Psilocybin is a compound found in psychedelic mushrooms so the name psilocybin mushrooms. Studies from research institutes, and universities show that a single dose of psilocybin improves a cancer patients’ emotional state. It is a great breakthrough as most cancer patients are mostly depressed for getting sick, and their medication causes this depression and anxious side effects.
This article will tell how the use of psilocybin mushrooms for cancer patients works by first giving results to two researchers.
Results on study done in 2016 indicated that combinations of Psilocybin and psychotherapeutic sessions made substantial improvements in depression and anxiety found among cancer patients. 29 cancer patients participated in the study. In six months, 60-80% of the participants recorded a significant reduction in depression and anxiety and developed a positive attitude about death. Five years later, a follow-up done revealed that 70% of the participants confirmed the use of Psilocybin brought about positive long-term changes in their lives like spiritual, psychological, and personal.
Stephen led another research study in a lab staged like a living room with flowers, pictures, and piece of art. The patients put on headphones with some comforting music on, and the psychedelic drug injected into their bloodstream. The outcome was immediate and prolonged improvements in depression and anxiety.
So how does it work?
Research shows that Psilocybin or magic mushrooms works on cancer patients by targeting a brain network known as the default mode network. This network gets activated upon engaging in mind wandering and self-reflection activities. In cancer patients, this network causes them to start self-worry and self-pity that in turn causes depression and anxiety. When Psilocybin is administered, it acts as a temporary default mode network shifting a patients’ focus to a broader picture of her/his life and not the disease. Psilocybin does this by invoking a spiritual situation of one with the universe by rising brains’ entropy and reducing the self-thinking, and self-sustaining ego of the network in default mode ‘default mode network’. In simpler terms, psychedelic drugs make a cancer patient forget that he/she is sick by shifting focus on other things.
How does it achieve its mission?
Psilocybin is a chemical compound similar to brain-produced neurotransmitter serotonin. These serotonin functions include responsible for someones’ perception and moods. Psilocybin mimics these serotonin neurotransmitters and exerts its function of causing brain entropy on its subject.
The other crucial attack of Psilocybin is the temporal lobe of the brain, associated with memory and emotions.
Today, contrary to Psilocybin mushrooms hazardous reputation three trials show that Psilocybin is safe for use in clinical settings. And unlike other medications and therapies, Psilocybin is proven to create an immediate shift of demoralization and meaninglessness found in cancer patients.