Dennis Jon McKenna is an American ethnopharmacologist, research pharmacognosist, lecturer and author. He received his doctorate in botanical sciences from the University of British Columbia and completed post-doctoral research fellowships in the National Institute of Mental Health and in the Department of Neurology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
His research has included the pharmacology, botany, and chemistry of ayahuasca and oo-koo-hé, the subjects of his master's thesis. He has also conducted extensive fieldwork in the Peruvian, Colombian, and Brazilian Amazon. Having authored numerous scientific articles and books, McKenna’s work led to the development of natural products for Aveda Corporation as well as greater awareness of natural products and medicines. Additionally, together with his brother Terence McKenna and Jeremy Bigwood, he developed a technique for cultivating psilocybin mushrooms, and published what they had learned in a book Psilocybin - Magic Mushroom Grower’s Guide.
With that immense experience and knowledge of psychedelics, Dennis McKenna is a founding board member and the director of ethnopharmacology at the Heffter Research Institute, A non-profit which investigates the potential medicinal uses of these substances.
Tune in to this week’s episode to find out about the true significance of ethnopharmacology and a conference organised by Dennis that you’ll be able to stream online very soon!
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGIC SEARCH FOR PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS
Dennis McKenna
ESPD 50
National Institute of Mental Health
Alexander Shulgin
Andrew Weil
Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs
Ethnopharmacology
Coca
Cody Swift
COMPASS psilocybin trial
Psilocybin
ESPD 55
“Sea DMT” Tryptamine in Sea Sponges
New York Times DMT toad article
How to Change your Mind by Michael Pollan
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Poison arrow frogs
Bufotenin
Serotonin receptors
Ayahuasca
Autoradiography
LSD
Salvinorin
Kappa opioid receptor
ICCERS - The International Centre for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service
Iboga
Ayahuasca tourism
Mckenna’s mission
DMT: The Spirit Molecule (documentary)
ESPD55.com
Psilocybin Pulse Dosing
Microdosing
Oregon Drug Decriminalization
Set and setting
Serotonin
Dopamine
Default mode network
Robin Carhart-Harris
5-HT2a receptor