Psychedelic Medicine

A first-of-its-kind trial has pitted a common antidepressant against psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms. The results are mixed but suggest the drug is at least as effective as common antidepressants in treating depression.

New research suggests cannabis use can be linked to higher rates of "rebound headaches" in migraine sufferers. The research is observational and retrospective, but it is yet another finding questioning how helpful cannabis is for chronic migraine patients.

A landmark "self-blinded" trial testing the effect of psychedelic microdosing has found the practice may be an example of a strong placebo effect. The research suggests there is little difference in reported benefits between a microdose and a placebo.

A new, small open-label trial is the first to test MDMA therapy as a treatment for addiction and the results suggest it is safe, well-tolerated and significantly more effective than any current treatment for alcoholism.

A broad reform bill has been proposed in California that would see the possession and use of a number of psychedelic drugs decriminalized. The bill proposes to expunge all psychedelic-related criminal convictions and allow “social sharing” of the drugs.

Canadian researchers are reporting the results of a clinical trial testing the efficacy of CBD in helping cocaine addicts kick the habit. The results suggest CBD does not reduce cocaine cravings or help prevent relapse into addiction.

A novel trial is set to investigate the popular yet still deeply unproven practice of microdosing psychedelics, and promises to be the first exploration of naturalistic psilocybin microdosing in a lab-setting using a cutting-edge neuroimaging technique.

A team of scientists has demonstrated a novel microencapsulation method designed to improve the absorption and bioavailability of CBD. Animal tests suggest the new method increases peak concentrations of CBD in the brain by 300% compared to CBD oil.

Surfing the wave of new research into medical uses for psychedelic compounds, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has launched a dedicated psychedelic center focusing on the study of MDMA and psilocybin for PTSD and other stress-related conditions.

For the first time in decades, a pilot study has explored the effects of MDMA therapy in couples within the framework of a robust clinical trial. Following on from ongoing research into MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, the results are promising.

A study into the effects of cannabis on driving in a real-world context has found CBD alone does not impair driving ability. The landmark finding promises to be invaluable in guiding road safety regulations as cannabis laws shift across the globe.

An exploratory study has found a single dose of the psychedelic psilocybin can reduce migraine frequency by 50 percent for a least two weeks. The preliminary trial was small but the promising findings suggest potential for psychedelics to treat migraines.