Psilocybin tested for cancer relief
Summary
Psilocybin may help protect cancer patients from the painful nerve damage caused by chemotherapy, according to a study published in Science. Researchers say early tests in rats and human tissues showed the compound prevented peripheral neuropathy without weakening the cancer-fighting effect of chemo.
Key Points
- A study in Science found that psilocybin, the compound in magic mushrooms, may prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
- In rats, two doses before chemotherapy stopped painful hypersensitivity across multiple treatment rounds without harming immune response or cancer-fighting effects.
- Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center plan to begin clinical tests on cancer patients later this year.
- Experts caution that patients should not try using magic mushrooms on their own while human safety and effectiveness are still being tested.
