Scent and Psyche: The Synergy Between Psychedelics and Aromatherapy

Natural aromas, such as essential oils, have a profound effect on the human psyche. Using essential oils in psychedelic-assisted therapy has been previously described (Birkmayer, 2021) and offers a uniquely powerful way for enhancing its benefits. To counteract the general opinion that the mental and emotional benefits of essential oils, in particular in combination with psychedelic therapy, are vague and poorly defined, we will review the evidence for the multiple domains in which essential oils and psychedelic molecules can synergize, including in brain function, neuroanatomy, structural similarities and the entourage effect. Historical and traditional use of aromas for sacred and transformative intentions will be touched on.

As time permits, aromatic insights from cases, practical approaches and indications for particular essential oils will be discussed.

Host: Dr. Pamela Kryskow - PAC Founding Board Member & Board Chair

Dr. Pamela Kryskow is a medical doctor and the medical lead of the nonprofit Roots To Thrive psychedelic assisted therapy programs that treats people with PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use challenges, disordered eating and people with end of life distress.

She is a founding board member of the Psychedelic Association of Canada and the Medical Chair of the Vancouver Island University Post Graduate Certificate in Psychedelic-assisted Therapy.

Ongoing research includes psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, microdosing, front line health care worker and first responder mental wellness.

Prior to studying medicine she was a City of Coquitlam Firefighter for 8 years and provincial forestry firefighter for 4 seasons.

In real life she loves hiking in the forest, ocean kayaking, growing kale and daydreaming in the hammock. Her heritage includes Polish, Ukrainian, and German.

She currently resides in the traditional unceded territory of the Klahoose First Nation.

Guest Speaker: Florian Birkmayer, MD

Florian Birkmayer, MD, is a Wounded Healer, ex-psychiatrist, aromatic-psychedelic coach and teacher. He has been working with plant aromas for decades for emotional and personal transformation and combining them with psychedelic therapy since 2011. His frustration with mainstream psychiatry's overemphasis on medications to cover up symptoms led him to an ongoing search, his own Wounded Healer's journey, into what healing truly means. He is committed to learning from and working with plant aromas and psychedelics, deeply related alive allies, who can reconnect us to the most powerful part of our psyche, our own unconscious, bypassing the intellect. They also reconnect us to Nature and the living world, to take our rightful place and overcome the cut-off-ness that some call wetiko.