The Food and Drug Administration has approved the...

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of psilocybin, the active ingredient of psychedelic mushrooms, in pilot clinical trials to treat end-of-life distress. [Credit: Rohan523, wikimedia.org]

PSYCHEDELIC THERAPY: New research shows psychedelics might hold therapeutic potential for those dealing with death

“As doctors, we’re good at saving lives,” said Ross. “But we have not learned the art of helping patients have a good death.”

A 2007 study published by the American Cancer Society found that up to 50 percent of patients with advanced or terminal cancer are diagnosed with a major psychiatric disorder, and less than half of those with depressive symptoms receive any psychiatric medication. New treatment models could go a long way to help the over 500,000 Americans expected to die this year of cancer.

According to the researchers, psilocybin can achieve in one session what might otherwise take months or years, time some of these patients may not have.

Psilocybin binds to two types of serotonin receptors in the brain that are highly associated with mood and anxiety. Even more interesting to psychiatrists, brain imaging studies from the Heffter Research Center in Switzerland show that the drug appears to affect areas of the brain thought to mediate consciousness and spiritual feelings.

The effects of psilocybin last about four to six hours, during which time the subjects’ brain activity resembles that of people in spiritual states, such as meditating monks. Like people who practice meditation, the patients in the psilocybin trials reported feelings such as a greater connectedness to others, relief from fear and anxiety, and the ability to internalize their limited time as opportunities for personal growth.

▶ Read More at Science Line

(Thanks and love to Don for sharing.)

This truly a promising step in the right direction. Fills me with hope.

via quantumpossibility

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