Magic Mushrooms Hallucinogenic mushrooms can treat depression

Intoxicating mushrooms are supposed to make cancer patients afraid of death
Recent studies suggest that hallucinogenic mushrooms, called "magic mushrooms," can help cancer patients overcome anxiety and depression. Responsible for the positive effect is therefore psilocybin, a substance that psychiatrists and psychotherapists experimented with decades ago.

Psilocybin for anxiety
Many people who have cancer suffer from mental health problems such as anxiety or depression. They therefore need not only medical but also emotional help. Recent studies have shown that psilocybin, a substance found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, can help cancer patients eliminate anxiety and depression.

Hallucinogenic mushrooms can help cancer patients overcome anxiety and depression. Responsible for the positive effect is the substance psilocybin. (Image: kichigin19 / fotolia.com)

Treat depression with mushroom substance
For many years, studies have been conducted on several hallucinogenic psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychoactive mushrooms, at several renowned universities in the USA. Most of them are investigating the potential effects against depression and anxiety, especially in connection with life-threatening conditions such as cancer.

Both American and British studies have shown that depression can be treated with the mushroom compound psilocybin.

Positive effects sometimes lasted for more than half a year
Two very recent studies from the US have now confirmed this, as shown in a report in the journal "Journal of Psychopharmacology", which dedicated the theme of their entire December issue.

Even a single dose of synthesized psilocybin can free cancer patients from depression and anxiety, researchers from New York University (NYU) report in the journal. According to the study authors, the positive effects lasted for six months or longer, provided that the patients were cared for at the same time by psychotherapists.

Noticeable improvement in well-being
In another study by researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, this positive effect was confirmed. According to the data, about 80 percent of the 51 participating patients have noticeably improved their well-being and satisfaction with their lives.

Up to 40 percent of patients with advanced cancer suffer from depression and anxiety disorders, according to the physicians. Classic antidepressants do not work in many of these patients.

Further research is worthwhile
In a statement from the university, study leader Professor Roland Griffiths said: "We do not know if the results can be generalized to a larger population group."

But he believes that psilocybin can find a therapeutic use. "There may be applications that we can not even imagine," says the expert. "It's certainly worth investigating systematically."

No support from the pharmaceutical industry
However, it was also found in previous research that such fungi, which are used in this country as a party drug, change the personality. In addition, they can lead to poisoning.

Although psychiatrists and psychotherapists experimented with psilocybin decades ago, experts in many countries still do not find it easy to research hallucinogenic substances. Even from the pharmaceutical lobby, no help is expected. That could not use the image "drug", my experts. (Ad)