Groovy, Man: Study Finds Benefit in Magic 'Shrooms

Doctors exploring psychedelics for trauma, addiction, depression

(NEWSER) - Psychedelic drugs, once the domain of the free-lovin' hippies of the '60s, are coming under the microscope of very serious scientists of the current decade. A number of studies show that psilocybin, MDMA, and other psychedelics can ease a range of traumas and afflictions including headaches, PTSD, addiction, and for the terminally ill, anxiety about dying, reports the New York Times . “This research is in its very early stages,” said a doctor who has given psilocybin (an active ingredient in magic mushrooms) to 22 cancer patients, “but we’re getting consistently good results.” More»

Personality shift may be long-term—but don't try it at home

(NEWSER) - All that hippie stuff about opening your mind may have some truth to it. Scientists have found that psilocybin, the drug in "magic mushrooms," can improve one aspect of a subject’s personality: her "openness." In a trial, nearly 60% of subjects who were given one dose of psilocybin saw a positive personality effect—and one that lingered for more than a year, USA Today reports. Scientists gathered 51 healthy volunteers, most of whom considered themselves "spiritually active"; they spent a series of eight-hour sessions lying down with blindfolds and music playing through headphones. More»

Participants say their minds were blown, man

(NEWSER) - 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. More»

Science takes a new look at psilocybin

(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. More»

(NEWSER) - A Swiss psychiatrist has revived research into the use of LSD to treat emotional disorders after decades of neglect, Der Spiegel reports (unable to resist the headline "Tune In, Turn On, Cheer Up"). Albert Gasser, the first person to study the psychiatric use of the hallucinogen in 35 years, has been treating patients who suffer crippling fear and anxiety. He says the treatments have been successful so far, and he hopes to demonstrate that the drug can be used safely and effectively. More»