Test Tubes and Cauldrons

Last week the hosts discussed herbalism through a scientific lense, but it plays a very key role in the practice of many pagans, witches, and some occultists. Hosts Astra, Hanne, and Fel discuss herbalism from a magical point of view - discussing how herbs are commonly used within magic and their own practices.

Come join our discord! https://discord.gg/kJthJyxTBc

Resources:

Drug interactions due to grapefruit juice: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17077528/

Pharmacologic effects of lactone: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/19889337

Protoanemonin in plants: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0731708520312565

Old Thesis on Heat Induced Inhibitory Agents from Processed Fruits and Vegetables: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_etd/send_file/send?accession=osu1486467544555553&disposition=inline

There is a constant discourse between herbalist and the scientific community...neither of which seem to see the side of another, but is there a place for herbalism within healing? Hosts Astra, Hanne, and Fel discuss what herbalism is and the place they feel is should occupy within the scientific world of drug development. What are the benefits and limitations of herbalism vs. synthetics? Fair warning, this episode goes deep into some science, but it's fascinating stuff!

Come join our discord! https://discord.gg/kJthJyxTBc

Resources:

Derivation of drugs from natural products (NPs) and current screening methods:

The Story of Aspirin: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjh.14520

NPs as a Source for Drug Design: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3560124/

Review of the role of NP in Drug Design: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd1657

A Historical Overview of NP in Drug Design: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3901206/#B30-metabolites-02-00303

NP in Drug Design: Advances and Opportunities: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41573-020-00114-z

Dried-leaf Artemesia annua: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4323188/

Whole Plan Artemesia annua as antimalarial therapy: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0052746

Molecular Mechanism of Thalidomide: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7281272/

Psychedelics being re-engineered for clinical therapeutics: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03404-z

Drug Discovery Process

Stages of Drug Discovery: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341097009

Drug Discovery and Development - A story: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5725284/

In this episode we explore meditation and mindfulness from a scientific point of view. What is meditation and mindfulness and how are they distinguished? Is there any physiological basis behind those practices and what is the current research on this topic? Unfortunately, the answers to these questions aren't as simple as they might appear! Grab a beaker full of coffee and let's discuss!

Come join our discord! https://discord.gg/kJthJyxTBc

The discussion of safety in witchcraft is neglected, but extremely important! Hosts Astra, Hanne, and Fel discuss the different realms of safety within the craft, suggestions, warnings, why crystals shouldn't go into water, dosing of salves and tinctures, and cross reactions of herbs with prescription drugs among other topics. We also touch upon some of our own "oops" moments to show that we all need these reminders!

Come join our discord! https://discord.gg/kJthJyxTBc

Sources/Resources:

Cross-reactions of herbs: https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/s-0031-1298331.pdf (this is a really good read if you are curious!)

Link to a free textbook on mineral chemistry: https://opengeology.org/Mineralogy/4-crystals-and-crystallization/

In this episode we talk about research in multiple facets! How do we define it scientifically and can we apply a similar rigor to our occult research? We talk about the different types of sources, their reliability, and our own personal tips on how to be an effective researcher. Try not to crush any glassware under that stack of books!

*Apologies for some mic feedback - we were in a different recording location this week!

Come join our discord! https://discord.gg/kJthJyxTBc

Since this episode is mostly opinion, we have opted to list a few books below that may be useful in helping you be a more effective researcher and critical thinker!

How We Know What Isn't So: The Fallibility of Human Reason in Everyday Life by Thomas Gilovich

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Bad Science by Ben Goldacre (a great book on recognizing fallible science)

Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (3rd edition) by John W. Creswell

The Craft of Research (4th edition) by Wayne C. Booth, Joseph Williams, and Gregory G. Colomb

Join the hosts as they discuss the placebo effect in magick! We cover what placebos and nocebos are, how blinded trials work and why they are useful in study design. The hosts touch upon areas of magick they consider to be placebo effects and discuss why. Do you think the placebo effect plays a role in magick? Let us know where!

Come join our discord! https://discord.gg/kJthJyxTBc

Resources from the episode:

Pill color and drug efficacy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2359128/

Cultural effects on the placebo effect:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/acps.12422 and https://sci-hub.se/10.1177/0020764015591492

Asthma and placebo...how not to kill your patients: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/asthma-placebo-and-how-not-to-kill-your-patients/

Join us as we talk about shadow work...where it came from, how it became popular, and the cultural and scientific issues with the term and application of the practice.

References/Resources

Bias of Carl Jung Toward Eastern Spiritual Practices: https://taileaters.com/depth-psychology/jungs-bias-toward-spiritual-practices-of-the-east/

Gnosticism and Individuation: https://www.jstor.org/stable/27510698?seq=1

Limitations of Psychoanalysis in treatment of mental illness:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/wps.20235

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272735811001863?via%3Dihub

https://journals.lww.com/hrpjournal/Fulltext/2013/05000/TheCurrentStateoftheEmpiricalEvidence_for.1.aspx

Myers-Briggs

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/00346543063004467

https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/26554264.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232494957CautionarycommentsregardingtheMyers-BriggsType_Indicator

Biological Essentialism

A Neurologists perspective on subcortical systems reflecting unconscious archetypes: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01424/full

Jung and Racism: https://www.britishpsychotherapyfoundation.org.uk/insights/blog/jung-and-racism

**Archetypes: Culture or Biology? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22444357/

Additional Resources:

Link to workshops mentioned

DISCLAIMER: These workshops are not affiliated with or recommended by the podcast, but included if our listeners wish to explore the subject further themselves.

Twitter Announcement: https://twitter.com/becomingethical/status/1368598601346220035

Fairy Tales and Therapy Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fairy-tales-and-therapy-introductory-workshop-tickets-143404852775?ref=eios

Greek Myths and Therapy: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/greek-myths-and-therapy-introductory-workshop-tickets-144792705881?fbclid=IwAR3Z_VvFCwLePAWgiuAeExWvfY7lTAdc9fZMfxpj6Krqp75SWDojE9-9u6Q

Welcome to our first episode of Test Tubes and Cauldrons, a podcast where we talk about the science behind spirituality! In this episode, the hosts discuss whether attempting to view spirituality through a scientific lens lessens the magical nature of it. Hop into the discussions with us as we talk and try not to blow up a test tube or two!

Come join our discord! https://discord.gg/kJthJyxTBc

Books/References Mentioned:

The Basic Code of the Universe: The Science of the Invisible in Physics, Medicine, and Spirituality by Massimo Citro (Astra)

Synchronicity: The Bridge Between Matter and Mind by F. David Peat (Astra)

Thirteen Pathways of Occult Herbalism by Daniel A. Schulke (Hanne)

Cailleach's Herbarium: “https://cailleachs-herbarium.com/2017/09/communications-with-plants-animism-genius-loci-terroir-phenomenology/

COVID-19 Paper: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7488171/

Additional Resources:

New study on Terroir if you are interested: https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2021/02/research-shows-terroir-in-whiskey-does-exist/