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Magic mushroom drugs could treat severe depression
DNA ^ | Sunday, April 7, 2013 | ANI

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 Britain’s 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 haven’t 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.


TOPICS: Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: depression; drug; drugs; health; libertarians; magicmushrooms; medicalmarijuana; medicine; mushrooms; neuroscience; peyote; pharmacology; pseudoscience; psilocybin
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1 posted on 04/07/2013 10:47:57 AM PDT by Jyotishi
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To: Jyotishi
The Guardian = Communist rag = no credibility whatsoever.
2 posted on 04/07/2013 10:53:46 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Leno Was Right,They *Are* Undocumented Democrats!)
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magic mushrooms at their best, are the BEST!
At their worst, a NIGHTMARE!


3 posted on 04/07/2013 10:57:11 AM PDT by Jakarta ex-pat
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To: Jyotishi

Always worked for me. LOL


4 posted on 04/07/2013 10:57:58 AM PDT by Robert DeLong (u)
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To: Jyotishi

There was quite a bit of clinical research done on psilocybin, peyote, and LSD back in the 60’s.


5 posted on 04/07/2013 10:58:13 AM PDT by SeeSharp
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To: SeeSharp

“There was quite a bit of clinical research done on psilocybin, peyote, and LSD back in the 60’s.”

I think Irish gangster Whitey Bulger was among the study participants for the Army


6 posted on 04/07/2013 10:59:25 AM PDT by AtlasStalled
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To: Jyotishi; Revolting cat!; Slings and Arrows
The visions of melting faces and random starburts will make you forget all about your day to day problems.


7 posted on 04/07/2013 11:00:03 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: Jyotishi
In his tests on healthy individuals,

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?

8 posted on 04/07/2013 11:01:10 AM PDT by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: a fool in paradise
Professor David Nutt

Professor David Nutt.

9 posted on 04/07/2013 11:01:16 AM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: SeeSharp
There was quite a bit of clinical research done on psilocybin, peyote, and LSD back in the 60’s.

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.

10 posted on 04/07/2013 11:01:50 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: a fool in paradise
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.

11 posted on 04/07/2013 11:12:52 AM PDT by SeeSharp
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To: SeeSharp

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.


12 posted on 04/07/2013 11:16:45 AM PDT by Truth2012
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To: Jyotishi
Nothing new. The dopers have been trying to smuggle their shit into the medical field since LSD in the 60's. It didn't work then and it won't work now, although they may get their way with pot.
13 posted on 04/07/2013 11:26:09 AM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: SeeSharp
There was quite a bit of clinical research done on psilocybin, peyote, and LSD back in the 60’s.

Oh... you mean the 'BRAT PACK' in Hollywood ?

14 posted on 04/07/2013 11:27:32 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (The monsters are due on Maple Street)
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To: Jyotishi

Badger Badger Badger Badger
MUSHROOM MUSHROOM!

15 posted on 04/07/2013 11:27:34 AM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: SeeSharp
Ken Kesey was a research subject at the Menlo Park VA when they were studying LSD. The research never went anywhere of course, but Kesey did.
16 posted on 04/07/2013 11:28:18 AM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: Jyotishi

magic mushrooms and treatment of depression


17 posted on 04/07/2013 11:29:44 AM PDT by quintr
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To: SeeSharp
Leary was a psychologist not a psychiatrist, and he was an academic not a clinician. He did some capable research before he screwed himself up on LSD.
18 posted on 04/07/2013 11:30:41 AM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: hinckley buzzard

I’m trying to figure out why people drink beer that is 98% water, and coffee that is caffeine free.


19 posted on 04/07/2013 11:32:10 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (The monsters are due on Maple Street)
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20 posted on 04/07/2013 11:33:39 AM PDT by RedMDer (May we always be happy and may our enemies always know it. - Sarah Palin, 10-18-2010)
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