Posted on 04/07/2013 10:47:57 AM PDT by Jyotishi
Drugs made from magic mushrooms could help treat people with severe depression, a new study suggests.
Scientists believe that the chemical psilocybin, the psychedelic ingredient in magic mushrooms, can turn down parts of the brain that are overactive in severely depressive patients, the Guardian reported.
The drug appears to stop patients dwelling on themselves and their own perceived inadequacies.
However, a bid by British scientists to carry out trials of psilocybin on patients in order to assess its full medical potential has been blocked by red tape relating to Britains strict drugs laws.
Professor David Nutt, professor of neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, said that because magic mushrooms are rated as a class-A drug, their active chemical ingredient cannot be manufactured unless a special licence is granted.
We havent started the study because finding companies that could manufacture the drug and who are prepared to go through the regulatory hoops to get the licence is proving very difficult, Nutt said.
The whole field is so bedevilled by primitive old-fashioned attitudes. Even if you have a good idea, you may never get it into the clinic, it seems, he added.
Research by Nutt has found that psilocybin switches off part of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex.
It was known that this area is overactive in individuals suffering from depression.
In his tests on healthy individuals, it was found that psilocybin had a profound effect on making these volunteers feel happier weeks after they had taken the drug, Nutt said.
magic mushrooms at their best, are the BEST!
At their worst, a NIGHTMARE!
Always worked for me. LOL
There was quite a bit of clinical research done on psilocybin, peyote, and LSD back in the 60’s.
“There was quite a bit of clinical research done on psilocybin, peyote, and LSD back in the 60s.”
I think Irish gangster Whitey Bulger was among the study participants for the Army
First error, if they were healthy, they would not have depression. Quit trying to treat symptoms, and treat the underlying cause. But then, that would not be such a money maker would it?
Professor David Nutt.
Timothy Leary started down that path, then just proceeded through most every pharmaceutical there ever was just trying to find a new kick and trip his balls off. His actions ended up discrediting the entire endeavor.
Agreed. His biography was interesting though. He lamented that in all his years in Psychiatry the basic statistics hadn't changed at all. One third of patients got better, one third got worse, and one third stayed the same. I think he just gave up on science and decided to have a good time.
The problem to any drugs as a remedy to depression is that people have to come down- or overdose.
Unless there is organic brain damage-Jesus is the only thing that offers a renewal of the mind, and a transformation that transcends depression.
Oh... you mean the 'BRAT PACK' in Hollywood ?
Badger Badger Badger Badger
MUSHROOM MUSHROOM!
magic mushrooms and treatment of depression
I’m trying to figure out why people drink beer that is 98% water, and coffee that is caffeine free.
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