Do Magic Mushrooms have Do Magic Mushrooms have medicinal value?medicinal value?

Joshua RootJoshua Root

Psilocybin FactsPsilocybin Facts

Contained in many different Contained in many different mushrooms.mushrooms.

Originated in East AfricaOriginated in East Africa serotonin (5-HT)-2A/2C receptor serotonin (5-HT)-2A/2C receptor

agonist agonist ILLEGAL!ILLEGAL!

EffectsEffects

PsilocinPsilocin Duration of 3-8 hoursDuration of 3-8 hours

Effects ContinuedEffects Continued

Physical effectsPhysical effects Increase in heart rateIncrease in heart rate Elevated blood pressureElevated blood pressure Dilated PupilDilated Pupil Nausea Nausea Coldness and weakness in limbsColdness and weakness in limbs

Effects ContinuedEffects Continued

Emotional effectsEmotional effects Strongly dependent on settingStrongly dependent on setting Mood swingsMood swings Exaggeration of mood at ingestionExaggeration of mood at ingestion

Effects ContinuedEffects Continued

Sensory effectsSensory effects VisualVisual AuditoryAuditory SynthesiaSynthesia

stimulation of one sensory or cognitive stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway pathway

Proposed Medicinal UsesProposed Medicinal Uses

Psychotherapy Psychotherapy 1950’s1950’s

Modern proposalsModern proposals OCDOCD Cluster HeadachesCluster Headaches Body dysmorphic disorder Body dysmorphic disorder

Treatment of OCDTreatment of OCD

OCDOCD 44thth most commonly diagnosed most commonly diagnosed

psychiatric disorderpsychiatric disorder ComplicationsComplications

Depression, suicidal tendencies, panic, Depression, suicidal tendencies, panic, substance abuse, and interpersonal substance abuse, and interpersonal difficultiesdifficulties

Dysregulation of SerotoninDysregulation of Serotonin 5-HT reuptake inhibitors 5-HT reuptake inhibitors

OCD Treatment FindingsOCD Treatment Findings

Dr. Francisco MorenoDr. Francisco Moreno Completely removed symptoms Completely removed symptoms 4-24 hours4-24 hours

JeremyJeremy Fear of contaminationFear of contamination Symptoms relievedSymptoms relieved

Treatment of Cluster Treatment of Cluster HeadachesHeadaches

Triggered by a few different causesTriggered by a few different causes Interruption of sleep pattern, certain Interruption of sleep pattern, certain

medication, abnormal hormone levels, medication, abnormal hormone levels, and heavy smoking and drinking alcoholand heavy smoking and drinking alcohol

ResultsResults 53 participants53 participants

85% aborted attack85% aborted attack 95% reported extension in remission95% reported extension in remission 42% benefited from sub hallucagenic doses42% benefited from sub hallucagenic doses

Treatment of Body Dysmorphic Treatment of Body Dysmorphic DisorderDisorder

Mr. AMr. A Relieved symptomsRelieved symptoms

Mrs. BMrs. B Relieved symptomsRelieved symptoms

Critiques and CommentsCritiques and Comments

Duration of positive resultsDuration of positive results Not a drug that can be used all the Not a drug that can be used all the

timetime Less toxic than aspirinLess toxic than aspirin

http://www.doitnow.org/pages/132.htmlhttp://www.doitnow.org/pages/132.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Psilocybin_mushrooms#Medicinal_usePsilocybin_mushrooms#Medicinal_use http://www.maps.org/research/psilo/azproto.htmlhttp://www.maps.org/research/psilo/azproto.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16801660http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16801660 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Body_dysmorphic_disorderBody_dysmorphic_disorder http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16304852/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16304852/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6210694.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6210694.stm http://www.shroomery.org/6233/Psychedelic-http://www.shroomery.org/6233/Psychedelic-

Mushrooms-Just-another-Drug-or-a-Powerful-Mushrooms-Just-another-Drug-or-a-Powerful-MedicineMedicine