Glossary: Psychedelic Medicine

The principal bioactive compounds in kava responsible for its anxiolytic and muscle-relaxant effects.

A dissociative anesthetic that primarily blocks NMDA glutamate receptors. At subanesthetic doses, ketamine produces rapid antidepressant effects and is used clinically for treatment-resistant depression, acute suicidal ideation, chronic pain, and procedural anesthesia.

A respected community member entrusted with preserving, protecting, and transmitting traditional knowledge, teachings, language, history, ceremonies, and cultural practices to future generations.

A tropical tree native to Southeast Asia whose leaves contain the alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Kratom has dose-dependent stimulant effects at lower doses and opioid-like analgesic and sedative effects at higher doses. It has therapeutic potential but also carries risks of dependence and withdrawal.

Healing practices that foster physical, emotional, spiritual, and cultural well-being through direct relationships with traditional territories, ecosystems, ceremony, harvesting, and Indigenous ecological knowledge.

Legal authorization granted by a regulatory authority permitting an individual to practice a licensed profession.

A potent, long-acting classic psychedelic synthesized from lysergic acid, originally derived from ergot fungus. LSD acts primarily as a partial agonist at 5-HT2A receptors and produces profound changes in perception, cognition, emotion, and self-awareness.

An empathogen (entactogen) that increases the release of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine while also promoting oxytocin release. MDMA enhances emotional openness, empathy, trust, and fear extinction and has been extensively studied as an adjunct to psychotherapy for PTSD.

A change in the effect or safety of a medication resulting from its interaction with another medication, supplement, food, or psychoactive substance.

A general term for an Indigenous healer who possesses specialized knowledge of ceremony, healing, spirituality, plants, or traditional medicine. Roles and responsibilities vary considerably among Indigenous cultures.

A naturally occurring classic psychedelic alkaloid found in several cacti, including peyote and San Pedro. Mescaline acts primarily through serotonin 5-HT2A receptors and has been used ceremonially for thousands of years.

The principal alkaloid in kratom with dose-dependent stimulant and analgesic properties and partial agonist activity at the μ-opioid receptor.

The generation of new neurons, primarily within the hippocampus, throughout adulthood.

The study of how genes influence the development, structure, function, and disorders of the nervous system. In psychedelic medicine, neurogenomics helps explain individual differences in neuroplasticity, resilience, psychiatric vulnerability, and therapeutic response.

The brain's capacity to reorganize neural networks through experience.