The Depths of Ayahuasca: 500+ Sessions — Dennis McKenna

Ethnobotanist and ethnopharmacologist, recognized for his extensive fieldwork in the Peruvian Amazon, doctoral research on ayahuasca, and as a founding board member of the Hefter Research Institute.

A Harvard professor, director of the Botanical Museum at Harvard, and a world expert on hallucinogenic plants, often called the 'father of ethnobotany.' Dennis McKenna describes his first meeting with him.

Famed physicist and author of 'Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman,' who believed science deepens the mystery and wonder of nature rather than removing it.

Physicist mentioned as a parallel to Schultes's towering stature in his field.

Author whose work, particularly 'The Teachings of Don Juan,' influenced Dennis McKenna, despite subsequent conclusions that much of it was fictionalized.

Author of a chapter titled 'Broad Spectrum Roles of Harmine in Ayahuasca' in the 50th-anniversary volume of 'The Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs'.

Ethnobotanist known for his work with the Amazon Conservation Team, focusing on enabling indigenous groups to participate in bioprospecting and knowledge preservation.

An investigator in the Hoasca study who figured out how to measure the effect of tetrahydroharmine, noting its two-week cycle of elevating serotonin transporters.

An interviewed expert who, like Dennis McKenna, has noted that habitual consumers of ayahuasca often remain exceptionally sharp and lucid into older age.

A botanist in Iquitos, curator of the herbarium at the local university, with tremendous knowledge of amazonian flora, whose knowledge the McKenna Academy is documenting.

An old friend of Dennis McKenna from high school, a horticulturalist who ran the greenhouse at Colorado State University.

A mycologist at the University of Michigan, whom Schultes suggested Dennis McKenna speak to about working on fungi.

Author and journalist, who Dennis McKenna is doing an online event with, related to the reprinting of 'Food of the Gods'.

Organic chemistry teacher at Colorado State, a well-known alkaloid chemist and mentor to Dennis McKenna.

Dennis McKenna's PhD supervisor at the University of British Columbia, known in phytochemistry and ethnobotany, who was open to McKenna working on mushrooms.

Philosopher and speaker, considered by Dennis McKenna as potentially the origin of the 'once you get the message, hang up the phone' quote.

A psychiatrist in New York with admission privileges at Bellevue, who intervened on behalf of Dennis McKenna's friend's son.

An ethnobotanist who studied cultural keystone species around Pucallpa and will be the main instructor for the McKenna Academy's online ethnobotany course.

Likely Andrew Weil, a physician and author known for his work in integrative medicine and ethnobotanical interests.

Dennis McKenna's younger brother, a philosopher, psychonaut, lecturer, and author who advocated for the responsible use of naturally occurring psychedelic plants.

A scientist in Chicago whom Frank Starmitz suggested Dennis McKenna work for instead of Schultes.

Dennis McKenna's master's supervisor at the University of Hawaii, described as an incredible mentor with creative thinking in stress physiology and extreme environments.

The chief principal investigator invited by Dennis McKenna to lead the biomedical study with the UDV.

Spiritual teacher who famously said (or was believed to have said by Dennis McKenna) 'once you get the message, hang up the phone' regarding psychedelic use.

A tryptamine-based hallucinogen used by indigenous peoples in the Northwest Amazon, which was the focus of Dennis McKenna's doctoral research.

The psychoactive compound found in mushrooms, which Dennis McKenna started focusing on after his unsuccessful application to Harvard.

The species of mushroom Dennis McKenna and Larry Beasley successfully grew in mason jars, which led to a book on cultivation.

One of the primary alkaloids in ayahuasca, a strong MAO inhibitor that also stimulates neurogenesis (nerve growth).

A psychedelic compound found in admixture plants like Psychotria viridis or Diplopterys cabrerana, rendered orally active by MAO inhibitors in ayahuasca.

A psychedelic drug, the creation of which Frank Starmitz used to illustrate his organic chemistry lectures.

The vine that is a principal component of ayahuasca, containing beta-carboline alkaloids that act as MAO inhibitors and stimulate neurogenesis.

An anticholinergic compound present in Brugmansia and Datura, known for causing dry mouth and making individuals extremely suggestible, enabling manipulation.

A fictional character evoked by photographs of Schultes in his prime, representing resilience and durability.

Website mentioned as having done a good piece on the use of scopolamine for criminal activities.

Nerve growth stimulated by harmine, one of the alkaloids in ayahuasca, a recent finding.

The brand name for the McKenna Academy's long-term knowledge preservation project, focusing on documenting amazonian flora.

A theory proposed by Terence McKenna, which the McKenna Academy plans to revisit in a virtual symposium, now considered more plausible due to new discoveries about neuroplasticity and epigenetics.

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A field of study that Richard Evans Schultes was a towering figure in, though not its founder, focusing on the relationship between people and plants.

Provides an evolutionary mechanism for the inheritance of changes in neural architecture, bolstering the plausibility of the Stoned Ape Theory.

Pre-synaptic molecules that recycle serotonin, whose levels are elevated long-term by tetrahydroharmine in ayahuasca, a unique finding suggesting repair of deficits associated with pathologies like alcoholism and depression.

Where Jace Callaway's laboratory was located, equipped with brain imaging technology.

A group of entrepreneurs and scientists collaborating with the McKenna Academy to develop a bioprospecting platform affiliated with the university in Iquitos.

A new non-profit co-founded by Dennis McKenna in 2019, focused on the interdisciplinary study of ethnopharmacology and natural philosophy, and seeking support for its projects.

Where Dennis McKenna studied organic chemistry and had access to greenhouses and sterile culture labs.

The institution where Alexander H. Smith was a mycologist.

A Brazilian regulatory agency (a combination of DEA and FDA) to which the UDV wanted to present data showing ayahuasca was not a public health menace.

A syncretic church in Brazil that invited researchers to conduct a biomedical study on ayahuasca, viewing it as a sacrament rather than a drug.

US federal agency responsible for drug approval, mentioned in comparison to Brazil's CONFEN regulatory agency.

An organization founded by Mark Plotkin, doing great work in the preservation of knowledge and ecosystem of the Amazon, by enabling and empowering indigenous communities.

Where Dennis McKenna taught courses on ethnopharmacology and plants and human affairs at the Center for Spirituality and Healing from 2000 to 2017.

US federal agency involved in drug law enforcement, mentioned in comparison to Brazil's CONFEN regulatory agency.

The university in Iquitos where Juan Ruiz is the curator of the herbarium, and a partner for the McKenna Academy's knowledge preservation project.

A newspaper that published a quote about Tonal, stating 'the machine knew my strength better than I did'.

An organization mentioned for its exceptional work, of which Dennis McKenna is a founding board member.

Where Dennis McKenna started his doctoral research in 1979 under Neil Towers.

The US government agency that subsidized the 1967 gathering which resulted in 'The Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs'.

Location of the Saltera ayahuasca retreat center and where an ethnobotany course is being developed in collaboration with the Organization for Tropical Studies.

An organization in Costa Rica collaborating with the McKenna Academy to develop an ethnobotany course.

Another syncretic church that uses ayahuasca, mentioned as potentially having different brew concentrations for varied purposes.

The institution where Richard Evans Schultes was a professor and director of the Botanical Museum.

Where Dennis McKenna did his master's degree, and where he met his supervisor Sandy Siegel and Neil Towers.

The presidential administration under which the Controlled Substances Act was enacted following the 1967 psychedelic drug gathering.

A large psychiatric hospital in New York City where a friend's son was transferred after a psychedelic-induced crisis.

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A magazine that featured a headline praising Tonal as the 'smartest home gym you've ever seen'.

Online retailer where the 50th-anniversary volume of 'The Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs' can be purchased.

A high-profile ayahuasca retreat center in Costa Rica, where Dennis McKenna is an advisor, known for its ethical approach.

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Country where Brugmansia is used as a date rape drug and where the Hoasca study took place.

Social media platform where Dennis McKenna and the McKenna Academy can be found.

The publisher of the 50th-anniversary double-volume edition of 'The Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs'.

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Social media platform where Dennis McKenna can be found at @DennisMcKenna4.

Terence McKenna's book chronicling the events at La Chorrera, which Dennis believes to be largely accurate despite his own altered state during the experience.

Richard Feynman's memoir, brought up in the context of how science can deepen the appreciation for mystery and wonder.

A film evoked by the wild and terrifying stories of scopolamine-induced manipulation.

Dennis McKenna's book, from which Tim Ferriss extracted 189 highlights, detailing McKenna's journey and experiences.

Carlos Castaneda's book, given to Dennis McKenna by his brother for his 18th birthday, which greatly influenced his interests in traditional knowledge around psychedelic use.

Terence McKenna's book, being reprinted, which explores the Stoned Ape Theory and its implications for the origin of consciousness and imagination.

Tim Ferriss's book where he wrote about exercises like cable chop and lift, and rotational exercises, which Tonal allows him to do at home.

An important book that framed Dennis McKenna's professional interests, making him aware of the scientific aspects of psychoactive plants.

A book published under a pseudonym by Dennis McKenna and Larry Beasley, detailing the method they developed for growing psilocybin mushrooms.

The tax-exempt status of the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy, making donations tax-deductible in the United States.

Legislation enacted shortly after the 1967 ethnopharmacology gathering, which effectively 'ended the game' for psychedelic research.

Where Dennis McKenna was living with his brother in 1974 before his pilgrimage to Harvard.

Country where Brugmansia is used as a date rape drug and where crime syndicates used scopolamine for manipulation.

A city in the Amazon where the McKenna Academy is making a documentary about the current state of traditional medicine, working with the local university's herbarium.

The site of a past experiment by Dennis and Terence McKenna, detailed in 'True Hallucinations,' where Dennis experienced a profound altered state.

The region where Dennis McKenna conducted extensive ethnobotanical fieldwork and where indigenous peoples use tryptamine-based hallucinogens.

City in Colombia where Terence McKenna mentions celebrating after the La Chorrera experiment.

An area in the Amazon where Michael Coe studied cultural keystone species, particularly ayahuasca.

Where Dennis McKenna emigrated with his wife Sheila in 2019, residing in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

Where a friend's son experienced a delusional state and psychiatric crisis after taking high doses of mushrooms.

The current residence of Dennis McKenna and his wife in Canada.

Where Dennis McKenna was living while studying organic chemistry and grass systematics.

Country where a friend of Dennis McKenna experienced a prolonged psychotic break after a traditional dieta.

The first biomedical investigation of ayahuasca, in which Dennis McKenna was a key organizer and participant.

Communication platform used by Dennis McKenna to contact Steve Ross while McKenna was in Brazil.

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A related alkaloid in ayahuasca that is an MAO inhibitor and a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, exhibiting SSRI-type activity and causing long-term elevation in serotonin transporters.

A tryptamine-based hallucinogen, orally active, that Dennis McKenna and his brother were looking for in Colombia and became a focus of his doctoral work.