Wonderbringers Newsletter with Monica Parker
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Hello Wonderseekers!
I’m back from the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference and learned so much! The industry is far broader and deeper than I’d appreciated, and I found it very humbling to realise just how much I don’t know about this incredible field.
Below are a few factoids I picked up that you may find as fascinating as I did. (I am linking to the studies that have been published, but some of the data was from as yet unpublished trials):
Less than 5% of people receive effective addiction treatment in the US.
Psychedelics have been shown to be more effective than psychosocial approaches (like the 12 Steps) for drug, alcohol, smoking and gambling addictions.
More than 80% of participants in psychedelic trials rank it as either the most spiritual experience or in their top five spiritual experiences.
In a study of psychedelics for smoking cessation, even participants who thought they were given a placebo had 100% cessation at day 90, showing the placebo effect is not in play.
Participants in an MDMA trial for PTSD experienced 3x the levels of self-compassion and alexithymia (emotional granularity) than placebo. Self-compassion and alexithymia are associated with greater resilience, showing a link to the long-term efficacy of MDMA for PTSD.
In psychedelic research, ‘spontaneous orgasm’ is considered an adverse effect. (!!!)
Evidence of psilocybin mushrooms use dates back to 1500 BCE.
Psilocybin mushrooms rank as the absolute lowest in harm amongst all illicit drugs for both harm to the user and harm to others. Alcohol ranks as #1.
It would take 46lbs of mushrooms for a lethal dose - 8000x the heroic dose used in clinical trials.
Thunder and lightning make mushrooms multiply in anticipation of the subsequent rain. (The shrooms are smart!)
Future research is exploring the link between the neuroregenerative qualities of psilocybin and 40 mHz (gamma wave) sound (which is similar to that of thunder or drumming) in Down Syndrome, fibromyalgia and Alzheimer’s.
Some wonderbringers for me this week:
Psychedelics are outperforming trauma researchers’ expectations: A new study offers big clues about where psychedelics’ superpowers come from.
Nature is always listening: The wondrous science of how mushrooms respond to music.
Sorry for the late delivery today. Travelling and interviews for my new book had me tied up! See you next week.
With wonder,
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