Pubdate: Mon, 17 Jul 2006
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2006 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hallucinogens.htm (Hallucinogens)

THE SCIENCE OF PSYCHEDELIC MUSHROOMS

What makes some mushrooms more psychedelic than others? Researchers 
at Johns Hopkins University think they know.

A plant alkaloid called psilocybin mimics the effect of serotonin on 
brain receptors and provides what the researchers called a "primary 
mystical experience" that may lead to overall positive changes in behavior.

While researchers hailed the discovery as a new way to approach 
hallucinogenic compounds, they cautioned that the chemical should not 
be handled lightly.

"Even in this study, where we greatly controlled conditions to 
minimize adverse effects, about a third of subjects reported 
significant fear, with some also reporting transient feelings of 
paranoia," said study leader Roland Griffiths of Hopkins. "Under 
unmonitored conditions, it's not hard to imagine those emotions 
escalating to panic and dangerous behavior."

More than 60 percent of the study subjects said they had a "mystical 
experience." Of those subjects, one-third said it was the single most 
spiritually significant experience of their lifetimes; and more than 
two-thirds rated it along with giving birth to their first child.

Two months later, 79 percent of subjects said their lives had 
improved at least moderately, compared with the placebo.

The team hopes to study the drug on cancer patients suffering from 
depression or anxiety.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman