What happened when people with anorexia tried magic mushrooms
Researchers are exploring whether magic mushrooms could offer a new treatment for anorexia
In a groundbreaking study, researchers investigated whether magic mushrooms could potentially serve as an innovative treatment for anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa, characterized by severe food restriction and an intense fear of gaining weight, is a highly dangerous eating disorder with a mortality rate five times higher than that of other psychiatric disorders. Approximately 5% of diagnosed anorexia patients succumb within four years of their diagnosis.
The study, conducted by a team at Imperial College London, aimed to determine if psilocybin therapy, derived from magic mushrooms, could alleviate the debilitating symptoms of anorexia. This pilot trial involved 21 female participants, all diagnosed with anorexia nervosa for an average of 11 years, and had previously attempted various treatments to no avail.
The researchers postulated that psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms, might stimulate cognitive flexibility and emotional connectivity in patients, thereby helping them overcome their restrictive eating habits and overcome their intense fear of gaining weight. The study's findings could potentially pave the way for a novel therapeutic approach to treat this dangerous eating disorder, offering hope to millions of anorexia sufferers worldwide who have previously found little relief from existing treatments.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
