The recent news that Denver has decriminalized "magic" mushrooms is the latest sign of growing interest in the use of psychedelics. Whether it's microdosing mushrooms to stimulate the mind or using them to treat depression and chronic pain, psychedelic drugs are having a moment. Magic mushrooms are any of roughly 200 different types of fungi that produce psilocybin, a hallucinogenic substance. Other psychedelics include LSD, DMT, ayahuasca and ibogaine. For reasons of chemistry and cultural baggage, DMT is generally avoided, LSD is used with extra caution and psilocybin is getting the most attention in clinical studies. Preliminary research has found positive outcomes for psychedelic therapy in smoking cessation, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and refractory depression. And there are promising findings on psychedelics for cluster headaches and phantom limb pain. A 2015 review in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs reported that for patients with cluster headaches, psilocybin ] other hallucinogens and pain relievers, "were comparable to or more efficacious than most conventional medications."
