KETAMINE

Why Ketamine Assisted Therapy

Why Ketamine Therapy?


Ketamine was developed in 1962 as a safer version of PCP for anesthesia, as it is cardiovascularly stable and reduces the sensation of pain. Both ketamine and PCP are found in nature, as they are both produced by a fungus-like mushroom and have antiparasitic properties similar to ayahuasca. Thus, ketamine is a very safe and legal psychedelic that can bring about transformative healing for patients suffering from depression and trauma (including acute and chronic trauma, as well as attachment, transgenerational, and narcissistic abuse-related trauma). Ketamine is used in general surgery, trauma, and pediatrics because of how safe it is. The typical route of administration is intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM), but it can also be administered through highly vascular spaces in the body such as intranasally or sublingually.


Ketamine was first used in the Vietnam War to help reduce pain and mental anguish on the battlefield. It is currently being used all over the world with different protocols. When paired with specific Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, the durability of response is greatly enhanced. A typical course of IV or IM ketamine is twice weekly for 2-3 weeks, while low-dose ketamine delivered intranasally or sublingually takes 4-6 weeks or longer if needed.


Ketamine-Assisted Therapy

High Efficacy

Short Treatment Course

Sustained Effect

Low Cost

Traditional Therapies

Low Cost

Lifetime Treatment

Symptoms worsen off meds

High Cost

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Psychedelic Research

Psychedelic drug MDMA moves closer to U.S. approval following success in PTSD trials.

Long-awaited trial data show drug is effective at treating post-traumatic stress disorder in a diversity of people (published in one of the most prominent research publications in the world.

All psychedelics have different mechanisms of action, but all lead to similar widespread brain wave synchrony that leads to reduced entrenched beliefs and less rigid thoughts and behaviors that may have been adaptive during adolescence, but lead to stuckness and depression in adulthood.

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Depression

The depressed brain encourages rigid thought patterns that impact well-being. This can be viewed as a “landscape” with deep wells that make it difficult for patients to “move between” different thoughts and perspectives.

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Psilocybin

Psilocybin therapy “flattens” the brain’s landscape and “opens up” the rigidity of the depressed brain to allow new thoughts, insights, and perspectives to emerge.

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Post-treatment

Post-treatment, a flatter landscape makes it easier for patients to experience healthier flexibility and diversity in their thought patterns.

Images by Richard Daws, Kings College London


Click below to watch a powerful 40-minute interview showing how psychedelics saved a veteran's life from life-threatening PTSD.

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