Scientists found a surprising potential use for the psychedelic in magic mushrooms
The psychedelic compound that makes magic mushrooms so trippy shows serious promise for protecting cancer patients from years of chronic pain. For people undergoing cancer treatment, the nerve pain associated with blasting the body with chemo can be debilitating. Even worse, the pain and discomfort can last for years — well after the body is done fighting cancer — and there’s no effective…
A groundbreaking study led by clinicians at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has discovered a potential new use for the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, psilocybin. This compound has shown remarkable promise in protecting cancer patients from peripheral neuropathy, a debilitating chronic pain condition that can persist long after cancer treatment.
Peripheral neuropathy, which affects nerves in the extremities such as hands, feet, arms, and legs, is caused by damage to sensory neurons in the skin, leading to sensations like burning, prickling, or pins-and-needles.
In a series of experiments with mice, the researchers administered two doses of psilocybin prior to chemotherapy treatment. Remarkably, the mice treated with psilocybin did not develop the painful condition, even after undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy over six months. In contrast, a control group of mice that were not given psilocybin developed hypersensitivity to pain, dulled sense of touch in their paws, and shriveled sensory nerve fibers.
The chemotherapy treatment was equally effective in reducing tumors in both the psilocybin and control groups. The researchers believe that psilocybin may protect nerves from damage by keeping energy-generating mitochondria moving along their normal pathways. Dr. Moran Amit, co-leader of the research group, emphasized the urgent need for treatments that prevent nerve injury without interfering with lifesaving chemotherapy.
The study, published in Nature, marks a significant turning point in psychedelics research, which has been gaining momentum in recent years. Beyond treating depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder, psychedelics like psilocybin could hold the key to innovative medical therapies. This groundbreaking research in Texas has opened the door for human trials, which are set to begin this month.
The researchers at UT MD Anderson are now actively exploring the potential of psychedelics to improve patient lives beyond their current applications.
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