Psychedelic-information-theory-Shamanism-in-the-age-of-Reason

platelet aggregation. 10Hallucinogens target 5-HT 2A receptors, andplatelet aggregation is a fundamental immune mechanism. 5-HT 2Aactivation has also been demonstrated to produce powerful antiinflammatoryeffects in cardiovascular and soft tissues; and 5-HT 2Aagonists like LSD may produce potent anti-inflammatory effects againstTNF-a (tumor necrosis factor alpha), an autoimmune regulator whichhas been indicated in atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis,type II diabetes, depression, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease. 11Because the 5-HT 2A receptor is a G-coupled protein that promotessecondary transmission within the cell membrane, psychedelics thattarget the 5-HT 2A receptor can influence a wide variety of intracellularfunctions. The signaling pathways mediated by the 5-HT 2A receptorinclude the release of charged calcium ions (Ca 2+ ) and the activation ofPKC and MAPK, protein kinases which transfer energy to proteins andenzymes that regulate cellular metabolism and proliferation. Coaxingcellular signaling pathways into patterns of spontaneous regeneration,anti-inflammatory, or autoimmune organization is at the root of allphysical shamanic therapy. This model can be applied to neuralinflammation, as in cluster headaches; emotional inflammation, as inPTSD; stress-related soft-tissue inflammation, as in fibromyaligia; orany systemic inflammation related to stress, chronic disease, and autoimmunedisorders.Subjects under the influence of psychedelics sometimes reportfeelings of being cleansed from the inside, like each cell is beingpolished and organized, and that waste and cellular debris are beingexpelled. This sensation has been compared to a radical auto-immuneresponse, like computerized maintenance routine for de-fragmentingand optimizing cellular memory structures. Just as neural assembliesmay be coaxed into becoming spontaneous nonlinear feedbackgenerators, cellular signaling pathways may be coaxed into generatinginformation via spontaneous energetic metabolic pathway testing,strengthening, and regeneration. Just as nonlinear hallucination mayfacilitate memory potentiation in the same way as dreaming, nonlinearmetabolic organization may facilitate cellular regeneration orimmunological response similar to states of fever or deep restorativesleep. The cellular regenerative power of psychedelics have only