Dr. Casey Means, Trump’s surgeon general nominee, says psychedelic mushrooms helped her find love and could offer therapeutic benefits.
President Trump recently announced Dr. Casey Means as his nominee for the position of Surgeon General of the United States.
Means has drawn significant attention beyond her medical background due to her openness about using psychedelic mushrooms.
She credits these mushrooms with helping her find love and providing therapeutic benefits.
Trump’s Surgeon General nominee says psychedelic mushrooms helped her discover love and healing
Dr. Means, a former political lobbyist turned wellness advocate, revealed in an October newsletter that she first experimented with psychedelic mushrooms in 2021.
She described the experience as creating a mental space that allowed her to open up to love at the age of 35.
The 37-year-old said guided “plant medicine” experiences helped her prepare for a meaningful relationship.
Despite her enthusiasm for psychedelics, Means emphasized that her experience does not mean the same path is right for everyone.
She encourages careful, intentional use rather than casual experimentation.
“If you feel called, I also encourage you to explore intentional, guided psilocybin therapy,” she wrote.
“Strong scientific evidence suggests that this psychedelic therapy can be one of the most meaningful experiences of life for some people, as they have been for me.”
Promoting Psilocybin-Assisted therapy for stress relief
In her 2024 book “Good Energy,” she promotes psilocybin therapy to help manage stress and trauma.
Means said her first mushroom use came after an “internal voice” urged her to prepare mentally and emotionally.
She felt connected to life’s vast lineage, like cosmic nesting dolls through generations.
“I felt myself as part of an infinite and unbroken series of cosmic nesting dolls of millions of mothers and babies before me from the beginning of life,” she wrote.
Understanding psilocybin and its legal status in the US
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in over 200 mushroom species.
Psychedelic mushrooms are federally classified as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning they have no accepted medical use and a high abuse risk.
However, states like Oregon and Colorado have legalized supervised psychedelic therapy, acknowledging its therapeutic benefits.
Casey Means’ medical background and current status
Dr. Means earned degrees at Stanford and started, but didn’t finish, a residency in Oregon.
Currently, her medical license is inactive. Despite this, her background in health and wellness has made her a prominent voice in the field.
Following the withdrawal of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat’s nomination, Trump introduced Casey Means as his new pick for Surgeon General via Truth Social.
Trump praised her credentials as fitting his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
He said Means would work closely with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to fight chronic disease and boost national health.
“I am pleased to announce that Dr. Casey Means, will be nominated as our next Surgeon General of the United States of America,” Trump posted on Truth Social at the time.
“Casey has impeccable ‘[Make America Healthy Again]’ credentials, and will work closely with our wonderful Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to ensure a successful implementation of our Agenda in order to reverse the Chronic Disease Epidemic, and ensure Great Health, in the future, for ALL Americans.”