Medical Use of Psilocybin Essay - 1095 Words

During a visit to Mexico, Gordon Wasson, a mycologist, discovered the use of psilocybin mushroom in spiritual ceremonies by Indian tribes. Upon experiencing the spiritual and hallucinatory effects of the mushroom, Wasson returned to the area accompanied by an experienced mycologist, Roger Heim, who managed to cultivate the mushroom once in France and send samples of it to the scientist who had discovered lysergic acid, Albert Hoffman. From the mushrooms, Hoffman successfully isolated two compounds which he further named psilocybin and psilocin. Analogs of these compounds were further synthesized and were employed mainly for psychotherapeutic uses. Many tests on psilocybin were made at Harvard University in the early 1960’s. However,†¦show more content†¦Once in the stomach, due to the highly acidic environment, psilocybin undergoes a removal of its phosphate group, and is converted into psilocin. This process is called dephosphorylation. Aqueous solutions of psiloc ybin are very sensitive to light and rapidly oxidize in its presence. A great variety of analytical methods can be used for psilocybin identification and evaluation. Amongst them are thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography used along with mass spectrometry , infrared spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography. Treatment Although prescribed use of psilocybin is rare nowadays for medicinal purposes; many tests have been done on its medicinal uses in patients with personality disorders. Some tests have shown a noticeable reduction in obsessive compulsive disorder as a result of psilocybin use. Psilocybin has also been tested and is sometimes administered to cancer patients and has been proven to ease mental stress and the emotional baggage caused by cancer by changing the patient’s perspective on his/her situation and life in general. This compound has also been proven to reduce the pain resulting from cluster headaches in 85 % of patients tested and distanced the frequency of the attacks in 96% of patients. Facts on benefits and risks According to scientific studies, the risks and benefits associated with psilocybin are rather psychological and not physical. Test subjectsShow MoreRelatedDrug Abuse of Hallucinogens Essay1530 Words   |  7 PagesCommonly known Hallucinogen drugs are LSD, also known as acid or mellow yellow; PCP, also known as angel dust, tic tac, super grass, or rocket fuel; Psilocybin also known as â€Å"shrooms† or magic mushrooms; DMT; and Peyote. Hallucinogen drugs alter human perception and mood by changing the user’s sense of reality. Effects of hallucinogenic drug abuse are unpredictable and the intensity varies on the dose amount. 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