Latest news with #DrCaseyMeans
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Trump's surgeon general pick says magic mushrooms helped her find love
Dr. Casey Means, a Stanford-educated surgeon and wellness influencer with no active medical license, is President Donald Trump's pick to become the next U.S. Surgeon General. But what you might not know is that she is also a fan of the psychedelic drug called psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms. Means says that she first took psychedelic mushrooms in 2021, the Associated Press reports. Means attributes psychedelics to helping her find love, and said the drugs can be 'a doorway to a different reality that is free from the limiting beliefs of my ego, feelings, and personal history.' She also wrote in a recent book that people should consider psilocybin-assisted therapy, according to the AP. The drug is federally illegal. However, the Food and Drug Administration has approved psilocybin to be used as a 'breakthrough' drug. This designation helps accelerate the development and review of medicines that have been shown to improve treatment for illnesses. Clinicians study psilocybin in carefully-controlled experiments. However, a peer-reviewed study published last month shows usage has skyrocketed, particularly among adolescents and people over 30. In 2023, more adults used magic mushrooms than other recreational drugs such as cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine or illegal opioids, the study found. Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, spoke to The Independent about the rise of psilocybin — and what researchers are still trying to figure out. What do researchers know so far about magic mushrooms? Psilocybin has been studied for its physical and psychological effects by researchers in medical settings. Garcia-Romeu's own research explores how psilocybin can aid addiction treatment. The psychedelic medication showed 'really good success rates' in helping people quit smoking when combined with therapy, he told The Independent. Psilocybin has also been shown to treat depression, Garcia-Romeu said. The treatment is particularly effective in treating depression and anxiety in cancer patients who are approaching the end of their life, he added. While psilocybin is known for its psychological effects and can treat mental health disorders, it also shows promise in treating a variety of physical illnesses. Studies have shown the drug can help patients suffering from migraines, the chronic pain condition fibromyalgia and Lyme disease. What do we still have to learn? There's still a lot we don't know about psilocybin's effects on the body. Researchers still aren't sure how exactly psilocybin works, Garcia-Romeu said, and don't know how or why psilocybin treats certain mental health conditions. Scientists also don't know how it causes certain biological changes, such as reducing inflammation, according to Garcia-Romeu. 'We don't really know how or why one dose of the drug can have an antidepressant effect that lasts anywhere from six weeks or longer,' he said. Researchers are also working to understand who these drugs are best able to help. 'Who's going to be a person that responds well, and who's going to be a person that won't necessarily have a good treatment response?' Garcia-Romeu said. 'Who is at risk of potentially developing problems after receiving these types of treatments?' What are the dangers of taking magic mushrooms? While psilocybin can't cause you to overdose in the same way as drugs like fentanyl, alcohol and Xanax, it can trigger serious mental illnesses, especially in large amounts. 'It can cause very intense psychoactive effects, so when people are under the influence, they can become disoriented, they can become paranoid, they can become delusional,' Garcia-Romeu said. Psilocybin can also unlock mental illnesses that haven't come to the surface yet, like schizophrenia or Bipolar I disorder, Garcia-Romeu explained. This typically happens in patients with a personal or family history of these disorders. 'It could trigger these ongoing problems for weeks, months, or even years,' Garcia-Romeu said. 'They could then end up having to deal with this sort of latent mental health issue that was underlying.' There's also many different species of mushrooms, and getting them from a non-clinical environment can also mean not knowing exactly which type of mushroom you're ingesting. What is the legal status of magic mushrooms? At the federal level, psilocybin is considered a 'Schedule I' drug. That means it has no accepted medical use and has a high potential for abuse. But, thanks to the FDA's 'breakthrough' designation, researchers are learning more about how it can treat certain illnesses every day. Garcia-Romeu expects it could be widely legalized for medical use under a doctor's supervision within a decade. Many people who report using it recreationally also have chronic pain or mental health conditions, and it's believed the use is part of self-medication and management. But widespread legalization isn't going to happen any time soon, he said. 'Legalization to the point where people would be able to go out and buy this like they would alcohol at a liquor store, I don't think that's going to happen in this country probably in our lifetime,' he said. There are also evolving policy conversations about psilocybin use for religious and cultural purposes. Psilocybin has been used by Indigenous communities for centuries. 'Long before Western science or medicine knew anything about these drugs, they were being used as part of the spiritual and religious lives of Indigenous cultures in Central, South and North America,' Garcia-Romeu said. 'That's something that will probably lead to more debate and policy discussions, and it's unclear how exactly that's going to shake out,' he added.
The Independent
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Trump's Surgeon General pick credits magic mushrooms with helping her find love. Here's what to know about the psychedelic drug
Dr. Casey Means, a Stanford-educated surgeon and wellness influencer with no active medical license, is President Donald Trump's pick to become the next U.S. Surgeon General. But what you might not know is that she is also a fan of the psychedelic drug called psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms. Means says that she first took psychedelic mushrooms in 2021, the Associated Press reports. Means attributes psychedelics to helping her find love, and said the drugs can be 'a doorway to a different reality that is free from the limiting beliefs of my ego, feelings, and personal history.' She also wrote in a recent book that people should consider psilocybin-assisted therapy, according to the AP. The drug is federally illegal. However, the Food and Drug Administration has approved psilocybin to be used as a 'breakthrough' drug. This designation helps accelerate the development and review of medicines that have been shown to improve treatment for illnesses. Clinicians study psilocybin in carefully-controlled experiments. However, a peer-reviewed study published last month shows usage has skyrocketed, particularly among adolescents and people over 30. In 2023, more adults used magic mushrooms than other recreational drugs such as cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine or illegal opioids, the study found. Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, spoke to The Independent about the rise of psilocybin — and what researchers are still trying to figure out. What do researchers know so far about magic mushrooms? Psilocybin has been studied for its physical and psychological effects by researchers in medical settings. Garcia-Romeu's own research explores how psilocybin can aid addiction treatment. The psychedelic medication showed 'really good success rates' in helping people quit smoking when combined with therapy, he told The Independent. Psilocybin has also been shown to treat depression, Garcia-Romeu said. The treatment is particularly effective in treating depression and anxiety in cancer patients who are approaching the end of their life, he added. While psilocybin is known for its psychological effects and can treat mental health disorders, it also shows promise in treating a variety of physical illnesses. Studies have shown the drug can help patients suffering from migraines, the chronic pain condition fibromyalgia and Lyme disease. What do we still have to learn? There's still a lot we don't know about psilocybin's effects on the body. Researchers still aren't sure how exactly psilocybin works, Garcia-Romeu said, and don't know how or why psilocybin treats certain mental health conditions. Scientists also don't know how it causes certain biological changes, such as reducing inflammation, according to Garcia-Romeu. 'We don't really know how or why one dose of the drug can have an antidepressant effect that lasts anywhere from six weeks or longer,' he said. Researchers are also working to understand who these drugs are best able to help. 'Who's going to be a person that responds well, and who's going to be a person that won't necessarily have a good treatment response?' Garcia-Romeu said. 'Who is at risk of potentially developing problems after receiving these types of treatments?' What are the dangers of taking magic mushrooms? While psilocybin can't cause you to overdose in the same way as drugs like fentanyl, alcohol and Xanax, it can trigger serious mental illnesses, especially in large amounts. 'It can cause very intense psychoactive effects, so when people are under the influence, they can become disoriented, they can become paranoid, they can become delusional,' Garcia-Romeu said. Psilocybin can also unlock mental illnesses that haven't come to the surface yet, like schizophrenia or Bipolar I disorder, Garcia-Romeu explained. This typically happens in patients with a personal or family history of these disorders. 'It could trigger these ongoing problems for weeks, months, or even years,' Garcia-Romeu said. 'They could then end up having to deal with this sort of latent mental health issue that was underlying.' There's also many different species of mushrooms, and getting them from a non-clinical environment can also mean not knowing exactly which type of mushroom you're ingesting. What is the legal status of magic mushrooms? At the federal level, psilocybin is considered a 'Schedule I' drug. That means it has no accepted medical use and has a high potential for abuse. But, thanks to the FDA's 'breakthrough' designation, researchers are learning more about how it can treat certain illnesses every day. Garcia-Romeu expects it could be widely legalized for medical use under a doctor's supervision within a decade. Many people who report using it recreationally also have chronic pain or mental health conditions, and it's believed the use is part of self-medication and management. But widespread legalization isn't going to happen any time soon, he said. 'Legalization to the point where people would be able to go out and buy this like they would alcohol at a liquor store, I don't think that's going to happen in this country probably in our lifetime,' he said. There are also evolving policy conversations about psilocybin use for religious and cultural purposes. Psilocybin has been used by Indigenous communities for centuries. 'Long before Western science or medicine knew anything about these drugs, they were being used as part of the spiritual and religious lives of Indigenous cultures in Central, South and North America,' Garcia-Romeu said. 'That's something that will probably lead to more debate and policy discussions, and it's unclear how exactly that's going to shake out,' he added.
Forbes
18-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Building Personal Resilience Through Adaptive Financial Planning
Isn't it ironic that the very systems meant to broaden our horizons – education, career, and finances – so often tend to box us in? I have two children currently in college, one who just completed his freshman year and the other, his junior year. And it's amazing to me how much apparent certainty is expected of young people at a time in life when they have far more questions than answers. You choose the college, then the major, then the concentration, typically before gaining any hands-on experience. Not until then have you added an internship to your resume, only to graduate shortly thereafter and enter 'the real world' without having even tasted it. And by the time you get there, your number of options have been restricted to a relatively narrow band of jobs connected to your major, if not a graduate degree that will only further rifle your focus and limit your range of outcomes. How many options do you have? getty In some fields, the push toward specialization can provide further constraints and be especially stark. Dr. Casey Means shares how her early academic path seemed limitless: an NIH research internship at sixteen, Stanford class president at eighteen, top of her medical school class by twenty-five, and a rising star in ENT surgery by thirty. Yet with each step forward, her world quietly narrowed. What began as broad promise – spanning research, leadership, and academic excellence – was gradually funneled through a series of choices, starting with picking one of 42 specialties, until her entire professional focus was reduced to 'three square inches of the body.' What once felt expansive had become confining. Just months before completing her five-year residency, she walked away, recognizing that the success she had pursued was no longer aligned with the life she wanted to lead. Her departure from her path became the catalyst for a new vision, one centered on a more holistic, systems-based approach to human health. She went on to write Good Energy, a book that challenges conventional medicine's compartmentalized thinking and advocates for treating the whole person, not just isolated symptoms. Dr. Means' story is a powerful reminder of how even the most prestigious paths can, over time, become increasingly narrow and myopic, until we pause to ask whether the direction still serves the life we want to lead. Perhaps this is one of the contributing factors in the findings of a recent Korn Ferry study finding that 'four out of five employees feel they are not thriving at work.' And what about all the money people are making from the jobs they defaulted into? Well, here again, societal pressure seems intent on pushing us toward the visual representation of material success. Therefore, you'll be working against the grain if you choose not to get the nicest cars, the biggest house(s), the commensurate country club membership(s), and the best educations for your kids that you can possibly afford. The net result is that many, if not most, end up trapped in the jobs they have because they've maxed out all the success signals and cornered themselves financially, with little-to-no margin for error—a scenario that is precisely the subject of the new Apple TV show, Your Friends And Neighbors, where the hedge fund manager who loses his job is compelled to resort to petty crime to sustain his image and financial existence. Do you see what's happening here, as we return full circle? We systematically limit our options, first academically, then professionally, and then we construct a life designed to signal our success in playing the game that requires at least 100% of our financial resources to sustain, thereby further limiting our options to retrain or change course in the future. This is not a resilient posture. And despite leading to some entertaining television, this cycle of boxing in—from our youth all the way to our retirement—is very real. Yet while the resistance of societal inertia is incredibly difficult to achieve, the solution can be surprisingly simple, at least from a financial perspective: MARGIN. Margin is the financial buffer that provides you with flexibility. It's what enables you to bend, instead of breaking. Yes, margin is spending less than you make. I believe that is the #1 discipline or skill to build, and again, it's harder than it seems—because every auto financing and home mortgage company will gladly soak up all the margin you have. Their rules will push you to the point of financial inflexibility. So you need to make your own rules. But margin is not just about your cash flow—it's also about your net worth. Yes, it is important to save for big future goals, like education and especially retirement. And the notion of having a few bucks saved for emergencies in the short-term is common advice. But this leaves us with a barbell scenario, where we have the long-term and immediate-term covered, but not the more opaque mid-term. And this is the sweet spot for financial freedom, because this is the allocation that can supplement emergencies or long-term needs, but it can also fund a sabbatical, re-education, major move, divorce, remarriage, or career-change. What type of account? How should it be invested? This will, of course, depend on you, your circumstances, and your ability and willingness to take risk, but it could be a high-yield savings or cash management account or simple, taxable, investment account with a conservative-to-moderate balanced allocation. This cash flow discipline and net worth allocation provides you with a more adaptable financial plan that, over time, can also build personal resilience. This is because change and surprises in life and money are the norm, not the exception, and each time you successfully navigate one of those deviations in course, you're training your brain and your balance sheet to accommodate the unexpected. Adaptive financial planning isn't just about reacting to change but proactively preparing for a range of possibilities that could also lead to an increasing range of positive outcomes, rather than the single silo society seems content to confine you to. Eventually, adaptability becomes a skillset and resilience a character trait—a combination that I believe, while not taught in school or practiced by society at large, should serve you well in learning, working, money management, and life.
Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
The chemical Maga fears is making us infertile
'Millions of Americans who want clean air, clean water and a healthy nation have concerns about toxins in our environment and pesticides in our food,' Donald Trump said at a rally in Arizona last August. On Thursday, Robert F Kennedy Jr, the health secretary, will preview a report into potential causes of chronic illness in children, including lack of exercise, screen time and pesticides. The report has largely been co-ordinated by Calley Means, a wellness influencer in the Make America Healthy Again (Maha) movement and the brother of Mr Trump's new pick for surgeon general, Dr Casey Means. Announcing Dr Means's nomination, the president touted her as having 'amazing Maha credentials'. The physician-turned-wellness influencer and holistic farming advocate is just one of many in Mr Trump's orbit pushing for the phasing out of glyphosate – the world's most common weed killer and the main ingredient in the pesticide Roundup. Glyphosate has been considered 'probably' a carcinogen by the World Health Organisation since 2015, although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US says it is not cancer-casing. Dr Means, a key ally of Mr Kennedy's, is also concerned about the chemical's link to infertility and sperm reduction. She wrote in a newsletter last year: 'I want to share how your health (and your family's health) can be transformed by learning about – and reducing – exposure to pesticides. 'Too many people are sick right now, from kids with autism, ADHD and asthma, to middle-aged friends with infertility, gut issues, and anxiety, to older friends with cancer and early dementia. 'Some of the most commonly used pesticides… promote the conversion of testosterone to oestrogen, which can have negative effects in women (like increased breast cancer risk, infertility), men (depletion of testosterone, infertility), and foetuses (birth defects).' Views on glyphosate backed by science Posting to Instagram, the Maha influencer wrote last year: 'Chronic diseases and infertility are largely rooted in the same thing: metabolic dysfunction from cells that are broken due to a toxic industrial world… 'The single most effective strategy that I believe can solve the most pressing human health issues… is restoring sustainable agriculture practices that contribute to biodiverse soil and nutrient-rich food, and moving away from industrial agriculture that uses toxic synthetic pesticides.' Mr Trump, and the wider Maha movement is concerned over an apparent decline in fertility in recent decades. Mr Trump has even referred to himself as the 'fertilisation president'. In a post on her blog, Dr Means claims that, since the 1970s 'cumulatively, we're looking at a 50 [to] 60 per cent decline in total fertility rate, testosterone, and sperm counts'. While several factors can influence these rates, The World Economic Forum estimates there has been a 50 per cent decrease in fertility in the last 70 years. Other studies cite a significant drop in testosterone and sperm count during the same period. Although Dr Means's nomination has faced pushback in recent days, with Trump cheerleader Laura Loomer calling her 'a total crackpot' owing to her inactive medical licence, her views on glyphosate appear to be backed by science. A review published earlier this year in the journal Reproductive Sciences suggested exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) could disrupt female hormones, cause uterine and ovary damage, and increase infertility or miscarriage. The study also connected the conditions of endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome with the chemical. The team of scientists, from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, said: 'These GBH-induced alterations in uterine architecture and morphology may contribute to infertility, early pregnancy loss, and endometrial hyperplasia.' 'Negative impact on reproductive health' Meanwhile, in a separate study of sperm taken from infertile men at Centre de fertilité Pôle Santé Léonard de Vinci in Chambray-lès-Tours, France, last year, more than 55 per cent of samples were found to contain high levels of glyphosate. A link was also found between the chemical and oxidative stress on seminal plasma, which can impair sperm vitality. 'Taken together, our results suggest a negative impact on glyphosate on human reproductive health and possibly on offspring,' wrote the authors of the study, conducted in partnership with the University De Tours and the University De Limoges, and published in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. People particularly at risk were those who ate non-organic produce, agricultural workers and smokers, the study concluded. 'Glyphosate impacts male reproductive systems' Another health influencer campaigning for the phase-out of glyphosate and adoption of regenerative agriculture is Kelly Ryerson, also known to her 62,500 Instagram followers as The Glyphosate Girl. 'Glyphosate impacts male reproductive systems by disrupting hormonal balance, decreasing sperm quality and quantity and causing testicular damage,' claims Ms Ryerson. 'Glyphosate also disrupts key pregnancy hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, and has been linked to damage to ovarian and uterine structures. Studies also connect glyphosate to alterations in blood vessel formation and embryo implantation. 'With the crash in sperm quantity and rising levels of women unable to get pregnant or stay pregnant through term, it is critical that our regulators fast-track the assessment of the impact of glyphosate on fertility,' she told The Telegraph. And it is not just in the US that concerns over the chemical are growing. 'The effect of glyphosate on humans and animals is indirect,' said Dr Amy Godfrey, a doctor who formerly worked with the NHS. She said that, because the chemical works by inhibiting an enzyme not present in animals and humans, 'we assumed from a biochemical standpoint that it was safe'. After years of seeing the downstream health effects of agriculture and the food system, Dr Godfrey changed careers to drive change in the food system. She is now head of research for The First Thirty, a venture capital firm investing in agriculture and health. 'This perceived safety is one of many gross simplifications we see in the connection between agriculture and human health,' she said, adding that 'the potential impact of glyphosate on our gut microbiome is huge'. As for its effect on human fertility, Dr Godfrey points to animal studies which suggest glyphosate acts as a disruptor to the body's endocrine system, which is responsible for hormone production. 'Rats and mice exposed to glyphosate show increased rates of embryonic resorption, which is a proxy for early miscarriage, altered progesterone levels, dysfunctional implantation [and] structural changes in the ovaries and uterus,' she told The Telegraph. More than 180,000 lawsuits Roundup, which contains glyphosate as an active ingredient was acquired by Bayer, the pharmaceutical company, in 2018. According to Bayer's website, as of Jan 31 2025, 114,000 out of approximately 181,000 glyphosate-related lawsuits 'have been resolved or deemed to be ineligible'. In his past career as a lawyer, Mr Kennedy helped to secure a $289 million payout for a groundskeeper who developed cancer after working with a glyphosate-based weed killer. As concern continues to grow regarding the impact of pesticides on human health, and amid the EPA's failure to restrict or prohibit such chemicals, widely banned by other nations, individual towns and communities are taking matters into their own hands. Some states, like New York, have banned the use of glyphosate on public property, while other cities and counties such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Miami, Austin and Portland have taken action to restrict or ban the substance. However, glyphosate is still the most commonly used herbicide used on soybean, corn and cotton. In the US, about 280 million pounds of glyphosate are applied annually to around 298 million acres of cropland to control broadleaf, sedge, grass and weeds. Bayer has repeatedly insisted that Roundup is safe and has been tested extensively.
New York Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Corrections: May 13, 2025
An article on Saturday about Laura Loomer's vocal criticism of President Trump's selection of Dr. Casey Means as his next surgeon general misstated the status of Dr. Means's medical license. While she holds an inactive medical license, it is current. An article on Sunday about an energetic group of educators, parents and researchers advancing an ambitious agenda for learning despite the lack of national direction misstated the title of the book George W. Bush read in a second-grade classroom. It was 'The Pet Goat,' not 'My Pet Goat.' An article on Saturday about trade negotiation talks between the United States and China in Geneva misstated how many Americans have died after using the drug fentanyl. It is tens of thousands of Americans, not millions. Because of an editing error, an article on May 8 about efforts by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture to grapple with an executive order from President Trump misstated the role of the Association of African American Museums in a rally to protect the museum. The association supported the rally, but did not help to organize it. An article on Sunday about Fabrizio Brienza, who is among a handful of gatekeepers who decide which people are allowed inside various nightclubs and lounges for drinking and dancing, misidentified the man wearing Converse sneakers and standing in line in front of Paul's in the early morning. His name is not Cameron Gucker. Because of an editing error, an article on Sunday about a project by Allan Wexler and Michael Yarinsky to update 'The Futurist Cookbook' misstated the employment status of Natasha Pickowicz. She is no longer a pastry chef at the restaurant Altro Paradiso. The article also misidentified the location of Jane Lombard Gallery, where Mr. Wexler recently exhibited. It is in TriBeCa, not SoHo. Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions.
