car window and I get home and I feel like I've got the flu. And I'm just like, I'm so weak and everything. I'm just like, this is a horrible idea. I can't believe I did this. And I went and I lay down. And when I lay down to try to go to sleep, I was like, So that was the first time at 18 months I couldn't feel my heart beating when I lay down. Wow. The next morning, when I woke up, I was showing somebody how to use a pulse ox. My heart rate was in the 60s for the first time in 20 years. Incredible. So I have I was able to physically see objective proof that just with the one treatment, it had definitely changed my sympathetic output. So it's I'm big, big into it. We did we had a we had a group of doctors who were doing ayahuasca and I went and did that with them and it was unbelievable. We've got several of the veterans who've gone down to Peru and gone down to Mexico, and we're working. With them on that one. They've done Houska and they came back and they were like, totally different people. Yeah. Addiction's gone. Like I hold. Their whole world has been focused better forward. So it's, it's an unbelievable thing about removing just the plaque in the trash. It's in your head when you lift all the neurotransmitters at once and let them come back down. You kind of fluff off all the trash that's been set the way.
As always if you have any questions, please send them to Questions@ChalmersWellness.com
Check out Chalmers Pillarsofwellness.com for Wellness updates! And ask me any questions you have at questions@chalmerswellness.com. I answer all of them and look forward to hearing from you.
The Chalmers Wellness Stubstack just launched. Comment, Like, and Interact with other people on their wellness journey. Communities can make a difference. DrChalmers.substack.com
Dr. Matt Chalmers
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. Before taking any action based on this information you should first consult with your physician or health care provider. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions regarding a medical condition, your health, or wellness