Basement Shaman Blog

Novel Treatments for Bipolar Disorder

Manic-depressive illness, or bipolar disorder as its known in modern psychiatric parlance, is a devasting disease affecting at least 15 million people in the U.S. alone during any given year. In reality this number is likely significantly higher as the disease tends to be under-diagnosed. I've always researched bipolar disorder because it strikes a chord very near and dear to me, you see the disease runs in my family.

Recently I came across several renegade and experimental treatments which might show some promise to millions of sufferers. The first are a number of clinical trials in which the the drug ketamine, offered relief within the matter of hours. Ketamine is traditionally used as a dissociative anesthetic. The drug made its way onto the streets, and became extremely popular on the rave scene. Users would typically snort amounts, much lower than those used in full anesthesia to enter a realm consciousness where they able to navigate a novel dream-like realm, benignly detached from their bodies and their normal waking consciousness, moods,emotions and fears. Ketamine blocks a pain receptor called N-methy-D-aspartic acid (NMDA). This receptor is critical for the reception of neuronal signals produced by glutamate, and the dysregulation of glutamte seems to be one of the pathways involved in bipolar disorder and depression.Antidepressent effects of ketamine in depressed patients

Another interesting option came about with complete serendipity. There was a strange trend spotted among both depressive and bipolar patients who had recently undergone an MRI for reasons completely unrelated to their conditions. Some were reporting that they felt significantly better after the MRI. The idea that high frequency electromagnetic energy could influence the health of living cells isn't new. Pioneers such as Nikola Tesla(for more about the brilliant Nikola Telsa) hypothesized as much at the turn of the last century, and George Lakhovsky expanded on Tesla's designs to produced machines aimed at curing all manner of disease as far back as 1940. Modern researchers began subjecting subject to repetitive bursts of electromagnetic waves and found very promising results. Unfortunately the FDA seems to be dragging its feet hear in the U.S., while therapuetic devices are being approved and used in various countries throughout the world. Informative article from NeuroPsychiatry Review on rTMS therapy.

Centers for rTMS research.

Lastly trials have show the efficacy of both fish oil and coenzyme Q10 in alleviating some of the symptoms associated with the disorder. I've spoken to many customers through the years who have struggled with bipolar disorder. If anyone would like more information, please make a post, and I'll see if I can be of help. Happiness, Andy @

Illinois to ban Salvia divinorum

Yet again nature is to be declared illegitimate as another sacred plant ally, Salvia divinorum, is poised to be lost due to the misguided efforts of lawmakers in the state of Illinois. An amendment to declare Salvia divinorum a schedule 1 controlled substance, has made its way through both the house and senate, and it's just a matter of a signature from the governor to add Illinois to the the roster of states that have imposed draconian measures against this misunderstood plant entheogen.

We aren't certain exactly how the lawmakers have come to view Salvia as a material of such public danger and potential abuse. It seems most have signed onto the bill simply because such reflexive "war on drugs" rhetoric is the easy choice. Few have ventured to ask the difficult questions of how and why such sacramental, visionary compounds can be integrated into a healthy society. Such territory remains verboten, and this complete lack of insight and courage are appalling and disgraceful.

We're deeply saddened by this news. Having cultivated this marvelous plant for over 15 years, the loss is almost unimaginable. We are heartened though, that during this time we were able to propagate and disseminate thousands of clones, which will happily resides in homes throughout the states. Despite efforts of lawmakers, Salvia divinorum will live on, just as nature's intended.