Joanna Kempner: Psychedelic Outlaws, Psychedelics and Cluster Headache
Episode description
Joanna Kempner is a sociology professor at Rutgers University and the author of Psychedelic Outlaws, on psychedelics and cluster headache.
Joanna Kempner:
Website: https://www.joannakempner.com/
Podcast Links:
Website: https://jakewarinnerpodcast.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3kiojUxYZFyVdHOGl727jR?si=31164e616f1846a9
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jake-warinner-podcast/id1711278585
Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jake.warinner/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jakewarinner
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction, Psychedelic Outlaws and Cluster Headaches
00:28 - Overview of the book's main focus and Cluster Busters
00:57 - Discussion on the rarity and severity of cluster headaches
01:32 - Descriptions of the pain and frequency of cluster headaches
02:08 - Comparison to migraines and duration of attacks
02:52 - The nickname "suicide headache" and difficulty in treatment
03:39 - Misdiagnoses often associated with cluster headaches
04:11 - Gender biases and myths surrounding cluster headaches
05:09 - Historical context and gender biases in headache medicine
06:25 - Joanna's initial discovery of gender bias in cluster headaches
07:14 - Personal research and early publications on cluster headaches
07:42 - Misconceptions about the appearance of cluster headache sufferers
08:27 - Cluster headache triggers and hypotheses about its causes
09:42 - Lack of research and funding for cluster headaches
10:58 - Private funding and advocacy for migraine and headache research
11:39 - The societal impact and lack of attention to migraine and headaches
13:07 - Cluster Busters' role in developing innovative therapies
13:20 - Discussion of current treatments for cluster headaches
14:42 - Oxygen therapy and challenges in getting prescriptions
15:47 - Psychedelics as a treatment for cluster headaches
16:04 - Method of using psilocybin for cluster headache attacks
17:04 - Protocol development by Cluster Busters for preventing cycles
17:57 - Recommended dosing and safety measures for using psychedelics
19:00 - The collective self-experimentation process
19:13 - Origin of the use of psychedelics for cluster headaches
21:07 - Flash's discovery of LSD and its effects on cluster headaches
24:59 - Similarity of current protocols to initial experiments
26:37 - Practical reasons for using psilocybin over LSD
28:42 - Legal risks associated with using psychedelics
30:17 - Discussion on the classification of psychedelics as Schedule 1
31:54 - Potential changes in policy regarding psychedelics
32:36 - Obstacles in psychedelic research due
35:26 - Difficulty in recruiting for clinical trials and funding issues
36:01 - Challenges of placebo control in psychedelic studies
37:56 - Historical context of regulatory barriers in drug research
38:57 - Unique challenges in studying psychedelics for pain treatment
40:53 - Description of recent studies on psychedelics for cluster headaches
43:10 - Flash's story and the early days of Cluster Busters
44:27 - Results of recent study on psychedelics for cluster headaches
45:56 - Recruitment challenges and the impact of the pandemic
47:42 - Brain mechanisms and the hypothalamus in cluster headaches
49:25 - Future of psychedelic research in headache medicine
51:39 - Closing