Hallucinogenic mushrooms helped critically ill cancer patients overcome the anxiety of coping with their last days, a 2005 study. Tuesday there was a study released by Los Angeles researchers. This study explained that psilocybin is the active ingredient in shrooms. When it is given to individuals who are critically ill, it helps stop depression making it easier for sufferers to deal having the sure death that is ahead of them. Research about the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs was derailed in the 1970s when the federal government outlawed mind altering drugs such as Lysergic acid diethylamide. .
Hallucinogens make the last part of life easier
The magic mushroom study results were posted in the Archives of General Psychiatry. This can be a prestigious psychiatric journal that posted it. Under clinical supervision, 12 patients that had a terminal diagnosis got small doses of psilocybin, reports CNN. A control group took a placebo, which had little effect. The mood of patients was better while there was less anxiety after one to three months of taking psilocybin. After six months, the patients were all observed once more. The average depression within the group dropped about 30 percent. Perspectives on life were changed for some of these patients. They grew closer to family and friends as well.
Psychedelic drug study continues
The magic mushroom experiment researchers try to get more funding to conduct more experiments. Psilocybin works within the brain where nonverbal imagery and emotion is controlled, explains ABC News. Magic mushroom hallucinogens are used by native cultures for centuries. Cultural and political conflict brought therapeutic analysis having psychedelic drugs to a halt in the 1970s. Dr. Charles Grob, a professor of psychiatry at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center who led the magic mushroom studies, told ABC News that “40 years later, society has reached a point where it is sufficiently mature to manage these compounds in a safe and structured manner.”.
Do not do on your own
When used clinically, the shrooms study shows hallucinogens are helpful. It also showed that psilocybin, as outlined by Roland Griffith of Johns Hopkins University, could be used in studies safely. The Los Angeles Times talked to Griffiths who said the research on drugs done within the 1950s and ’60s “was promising, but by no means did it reach the kinds of scientific standards that we would expect today.” He also explained that he was doing his own studies with psilocybin. Approval for experiments was only given to Griffiths and Grob by, reports the Times, federal and local regulators. The researchers also warned cancer patients. They explained that cancer patients shouldn’t be trying magic mushrooms at home. There were minimal amounts of bad trips within the studies. This is because doses were carefully regulated.
Further reading
CNN
cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/09/06/magic.mushrooms.ease.anxiety/?hpt=T2
ABC News
abcnews.go.com/Health/ucla-study-finds-magic-mushrooms-curb-anxiety-advanced/story?id=11568335
Los Angeles Times
latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-magic-mushrooms-20100907,,4230087.story?track=rss
