Ashland Consciousness Medicine

11/09/2025

This movie is definitely worth seeing! I thought Casey Cooper Johnson did an excellent job capturing the nuances and complex interplay between psychedelic experiences and mental illness-----how there can be shared territory between the two phenomenon and the paradox of how psychedelics can destabilize and/or heal someone societally deemed mentally ill (brought to mind R.D. Laing's "The Politics of Experience"). At the varsity for another 5 days! www.thelemuriancandidate.com

09/24/2025

I'm excited to offer this retreat with long time practitioner Steve Elfrink. This retreat will combine men's work with medicine, the psychological with spirit, and Self with soul. Please reach out with any questions.

November 14–16, 2025 Hidden Springs, Ashland, OR Opening Invitation When the world asks you to be strong, but your soul longs to feel... Join us for a transformative 3-day retreat where men come together to soften trauma defenses, reawaken the body, and reconnect with what is essential and true. W...

09/11/2025

I was interviewed by Naoko Miki who runs the Green Zone Japan, a very interesting site about the medical use of cannabis and psychedelics. Miki asked great questions! Here is a link to our interview:

あなたはどんな最期を迎えたいですか？終末期医療にシロシビンを取り入れているホリスティック・ヒーラー、イアン先生に、オレゴン州アシュランドでお話を伺いました。シロシビンは死と向かい合う患者さんに何を見せ...

04/30/2025

I feel honored and excited to be published as a contributing interviewee in Mr. Takashiro's new book on Psychedelic Medicine (Chapter 7). Apparently it is trending on the top 20 best selling list in Japan right now.

04/22/2025

I'm looking forward to presenting this talk at the brand new and beautiful Jacksonville Community Center. Hope to see you there!

03/06/2025

From fringe to mainstream in record time. How amazing! Check out this dicussion between Michael Pollan and Oprah.

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/ THE BOOK!“How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, A...

02/14/2025

I was struck by the clarity and sincerity of this quote from palliative medicine physician Dr. Yvan Beaussant in a recent NYT article on psychedelic medicine: “These are not miracle drugs that will take away our suffering but they can change the way we relate to it,” Dr. Beaussant said, emphasizing the importance of the talk-therapy component. “These sessions often delve into deeper aspects of patients’ lives, beyond their cancer. It’s an opportunity to slow down, engage in self-reflection, and sometimes begin the journey toward self-compassion and healing.” Suffering, fear, sadness, loss and grief are all part of our human condition. So how do we work with these aspects of our condition, change the frame, and increase our self-compassion and self-acceptance? Changing the way we relate to our suffering in this life can be healing at any stage in life, not solely at end of life. It can help us live fuller more loving lives.

12/17/2024

This article rings true for me and my work using ketamine and psilocybin to deepen our relationship with mortality as a trailhead to living this precious life more deeply. These medicines can change the frame of what it means to live with a life-limiting illness. But the truth is, we don't need to wait for a terminal diagnosis to access this perspective of diving deeply into this gift of life, the time is now. ***"These sessions often delve into deeper aspects of patients’ lives, beyond their cancer. It’s an opportunity to slow down, engage in self-reflection, and sometimes begin the journey toward self-compassion and healing. These are not miracle drugs that will take away our suffering but they can change the way we relate to it.” ~Dr. Beaussant

People are turning to psilocybin, ketamine and other treatments for palliative care.

11/19/2024

What is consciousness medicine? *** We believe consciousness medicine is a more precise description of what is currently referred to as psychedelic medicine. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and psilocybin-assisted therapy enables us to courageously and safely explore the contents of our consciousness we'd rather push away (but without re-activating or triggering us). Ketamine creates a wide open, boundless and transparent space where we can look directly at our shadow with compassion and curiosity (again without being "activated" by it). By courageously exploring what is in our consciousness and then integrating it, we become whole again, and heal. We can relegate the past to the past and stop re-tracing a traumatic past to this present moment. Thus becoming more free in this moment to feel fully. Both Ketamine and Psilocybin induce neuroplastic changes in the brain; new pathways to wellness, wholeness and healing. When psychotherapy is simultaneously combined with these powerful medicines, true mind-body healing ensues. The brain is re-sculpted with more trailheads toward courage, contentment and radical self-acceptance. If this intrigues you or sparks some curiosity, please reach out and set up a complementary meet and greet with Dr. Luepker! www.ashlandcm.com

02/08/2024

Along with my co-facilitator, Sha'ana Fineberg, we just completed leading a five day psilocybin experiential at Omnia Group Ashland for "death workers" ie.,hospice/palliative care physicians, nurses psychotherapists and death doulas. Psilocybin has much to teach us about the Great Mystery of death and dying. This is why it is so helpful at the end of life. (But really, because we are all mortal, it is helpful at any time in life..not just with life-limiting illness.) What struck me most about this group of eight was how "vulnerability is a measure of courage" (to quote Brene Brown) and how these two qualities facilitate deep community. The connection between participants was immediate and palpable. It takes courage/vulnerability to enter into the great mystery of a mushroom journey. I am honored, touched, and inspired to have witnessed the loving community that emerged from this experience!

09/14/2022

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/09/12/ketamine-depression-treatment-research/

"Ketamine is the first new anti-depressant medication with a novel mechanism of action since the 1980's. Its ability to rapidly decrease suicidal thoughts is already a fundamental breakthrough," says Janine Simmons, MD, PhD, chief of the NIMH Social and Affective Neuroscience program.
At Ashland Consciousness Medicine we add psychotherapy to this "fundamental breakthrough" and amplify its benefit. This is authentic mind/body medicine!

A new study found that ketamine treatments significantly reduce symptoms of depression, including an 85 percent decrease in suicidal ideations over the course of 15 infusions.

03/07/2022

Talk about a forward-thinking and progressive company....Dr. Bronners, in January, became among the first in the United States to offer ketamine therapy as part of its employee health care coverage!

Under the leadership of the founder’s grandsons, the company has become a big financial backer of efforts to loosen government restrictions on illegal drugs.