MDMA Therapy Offers New Hope for Women with PTSD

MDMA Is Changing Its Rep and Going Legit

Mind-altering psychedelics are getting a rebrand. No longer just party drugs, they continue to show promise as mental health treatments. Shrooms for OCD, ketamine for depression, and now, MDMA (aka molly or ecstasy) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A new clinical trial shows that MDMA combined with therapy could help lessen the symptoms of PTSD, a condition that’s up to three times more common in women than men.

How does MDMA therapy treat trauma? 

MDMA promotes the release of neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine, that help regulate everything from heart rate and blood pressure to energy levels and mood. The flood of all these chemicals induces feelings such as bonding and self-compassion, according to Jennifer Mitchell, PhD, a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Francisco, and lead author of the clinical trial. 

Coupled with traditional talk therapy, the drug may allow patients to work through traumatic memories, explains Mitchell. “It's not like you forget the memory, but it doesn't maybe have the same emotional weight that it used to carry,” she adds. 

OK, but isn’t MDMA risky?

Anyone who takes MDMA can experience temporary but potentially dangerous reactions, including nausea, panic attacks, and seizures. Plus, the euphoria felt while on the drug may be followed by an emotional downswing after the drug wears off. 

MDMA-assisted therapy is not recommended for those with heart problems or anyone with a history of certain conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or a personality disorder, as some psychedelics have been known to trigger psychotic or manic episodes in vulnerable individuals. And, addiction to MDMA is possible but less likely than with other drugs such as cocaine.

Your move

MDMA-assisted PTSD treatment isn’t available right now, but the FDA may consider it for approval “sometime in the middle of next year,” says Mitchell. In the meantime, you know what they say: Don’t try this at home. Street versions of MDMA vary in potency and can be mixed with other substances. Treatment should only be done in controlled settings with access to medical care and trained therapists. 

We asked you to vote on a question you’d like answered. The winner was:

What are the benefits of dry brushing?

FEATURED EXPERT:

Hyemin Pomerantz, MD

Board-certified dermatologist at Viva Skin Dermatology and Aesthetics

“[Dry brushing] helps exfoliate dead skin to enhance smoothness…[and also] helps with unclogging pores. Gentle pressure applied during dry brushing [can] improve circulation, as the motion of dry brushing [presses] on blood vessels. 

“[You can dry brush] generally once a week to once a month. I don’t recommend daily dry brushing … it [takes] a few days to a week to create enough build-up [of dead skin cells] that need exfoliation. I would avoid dry brushing in the areas with open skin or eczema or psoriasis where rubbing can make the conditions worse. It’s important to keep gentle pressure with short strokes. 

“After dry brushing, [shower and apply lotion]...to lock in the moisture on the skin. [The moisture will] be better absorbed now that the dead skin has been exfoliated.”

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. You can read the full story here.

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Do light therapy lamps really help combat seasonal depression?

Well, actually, they do. 

Generally, light positively impacts mood and may even have antidepressant-like effects. More specifically, light therapy lamps (or light boxes) can help ease SAD symptoms by mimicking natural daylight from outside and potentially triggering serotonin production in the brain.

Light therapy may also have some indirect benefits, specifically when it comes to sleep. The goal is to "fool the brain into thinking that the nights are shorter than they actually are," says Jamie Zeitzer, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, who specializes in circadian rhythms and light therapy. 

Zeitzer recommends using your light therapy lamp as regularly as you can for about 30 minutes at a time, but you'll still benefit from shorter sessions. Pro-tip: Do it first thing in the morning, beginning in early fall when daylight starts to decrease.

If you have the option, going outside can also help with seasonal depression, says Zeitzer. Even when it's overcast, the sun's light is more powerful than a light box. "Light boxes are typically rated at around 10,000 lux [a measurement of light intensity]," he says. "You'd really only get that if you put your face right up against the light. [On] a nice clear day, it can be anywhere between, say, 50,000 and 100,000 lux [outdoors]." 

"Olfactory adaptation"

— The scientific reason you can’t smell your favorite perfume anymore. The sweet smell of…nothing.