Could Psilocybin Be Used To Treat Terminally Ill Cancer Patients?
Over the past few years there appears to have been a resurgence in pyschedelic research and healing.
Media personalities such as Amber Lyon, Joe Rogan, and Aubrey Marcus have been trailblazers in the movement of taking this modality mainstream — and it seems as though the momentum only continues to grow. While controversial, the incredible stories of psychedelics/plant medicines (such as ayahuasca) healing the physical, mental, and emotional bodies are fascinating and inspiring.
These stories open up the issue of our current approach towards medicine, leading one to wonder if perhaps ancient wisdom may be the medicine for the modern world? A recently released documentary called A New Understanding explores the latest ground-breaking research in psychedelics as a means of treatment for end-of-life anxiety in terminally ill cancer patients. Using psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in mushrooms, the intention of this study has been to provide a deeply spiritual experience for the patients in order to ease the nerves, quiet the mind, and find peace in life and death. According to the film’s website: Through the eyes of patients, their loved ones, therapists and researchers A New Understanding examines the use of psilocybin in a controlled setting to reduce psychospiritual anxiety, depression, and physical pain.
The treatment aims to help the patient understand that a ‘good’ death is possible, and to help the patient’s family deal well with the dying process. A New Understanding shows patients and their families coming to terms with dying through the skillful treatment of the whole human being. If we can learn to work more skillfully with dying, we will also learn to take better care of life. Wherever you fall on the spectrum of opinion on exploring psychedelics as a means of therapy, exploring all options outside of the harsh system of the pharmaceutical industry is an essential step in our collective evolution. To watch the trailer for the film, click here... and if you’ve had your own experience with healing through psychedelics, feel free to share and comment! .
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