Magic Mushrooms Hit The God Spot

[baphomet]

Magic mushrooms hit the God spot

Judy Skatssoon

ABC Science Online

Wednesday, 12 July 2006

spiritual experience

The active ingredient in magic mushrooms produces spiritual experiences identical to those reported through history (Image: iStockphoto)

The active ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms produces a spiritual experience that can have lasting positive effects, a trial has shown.

The ingredient, psilocybin, increases wellbeing and satisfaction with life two months after being taken, according to the research by scientists at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, which is published online today in the journal Psychopharmacology.

Psilocybin is a plant alkaloid that affects the brain's serotonin system, in particular, the 5-HT2A receptor.

"Under very defined conditions, with careful preparation, you can safely and fairly reliably occasion what's called a primary mystical experience that may lead to positive changes in a person," study leader Professor Roland Griffiths says.

Australian professor of psychopharmacology at the University of Sydney, Ian McGregor, says he isn't surprised that the study confirms the ability of psilocybin to induce a spiritual state.

"Psilocybin and related hallucinogens have been used since ancient times in religious rituals and this study is really formalising ... what many people already know," he says.

But he says the apparent long-term benefit of the drug is "remarkable".

"To see a positive effect two months later is quite striking," he says.

However, the study also reports that about a third of the volunteers experienced fear and anxiety after taking the psilocybin and McGregor says it should be avoided by anyone with schizophrenia or other psychotic illnesses.

First study of its kind in four decades

In what is described as the first scientifically rigorous study of its kind in 40 years, 36 volunteers were given either psilocybin or a comparator drug methylphenidate hydrochloride.

Subjects were asked to describe their experiences immediately after the session in a set of detailed psychological questionnaires and at a two-month follow up.

More than 60% of subjects (22) described the effects of psilocybin in ways that met criteria for a full mystical experience according to established psychological scales, compared to only 4 of the 36 after the comparator drug.

After two months, two-thirds rated the experience as either the singly most spiritually significant in their lives or rated it among their top five.

The God spot?

Professor John Bradshaw, an Australian neuropsychologist from Monash University, says the brain's medial temporal lobe is rich in serotonin receptors and has previously been described as the 'God spot' because it is active in transcendental states.

In a commentary accompanying the article, Professsor David Nichols of the Purdue University school of pharmacy says it's likely that psilocybin triggers the same neurological process that produces religious experiences during fasting, meditation, sleep deprivation or near-death experiences.

He says the current research adds to the emerging field known as neurotheology, or the neurology of religious experience, and could shed light on the "molecular alterations in the brain that underlie religious and mystical experiences".

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/health/...ish_1682610.htm

[MindExpansion]

Thanks for the read, its great to see some scientific research that shows the public what some already know, that these 'tripers' aren't just geting high for the sake of getting high, and that the spiritual aspects of many of the hallucinogenic substance are real, important and special. Perhaps this is the first step to the government rcognising this (thought i doubt it) and thus the first step to legalising this, or at least allowing it for the use of psychotherapy.

Peace,

Mind

[Hyphal]

Very very cool article - I read this a while back and have it blue tacked to my fridge.

[baphomet]

Perhaps this is the first step to the government rcognising this (thought i doubt it) and thus the first step to legalising this, or at least allowing it for the use of psychotherapy.

I share your hopes but unfortunately I can't see this happening unless someone can make money off it and I think there are probably too many risks associated with it, it has successfully treated OCD though so I may be wrong, check this out: http://www.maps.org/research/psilo/azproto.html

Very very cool article - I read this a while back and have it blue tacked to my fridge.

lol

[Ace]

For more info on psychedelics and mystical states as well as a lot about religious groups centred around psychoactive plants/fungi, I highly recommend reading 'In search of the Ultimate High' by Nicholas Sauders. Absolutely fascinating read, it explores mushroom use in Mexico, ayahuasca in South America, peyote use by the Native American Church, marijuana use by Rastafarians and the rave scene (as well as numerous other things). The thing I like most is that its the first book that I've come across that looks to be almost entirely focused on the spiritual/religious side of psychedelics/entheogens, not just cultivation, trip reports or chemistry.

I would also highly recommend 'DMT: The Spirit Molecule' by Rick Strassman. A lot of info about the psychopharmacology of mystical states induced by DMT as well as a little bit about his earlier experiences with administering psilocybin to participants in a clinical setting.

[Yawning Man]

awesome, thanks for posting that baphomet. Good read, kind of gets me in the mood to go hunting lol. I really have to get off my arse and do some reading.

cheers

Edited May 26, 2008 by peaceful_son

[Undergrounder]

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Edited May 26, 2008 by Undergrounder