Study Finds Perfect Dose for Medical 'Shrooms

Participants say their minds were blown, man
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 16, 2011 2:14 PM CDT
Study Finds Perfect Dose for Medical 'Shrooms
Magic mushrooms are being weighed and packaged at the Procare farm in Hazerswoude, central Netherlands on this Aug. 3, 2007 file photo.   (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

Forget medical marijuana—are you ready for medical mushrooms? The popular psychedelic is believed to be a useful tool for treating anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more, and now a group of researchers at John Hopkins University School of Medicine say they’ve found the perfect dose to produce long-lasting effects with a minimal risk of a “bad trip.” They’ll reveal the exact dosage when the study is published later this week.

Volunteers were given various doses of the drug in a controlled, supportive setting over four sessions. The results were overwhelmingly positive—a year later, 94% ranked it as one of the five most spiritual experiences of their lives, and 89% reported long-term positive changes in their behavior and mental well-being. “I’m not afraid to die anymore,” one participant tells Yahoo’s Lookout blog. “I think my heart is more open to all interactions with other people,” another said. (More psychedelic stories.)

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