#18 — Psychedelics and the Feminine: Healing Cycles, Hormones, and the Womb
In this season 2 opening episode of The Trip Lab, I return from maternity leave with a deeply personal exploration of how psychedelic experiences mirror one of the most profound transitions in a woman’s life: motherhood. From the sudden crash of postpartum hormones to the full dissolution of identity and the slow reconstruction of self, I reflect on how becoming a mother felt strikingly similar to a psychedelic journey — raw, disorienting, expansive, and sacred. We dive into the neuroscience of hormonal transitions, ego death, and neuroplasticity — exploring how estrogen, the Default Mode Network, and maternal brain remodeling all connect to the psychedelic experience. We also examine the often-overlooked wisdom of the menstrual cycle, the energetic sensitivity of pregnancy, and why the womb may be one of the most powerful maps for understanding transformation and healing. This episode is for anyone curious about the intersection of psychedelics and the feminine — whether you’ve given birth, are hoping to one day, or simply want to understand how cycles, hormones, and identity shifts can open portals into deeper layers of self. Topics include: Postpartum as ego death and rebirth Estrogen, neuroplasticity, and the psychedelic brain Psychedelics and the Default Mode Network in women Hormonal cycles and their influence on medicine journeys Ancestral wisdom, womb intelligence, and the sacred feminine For more from me beyond the podcast, come hang out on Between Mind & Body on Substack, where I share full podcast transcripts and deeper companion content, essays, physician-created guides, emerging research, and the questions medicine has not quite answered yet. Substack: Between Mind & Body Instagram: @drmaryella LinkedIn: Mary Ella Wood, DO, ABOIM If you enjoyed this episode, subscribing, sharing it with a friend, or leaving a review helps more than you know.
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