Medical science has made great advances in prolonging life, yet often can't address the existential and spiritual discomfort experienced by end of life patients. Psychedelics may provide one possible answer.
Two studies that recently gained attention suggest psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy can significantly enhance death acceptance, life meaning and optimism among terminally ill patients, sparking interest for psychedelic-assisted therapy for dying people.
Psilocybin
Psilocybin, a mushroom-derived compound, has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression among terminally ill patients as well as improve death acceptance and life meaning--two key aspects of palliative care.
Psilocybin can be taken by mouth (usually as a pill) or inhalation and, depending on its dose, may also be combined with other drugs for enhanced effects. When experiencing Psilocybin for yourself, a licensed facilitator will help calm you down and ensure your comfort; these facilitators cannot give instructions or psychoanalyze while in an altered state.
Psilocybin remains a controlled substance, but is becoming more readily legal in many cities and states to treat psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Oregon recently decriminalized magic mushrooms for medical use - this could one day change how we see aging as shifting from burdensomeness back into wisdom and solidarity.
Ketamine
If you or anyone in your life uses ketamine, be aware of its risks: it can increase heart disease risk and vomiting risk as well as bladder damage. Furthermore, mixing it with stimulants like cocaine or MDMA, opioids or benzodiazepines as well as certain predisposed mental illnesses is strongly advised against.
STAT's review of clinics revealed a range of screening practices at clinics, with some clinics using questionnaires to check for psychosis while at New England Center for Healthy Minds a patient first meets with a nurse who requests records from both their psychiatrist and primary care doctor.
Mushrooms Shrooms Direct may cause anxiety, paranoia and depression in some people when taken in large doses, as well as inducing fear of death in high dose users. When this occurs it is crucial that medical assistance be sought immediately. There may also be risks associated with mixing mushrooms with alcohol, opiates or benzodiazepines - their combined effects become intensified further increasing risk of overdose.
Ayahuasca
As interest in psychedelic drugs grows, so too has enthusiasm for Amazonian plant medicine. This trend has taken root at yoga retreats, neoshamanic-hybrid rituals and spiritual drug tourism centers - even drawing in notable figures like NFL star Aaron Rodgers, Hollywood actor Will Smith and Britain's Prince Harry!
Participants at ceremonies cited a wide array of motivations for attending, such as treating mental health problems, seeking spiritual development and experiencing healing. Furthermore, they reported positive effects such as increased self-transcendence and improved relationships with others. Participants scored significantly higher on some personality traits such as intuitiveness, optimism and empathy while scoring lower on traits like distrust and quietness.
Ayahuasca brews (usually prepared from Banisteriopsis caapi vine, roots, fruit or other plants) contain alkaloids which alter neurotransmitter activity in various brain areas. One study showed that ayahuasca reduced levels of inhibitory neurotransmitter glycine in the amygdala and increased excitatory neurotransmitter GABA in the hippocampus; suggesting it reduces emotional anxiety and depression while improving mood and self-esteem.
LSD
LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) is a psychoactive drug which produces hallucinations. It belongs to the class of drugs known as ergolines, along with other hallucinogens like psilocybin and DMT. First synthesized by Albert Hoffman for Swiss pharmaceutical company Sandoz in 1938, LSD became increasingly used by psychiatrists as an adjunct therapy during the 1950s and 60s; today this practice is known as "psychedelic therapy".
Magic mushrooms containing hallucinogenic substances psilocybin and psilocin are illegal to take in Canada. Common methods of consumption include eating them dry or making tea with them; initial effects typically include nausea and yawning. Once enough drugs have been accumulated in your system, however, they cause profound changes to perception and senses, including flashes of intense colors or hearing colored sounds (synesthesia).
Experiences associated with mushroom use can be disorienting and potentially life-altering, leading to anxiety and paranoia. Therefore, families need to educate their loved ones about potential risks associated with mushroom use as well as ways to minimize any possible negative side effects.