Ketamine and Psychedelic Therapy

08/16/23 • 30 min

Chances are that psychedelic therapy has made its way into your newsfeed over the past few months. From states voting to legalize psychedelics for medical treatment to the FDA’s pending approval of hallucinogenic mushrooms, what was once known as “party drugs” are getting a serious and well-deserved second look.
What’s interesting is that many psychedelic drugs have always been a lot more useful than we were led to believe. The narrative of “tripping” and all-night raves mixed with buzzy brand names like “Ecstasy” had us thinking that MDMA, magic mushrooms, and Molly were more suited to the dance floor than the doctor’s office. But that’s changing with new research that exposes the efficacy of psychedelic drugs when used in conjunction with therapy to treat depression, mental illness, and trauma.
Let me give you an example. In a study published by the American Journal of Psychiatry, 10 out of 15 patients with PTSD experienced a significant reduction of symptoms the day after being given ketamine, a well-known anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties. Those who were responsive reported lasting effects a month after their treatment.
So that’s what we are going to talk about today.
With us is Dr. Brad Brooks, an Osteopathic Family Medicine Physician who is known for supporting his patients with personalized treatment plans that empower and enhance physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Dr. Brooks’ collaborative care includes lifestyle medicine, conventional medicine, and regenerative medicine such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), osteopathic manual manipulation (OMM), bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP).
Also with us today is Bethany Sauline, a Connecticut-based psychotherapist who works with clients in mental health modalities including Mindfulness, Feminist Therapy, Existential Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Somatic Healing, and Wellness Coaching, as well as ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

Here on Your Health Toolkit, we often talk about how conventional and naturopathic medicine can play complementary roles in our overall health. We call this “collaborative medicine” and through the work that we do at Collaborative Natural Health Partners, we are able to give people the knowledge and the tools they need to feel great every single day. If you’re interested in learning more, head over to our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for information, articles, and resources to take the guesswork out of your health.
Your Health Toolkit is a podcast presented for general information and educational purposes only. The discussions presented by Dr. Lauren Young and the show’s guests should not be considered medical advice but rather a conversation starter with your doctor. Everyone’s body is unique, and we recommend having a discussion with your personal healthcare team before trying anything discussed on the show.

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Menopause and Andropause

Hot flashes, night sweats, irritability. These are just a few of the well-known symptoms that women experience as they begin to enter menopause. But what many people don’t know is the myriad of emotional and hormonal symptoms that can also creep into the day-to-day, and that our husbands might be experiencing them too.
So what’s the deal with menopause and how can we help ourselves get through it naturally? Where do men fit into the picture and are their signs and symptoms something we should be paying more attention to? Let’s talk about it.
Our guests today are APRN Andrew Lauzier and Osteopathic Physician Dr. Kate Zachau from Collaborative Natural Health Partners in Connecticut.
As a nurse practitioner, Andrew provides primary care across the practice, managing acute and chronic diseases, and focusing on the importance of primary prevention. Andrew is passionate about integrative and holistic care and he loves educating both adults and children about their options beyond just traditional medicine.
Dr. Kate Zachau is an Osteopathic Physician who works with patients to determine the root cause of their symptoms in alignment with naturopathic and osteopathic philosophies. She specifically works with women as they move through menopause and her passion for integrative medicine is most notable in the modalities of mind-body medicine, nutrition, and osteopathic manipulation.

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CBD and THC

If you pay attention to any news about natural health, you probably know a little bit about cannabis and how it’s now being used to alleviate pain and treat other health conditions. The active compounds, called cannabinoids, are of particular interest in the medical world and they affect the body very uniquely. Since medical marijuana was introduced and legalized in California in 1996, we have come a long way with cannabis now being used to legally treat people with health problems in 38 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia.
So what’s the deal with cannabis? With so much information out there, how do you know what’s right for you? What’s the difference between medical marijuana and some of the retail options out there? That’s what we are diving into today and I have two really great experts to take us through it.
Dr. Nick Edgerton is a Naturopathic Physician and licensed acupuncturist who has a fantastic background in botanical medicine, from wildcrafting in Jamaica to his own backyard to nutrigenomics where he studies how nutrients and herbs impact gene expression.
Dr. Craig Fasullo is also a Naturopathic Physician who addresses a broad range of conditions, including gastrointestinal and cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal pain, endocrine/hormone imbalance, and men’s health. He’s also very well-versed in osteopathic manipulation and myofascial technique to treat both acute and chronic pain conditions without medication.