Benefits of Psychedelic Mushrooms in Cancer Patients
Researchers from Los Angeles shared the benefits that may be derived from what is commonly known as “magic mushrooms,” according to a feature on the Los Angeles Times.
The active ingredient in magic mushrooms is the psychedelic drug psilocybin, and a study conducted by Dr. Charles Grob, a psychiatrist at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, and his colleagues, revealed that the drug can help improve mood and reduce anxiety and depression among terminal cancer patients.
While the drug was more commonly known for recreational uses during the psychedelic period of the 60s, researchers were able to determine that a single dose of the drug can “improve patients’ functioning for as long as six months, allowing them to spend their last days with more peace,” according to researchers.
Dr. Stephen Ross, the clinical director of the Center of Excellence on Addiction at the Langone Medical Center in New York City, shared: “This is a landmark study in many ways… This is the first time a paper like this has come out in a prestigious psychiatric journal in 40 years.” Dr. Ross was not included in the study.
The study involved observing 12 patients, aged 36 to 58, who are suffering from advanced stage cancer and anxiety. Each patient underwent two sessions, one with the drug, the other one with a placebo. The drugs were given in a hospital, and the patients were monitored closely for a period of six hours. During these sessions, patients were encouraged to lie down, wear shades and listen to music.
Tags: magic mushrooms, mushroom for cancer, psychedelic drugs, psychedelic mushrooms
