I ssee Canada is opening up to psilocybin prescription treatments, for end of life anxiety

[captain queeg]

I found that knd of interesting. I've heard it discussed for treatment of mental health issues , I guess it would make sense since im sure you are thinking of your own mortality at that time I've only had them a couple times 40 years ago with mixed results. Who knows qhat I was getting? I did take some of the ones that grow in pastures when I moved to WA.I think they called them Liberty caps. A few years ago my brother who was dying of ALS talked me into taking some mushrooms with him. But he'd had them a long time and they didn't work. I know OR has decriminalized them, so maybe they will become available there soon. I'm glad to see the govt is opening their minds to some new therapies.

[MiHale]

1. You can buy them online...

https://qualityspores.store/

You can buy the spores which are not illegal but growing the mushrooms is. It’s all explained at the website. Click on the three lines by the shopping cart at the top. It will give you a drop down menu.

https://qualityspores.store/are-magic-mushroom-spores-legal-in-my-state/

https://qualityspores.store/why-are-magic-mushroom-spores-legal/


Edited to add… I have absolutely no idea how reputable this company’s product is though the law parts jives with othe articles I’ve seen.

[captain queeg]

3. Thanks. Seems like you used to be able to order pot seeds. I guess.

[smirkymonkey]

2. Medical organizations are starting to do clinical trials with them for depression, anxiety and

addiction. That and Ketamine and other psychedelic substances. There is a place in NYC called Mindbloom where you can have an experience with a therapist (not sure if they use ketamine or something else) in a controlled setting for the above mentioned issues. There is a department at MGH that I am looking into that specializes in this exact thing.

I think it might be fairly expensive, but it is starting to become more mainstream. Let's hope people can benefit from this before the government tries to outlaw it. Again.

[captain queeg]

4. Interesting. Thanks. My brother used to talk about ibogaine and another hallucinogen.

You could go to some other countries to experience it. I just don’t think I’d want to be in another country in case some went wrong.

[smirkymonkey]

7. I see that you currently live in WA, and I am sure this is something that will make it out to

Seattle soon, if it's not already there. I would at least think it would be in SF or LA on the west coast, and who knows where else.

I am not sure what your brother's issues are, and I don't really want to get into mine, but I have struggled most of my adult life and I think this is something that could give us both hope. I know it has done wonders for a lot of other people. Of course, It kind of depends upon your mood going into it, unless you doing it with a professional,

[captain queeg]

15. Yes I think things are improving.

This discussion has covered several issues, but the take away is that these therapies are starting to be taken seriously. As people have mentioned, especially concerning end of life, people ought to have access to whatever works for them. I spent a lot of time with a friend who was dying of cancer recently, and he talked about wanting to try some of these treatments. For him, pain wasn’t the over riding complaint.

[dwayneb]

5. Especially important for Cluster headaches

I have a friend who gets cluster/seasonal headaches, and they are hell on earth. Far worse than migraines, these are like an ice pick in the brain, for hours on end. Episodes may go on for weeks. In fact they are called suicide headaches, because the pain can become intolerable leading some to suicide.

One of the treatments that his doctor, a world renowned headache specialist recommends - is psilocybin as a way to delay or stop the progression of the headache.

Here's the story of someone who was successful with this method.

https://www.insider.com/man-says-magic-mushrooms-psilocybin-cured-excruciating-cluster-migraines-2021-4

[wanda4rafi]

9. Please tell your friend about sudafed. I have experienced "ice pick" headaches

since my teens. They are a separate type from cluster headaches. Believe me I have been doing research for many years. They are the most severe pain I have ever experienced and I've had an appendix burst, kidney stones, pancreatic spasms and more. Mine are periodic, sometimes not occurring for many months or even a year or two. Then for 2-3 weeks they strike for 15-30 seconds at a time off and on all day. Dr.s didn't believe what i was telling them for many years and just in the last several years have they been acknowledged as real.

I have heard small dose of Psylb. works really well for many people. Please tell your friend that I was on a forum for people with these type attacks and people were saying they had incredible results with sudafed. I didn't believe it, but it is true. If I begin having attacks I keep some tablets with me and they prevent the attacks within a few minutes. It has truly been a life changing cure. It may have something to do with med relieving constriction of the nasal passages or nerves serving them. My attacks were not accompanied by congestion so it is strange.

[dwayneb]

10. Good info

One of the telltale signs of cluster headache is that that are on one side, and are sub-orbital behind the eye. Usually one eye droops and is tearing constantly during the attack. If you look at someone during a cluster it looks like they are having a stroke since it affects one side of the face. Hadn't heard about ice-pick headaches but if anything like clusters they must be bad.

His neurologist is world renowned for headaches and is an advocate for psilocybin treatment - of course in most of the US it's illegal so his MD can't provide it. Actually the treatment is not palliative (to treat symptoms) - the tactic is to take a fairly large dose (or doses) when the first warning signs of the episode begin to appear. Sort of a "reset" phenomena that wards off the episode or makes it less severe.

Big problem with this (aside from the illegality) is that not everyone is able to deal with psychedelics well, so it's not for everyone.

Hadn't heard about the sudafed idea I will mention it to him and see if he has tried it.

[wanda4rafi]

11. I have no idea of efficacy of sudafed for cluster type headaches.

With the icepick headache there are no accompanying symptons of congestion, eyes watering etc.. It is just excruciating, stabbing pain on one side of your head. Mine seems to focus just between my eye and my hairline.

Strangely enough I hadn't had an attack other than very short jabs over the last year or so. But, after posting about it and then doing a bit of googling about the latest news I had a 30 second attack. Must have been induced by my talking and thinking about it. I hope my information helps anyone who is struggling with this situation. I immediately took a 12 hour sudafed, actually a generic brand, and experienced no further attacks.

The studies I had seen for the psilocybin were based on daily micro-dosing. Not enough to cause hallucinogenic effects.

[captain queeg]

14. I've been following the conversation about headaches.

I used to have terrible headaches and spent a lot of time trying to get to the bottom of them. For awhile my doc thought they were cluster headaches, but after awhile this was ruled out. I don’t remember why, but I’ve read about them and they are said to be some of the most painful events known.

I’m not headache free nowadays but for for whatever reason they aren’t debilitating any more. My sympathy to anyone suffering from those. It’s just encouraging that the medical community is starting to be open minded and explore things that have been summarily rejected in the past.

[Johnny2X2X]

6. I think it's great they're starting to decriminalize this

Here in Michigan a couple cities are in the process of decriminalization. Oregon as a state has already done so.

Mushrooms simply aren't dangerous enough to be illegal, although I think people with a previous history of some mental illnesses should probably refrain.

For treatments, people are usually micro dosing, so they're taking really small amounts that don't even get them to that intense tripping condition.

These types of mind expanding drugs are IMO good for society and most people. They increase creative thinking and empathy.

[peggysue2]

8. Palliative care at the end of life should be standard

Regardless of substance. I requested end of life meds for my mother-in-law bc she had suffered from extreme anxiety for years. I did not want her terrified or struggling for each and every breath. Her lungs were failing and she consistently felt smothered. That would terrify anyone.

The hospital palliative team did exactly what I requested. In the last hour, she was actually cheerful. Her subsequent death was a gentle ride, swift and peaceful.

There's absolutely no reason patients should suffer in their final moments. I'll always be grateful to the nurses who treated her. And this was in Knoxville, TN.

[captain queeg]

13. Totally agree

[nolabear]

12. I've got a psychiatrist friend who's training in microdosing hallucinogens.

I think it’s psilocybin, but not positive. I’d love to try it. I liked mushrooms in my misspent youth and just a scoche of that openness along with some intelligent guidance sounds appealing.