A controversial new trial is being launched at St. Vincent’s hospital in Melbourne. Terminally ill patients will be treated with ‘magic mushrooms’ to reduce anxiety, as SBS reports.
Patients will be given a single dose of synthetic psilocybin —the psychedelic ingredient found in mushrooms. Once psilocybin is taken, the body converts it to psilocin, a chemical with psychoactive properties. Psilocin can induce a sense of euphoria and wellbeing. Which will ultimately allow patients to ease their anxiety and fear as they approach death. The effects can last up to six months.
30 patients will begin treatment in April this year. This follows a year-long battle with the ethics committee to have the study approved. Patients administered psilocybin will be closely monitored on the ‘dose day’ whilst the initial high wears off.
Dr Stephen Bright, Vice President of Australia’s Psychedelic Research In Science and Medicine, shared with 9news “I think it’s fantastic this study has been able to obtain the requisite approval, there have been multiple attempts to use psychedelics which have all been knocked back. The fact that this has been able to secure approval is very encouraging.”
US universities NYU and John Hopkins University both conducted similar trials. These concluded that patients that were subjected to a dose of psilocybin experienced significant relief from anxiety and depression. A follow-up assessment conducted months after the treatment found that 70 percent of the patients from the NYU trial considered the magic mushroom treatment as one of the top five most spiritually significant experiences of their lives, whilst 87 percent reported increased life satisfaction.
