Psilocybin Study at Johns Hopkins for Cancer Anxiety

Hi,

I just wanted to let people know that there is a new psilocybin study underway at Johns Hopkins University that is recruiting volunteers with a current or past diagnosis of cancer.

For more information visit:

http://www.bpru.org/cancer/insight/

Thank you.

Psilocybin is the state of mind or a trance that an Indian medicine man would go in to. I don’t know about this study it puts a horror able feeling through me it examines the use of substances used for psilocybin I know it’s in a controlled setting but they say they want to use these plants and mushrooms so doctors can reduce the psycho spiritual anxiety, depression, and physical pain of terminal cancer patients. I think what this will really do is put people in a state where while they know there dieing of cancer they couldn’t really feel or care less about dieing I think They wont be able to feel love or care about any one or any thing and the doctors can do any thing they like to them and they coudent care lest even to save there own  lives please tell me Im wrong or Im right  dont know  Ray

Psilocybin was the mushroom that was used to induce mystical states and journeying in the native cultures. If you haven't experienced these naturally induced states which have been part of many cultures for centuries, it's probably difficult to judge what they might or might not do. They are generally used as a catalyst for spiritual growth, so whether or not someone was even drawn to participate in a study like this would probably be partly influenced by their views on death. Some of us feel it is just a transition where we experience states of reality in different ways when we are connected to a physical body as opposed to not. For some that shift in reality may be a comfort and allow them to experience other inner realms they might not have access to otherwise.

My husband's dx was over 2 1/2 years ago and I've often thought I would be spending more time on the inner work if I was faced with cancer, but we are all different. Got a copy of Tibetan Book of Living and Dying recently and he has suddenly begun reading and contemplating it a lot (he's doing well at the moment so I don't think it's a downturn that's inspired him to begin now). To be a great yogi, one must be aware that death is beside each of us at all times, whether we have cancer or just seem to be living our lives.

Greetings,

I'm in a unique position to support recruitment for the John Hopkins cancer anxiety trial because I am the study coordinator for a similar trial that is concluding in Los Angeles at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Ironically, I was diagnosed with breast cancer five months after I started working on the study.

Since January 2006, I worked with seven participants who had Stage IV cancer and anxiety. We provided psilocybin in a clinical setting with therapeutic intentions. The medicine was tolerated well, and no one "freaked out." Overall, people reported having a positive experience, and some found it very helpful with coping and dealing with deep issues.

For more information about the John's Hopkins study, please click this link: http://www.bpru.org/cancer/insight/  (The age range for this study is 18-70, and participants need to be able to travel to Baltimore. They do not need to have a Stage IV diagnosis for this trial if they meet the anxiety requirement.)

I will be checking this forum every two weeks if anyone would like to correspond with me for more information.