Misc. news stories

MDMA and Psilocybin Are Approved as Medicines for the First Time
6th February 2023 | wired.co.uk | Humans, Misc.

Many are celebrating Australia’s decision to pave the way for these psychedelic therapies, but questions around accessibility remain.

Image from: Pashminu (Wiki Commons)

Can Psychedelics Repair Consciousness After Brain Trauma?
24th January 2023 doubleblindmag.com | Humans, Misc.

Psychedelic medicines have shown great promise in treating mental health conditions and helping patients see life from a new perspective, but their benefits may go even further in repairing injuries to the brain and, therefore, consciousness itself.

Scientists are beginning to unravel the effects of psilocybin mushrooms on bipolar disorder
23rd January 2023 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

A new study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology is the first to characterize the psychological impacts of psilocybin among people with bipolar disorder.

We’re Getting Closer to Understanding Why Our Moment of Death Is So Peaceful
19th January 2023 | sciencealert.com | Humans, Misc.

Undergoing a brush with death may sound terrifying. But people who have had a near-death experience (NDE) typically report feeling peace, comfort, and calm throughout the ordeal.

Scientists explore using psychedelics to treat alcohol, drug disorders
3rd January 2023 | latimes.com | Humans, Misc.

Melanie Senn’s father, long dead, appeared to her as she lay back in the dimly lit room at the Santa Monica clinic, a mask over her closed eyes, and the psychedelic trip began.

Image from: Imperial College London (Wiki Commons)

A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds
2nd January 2023 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

A single dose of the psychedelic drug psilocybin combined with supportive counseling leads to significant reductions in depressive symptoms, according to a new double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The findings have recently been published in eClinicalMedicine.

Image from: Cannabis Picture (Wiki Commons)

 

DMT Users Report Visits From Strange Entities And Hyperdimensional Spaces
14th December 2022 | iflscience.com | Humans, Misc.

A study has taken a look at the real-life experiences of people using N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, more commonly referred to as DMT.

Children with autism show improvement after being treated with cannabidiol-rich medicinal cannabis
8th December 2022 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

A study of children with autism spectrum disorders in Israel reported significant improvements in their social communication abilities after six months of treatment with cannabidiol-rich cannabis oil… The study was published in Translational Psychiatry.

Study on LSD microdosing uncovers neuropsychological mechanisms that could underlie anti-depressant effects
5th December 2022 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

A single, low dose of  lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) can increase reward-related brain activity, according to new research published in Neuropsychopharmacology. The study indicates that the psychedelic drug alters neuropsychological processes that tend to be blunted in patients with depression.

Amygdala connectivity predicts ketamine treatment response among patients with anxious depression
25th November 2022 | psypost.org | Humans, Misc.

A brain region known as the amygdala could play a key role in predicting symptom improvement following ketamine therapy in patients with treatment-resistant anxious depression, according to new research published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Rare Fossil of Extinct American Lion Discovered Thanks to The Mississippi Drying Up
24th November 2022 | sciencealert.com | Ancient, Animal Life, Misc.

At the end of October, a Mississippi resident made a rare discovery along the drought-stricken Mississippi River – a fossilized jawbone from an American lion that roamed the area roughly 11,000 years ago, according to McClatchy News

New York issues first 36 dispensary licenses for recreational marijuana
22nd November 2022 | theguardian.com | Humans, Misc.

Eight non-profits and numerous applicants with past cannabis convictions among first batch to receive licenses.

Does physical reality objectively exist?
15th November 2022 bigthink.com | Humans, Misc., Weird

We think of physical reality as what objectively exists, independent of any observer. But relativity and quantum physics say otherwise.

Fentanyl Vaccine Breakthrough – Potential “Game Changer” for Opioid Epidemic
15th November 2022 scitechdaily.com | Humans, Misc.

A new vaccine has been developed that targets the dangerous synthetic opioid fentanyl that could block its ability to enter the brain, thus eliminating the drug’s “high.

Colorado Votes to Decriminalize Shrooms and Other Psychedelics
13th November 2022 | vice.com | Humans, Misc.

Colorado became the second state to legalize magic mushrooms and decriminalize other psychedelics for adults following Tuesday’s midterm elections.

Psychedelic drug research held back by UK rules and attitudes, say scientists
9th November 2022 | theguardian.com | Humans, Misc.

Draconian licensing rules and a lack of public funding are holding back the emerging field of psychedelic medicine in the UK, leading scientists have warned after the release of groundbreaking results on the use of psilocybin to treat depression.

Miscellaneous news stories.