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Magic Mushrooms Ease Cancer Anxiety

Science takes a new look at psilocybin

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 7, 2010 2:49 AM CDT | Updated Sep 7, 2010 6:25 AM CDT

(Newser) – Psilocybin, the key ingredient in the favorite hallucinogenic "magic mushrooms" of trippy space cadets everywhere, is proving to be a mood elevator for those suffering from cancer. Late-stage cancer patients given a moderate single dose of psilocybin were less anxious, and significantly less depressed six months later compared with patients given a placebo, a new study has found. The findings support earlier studies that discovered hallucinogens could have powerful mood enhancing effects. Those studies were dropped after recreational use of hallucinogens triggered a federal crackdown.

"The culture was going through tremendous upheaval" 40 years ago, Dr. Charles Grob of UCLA told Reuters. "These compounds were associated with a very politically active counterculture. Everything had to be shut down. Times have changed and it's now possible to pick up this research model again." Federal law currently prohibits psilocybin for any use, though Grob is optimistic that could change. "I think there is a greater capacity to be open-minded and let science dictate our conclusion, not politics," he said.

This bottle contains a pill in another experiment psilocybin.
This bottle contains a pill in another experiment psilocybin.   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
These mushrooms create psilocybin.
These mushrooms create psilocybin.   (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 24 comments
jcrouse22
Sep 7, 2010 7:28 PM CDT
Cancer-what cancer-hey look that cloud looks like Abe Vigoda!
Cat-Lover
Sep 7, 2010 6:24 PM CDT
I'm an atheist but I must admit I saw God during a night of heavy 'shroom consumption in my penthouse apartment in Denver, Colorado in 1979
riffran
Sep 7, 2010 2:00 PM CDT
as long as it is easing the suffering of a terminal patient...give them whatever the hell they want.

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