Summiyah Mahmood

Reading Time: 7 minutesAfter decades of prohibition and stigma, psychedelics—such as psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, and MDMA—are reemerging at the intersection of neuroscience, psychiatry, and contemplative science. Once dismissed as dangerous hallucinogens, these substances are now being recognized as potent catalysts for mind–body integration and emotional healing. Clinical studies across leading institutions like Johns Read more

Reading Time: 9 minutesDissociation is among the most paradoxical human experiences—both a mechanism of protection and a marker of profound disconnection. In moments of trauma, when the nervous system is overwhelmed beyond its capacity to cope, the mind and body diverge. Awareness may fragment, sensations dull, and time distort. For many trauma survivors, Read more

Reading Time: 7 minutesThe way we see our bodies is never a simple act of vision—it is a multi-layered neuropsychological and cultural construction. Body image is not just the reflection in the mirror but the story the brain tells about that reflection, a narrative sculpted by neurons, hormones, and social context. Within the Read more

Reading Time: 7 minutesFor decades, oncology has been defined by its focus on cellular mutations, genetic predispositions, and biochemical disruptions. While these biological foundations remain central, an equally significant yet often overlooked factor shapes cancer outcomes—the mind. The emerging discipline of Mind–Body Oncology investigates how psychological states, stress regulation, and neuroendocrine signaling influence Read more

Reading Time: 8 minutesSurgery, though often lifesaving, represents one of the most significant physiological and psychological stressors the human body can endure. From the moment anesthesia is induced to the final stage of wound healing, the body engages in a complex symphony of immune, endocrine, and neurological responses designed to restore homeostasis. Yet, Read more

Reading Time: 9 minutesFor centuries, medicine has been fascinated—and at times perplexed—by the phenomenon of the placebo. Patients given inert substances often report genuine improvements in pain, mood, and even physiological function. Conversely, individuals warned of potential side effects sometimes develop them, even when unknowingly exposed to harmless substances—a phenomenon called the notebook Read more

Reading Time: 8 minutesIn an age of relentless stimulation, digital overload, and chronic time pressure, stress has become the invisible tax on modern life. Yet, the biological systems that once protected our ancestors from predators now face continuous activation in response to emails, financial worries, and social tension. Central to this physiological stress Read more

Reading Time: 7 minutesDreaming has long intrigued philosophers, healers, and scientists alike. Once interpreted as divine messages or symbols of the unconscious, dreams are now examined through the lens of cognitive neuroscience. Within the landscape of modern sleep research, the “dream-work as therapy” concept proposes that dreaming performs core restorative functions rather than Read more

Reading Time: 8 minutesHigh blood pressure, or hypertension, represents one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time. Affecting over one billion people globally, it is a primary contributor to cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Hypertension significantly elevates the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, Read more

Reading Time: 8 minutesPreventive healthcare has traditionally emphasized well-established pillars: balanced nutrition, regular exercise, vaccination, and early detection of disease through screenings. These remain cornerstones of population health and clinical practice. Yet, the emergence of epigenetic—the science of heritable changes in gene function that occur without altering the DNA sequence—has introduced a profound Read more