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Magic mushrooms lifts severe depression in trial
www.telegraph.co.u ^ | 17 May 2016 • 1:17pm | Henry Bodkin

Posted on 05/17/2016 1:03:20 PM PDT by Red Badger

Psilocybin, which is found in magic mushrooms, was administered to depression patients in a pill Credit: TELEGRAPH

===========================================================================================================================

A hallucinogenic chemical found in magic mushrooms has successfully lifted severe depression in previously untreatable patients.

Scientists at Imperial College London induced intense psychedelic trips in 12 people using high doses of the banned substance psilocybin.

A week after the experience all the volunteers were depression-free, and three months later five still had no symptoms of the condition.

Published in the Lancet Psychiatry Journal, the study welcomes the results as “promising, but not completely compelling".

Its authors are now seeking further funding from the Medical Research Council and other bodies to carry out fuller trials.

They conceded, however, that the use of a placebo control, a crucial component of thorough clinical trials, would be difficult as it would be obvious who was having a hallucinogenic experience and who was not.

The psilocybin is believed to cause relief from depression by targeting receptors in the brain and disrupting the Default Mode Network, which is responsible for sense of self and is overactive in depressed people.

However, the scientists did not rule out that the psychedelic trip could have caused an “awakening”, of the kind achieved by spiritual teaching, which also helped lift the depression.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: lsd; psilocybin
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To: forgotten man

And here I always thought that was from whiskey!....................


21 posted on 05/17/2016 1:34:06 PM PDT by Red Badger (WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKING TAGLINES!...........................)
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To: faithhopecharity

Ingesting too much anything can kill you!..................Even water........................


22 posted on 05/17/2016 1:34:47 PM PDT by Red Badger (WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKING TAGLINES!...........................)
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To: henkster

So that’s how he does it!.......................


23 posted on 05/17/2016 1:35:16 PM PDT by Red Badger (WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKING TAGLINES!...........................)
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To: enraged

The ones here grow like little purple umbrellas in the early morning and usually wilt and melt before noon........................


24 posted on 05/17/2016 1:36:07 PM PDT by Red Badger (WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKING TAGLINES!...........................)
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To: Red Badger
Aren't they cute


25 posted on 05/17/2016 1:46:26 PM PDT by HangnJudge (Cthulhu for President, why vote for a lesser Evil)
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To: Red Badger

Many psychiatric drugs mimic the effects of mushrooms and marijuana with less side effects.


26 posted on 05/17/2016 1:46:28 PM PDT by Snowybear
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To: Red Badger
Always reminded me of eating a cat dropping.
I would become nauseous, puke and then get paranoid.
Ah, the memories...
27 posted on 05/17/2016 1:47:41 PM PDT by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: Red Badger
They conceded, however, that the use of a placebo control, a crucial component of thorough clinical trials, would be difficult as it would be obvious who was having a hallucinogenic experience and who was not.

So use a different hallucinogen as the placebo, one that hasn't had any effect on depression.
28 posted on 05/17/2016 1:48:26 PM PDT by Ellendra (Those who kill without reason cannot be reasoned with.)
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To: HangnJudge
"Liberty caps," Psilocybe semilanceata,
29 posted on 05/17/2016 1:57:52 PM PDT by Fungi
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To: Red Badger

Moderation in all things.

Except Freeping!


30 posted on 05/17/2016 2:02:37 PM PDT by Elderberry
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To: Red Badger
Considering you find them in dried cow pies, I'm sure they won't be doing it a lot.

Mushroom cow pie quiche. An old vegetarian favorite.

31 posted on 05/17/2016 2:02:41 PM PDT by USMCPOP (Father of LCpl. Karl Linn, KIA 1/26/2005 Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq)
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To: Red Badger

You used to be able to order the spores through the mail.

Perhaps they have stopped this.


32 posted on 05/17/2016 2:07:53 PM PDT by Bobalu (Government treats you like a milk cow. If things get tough, they will treat you like a beef cow)
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To: Red Badger

Sunshine is the magic medicine for depression and even for some of the things that are lumped under the Bipolar brand;
sunshine, or if you work nights, vitamin D-3. I have turned on one diagnosed bipolar and two pretty severe manic depressives to this notion and they have evened out and the two that were taking anti depressants have stopped. Another woman, a waitress at Waffle House whom I saw at the counter infrequently, on Methadone who was trying to actually end her addiction took my advice and started taking the D-3 and getting out in the sun when she could has since dropped the methadone and the Prozac and has been blissfully NORMAL for almost a year. I had not known about the Methadone until she told me she had dropped it.


33 posted on 05/17/2016 2:09:13 PM PDT by arthurus (Het is waar. Tutti i liberali soli o feccia.)
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To: mac_truck
They’ve reported similar results with LSD and terminally ill cancer patients which makes me think there’s something to this research.

There is also some research that LSD can be used to treat alcohol and drug addiction.

I've also heard rumors that folks in silicon valley do low dose LSD to stimulate their creativity.

34 posted on 05/17/2016 2:15:26 PM PDT by stig
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To: MUDDOG

“Prob’ly keep us both alive.”

Easy, you know the way it’s supposed to be.


35 posted on 05/17/2016 2:19:36 PM PDT by Windflier (Pitchforks and torches ripen on the vine. Left too long, they become black rifles.)
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To: chris37
I know Amanita Muscaria

Can spot it in the woods an' all that

UST'A trip weekly back in the late 60's/early 70's

36 posted on 05/17/2016 2:21:38 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof, but they're true)
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To: wardaddy

Expert witness ping!


37 posted on 05/17/2016 2:27:01 PM PDT by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
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To: Red Badger

Hmm..No wonder I have not suffered a serious bout of depression since before my college days. Of all the stupid things I have done in my life, the mushrooms were the most fun.


38 posted on 05/17/2016 2:27:38 PM PDT by TBall
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To: chris37

Don’t ask me either. ;o)


39 posted on 05/17/2016 2:31:41 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a Simple Manner for a Happy Life :o)
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To: Red Badger

With the cancer patients it was more about confronting their fear of dying and psychodelics administered in a controlled environment were quite successful in transforming the patient’s outlook. More at the link...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/health/lsd-reconsidered-for-therapy.html


40 posted on 05/17/2016 2:34:01 PM PDT by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
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