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Promising Breast Cancer Study, Psilocybin for Aphantasia, and Cluster Headache Relief

Author

Shannon Ratliff
July 12, 2024

IN SPORES WE TRUST

1️⃣ A prebiotic powerhouse

2️⃣ Aphantasia reversed?

3️⃣ Merch survey open!

Hi Shroomer. Food for thought from Merlin Sheldrake’s Entangled Life: "One study estimated that if a hypha was as wide as a human hand, it would be able to lift an eight-ton school bus."

Shannon Ratliff, Co-Founder

FESTIVAL SEASON

Mushrooms near you 🪁 Last week, a whopping 90% of you said you’ve never been to a mushroom fest but would love to! Here’s a quick recap of the Texas Mushroom Conference to see what to expect.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Morchella vs. breast cancer 🧬 According to global cancer statistics (2018), breast cancer prevalence increased to 43.5 million, including over 18 million new cases and 9.6 million mortalities. A new study revealed that compounds unique to three types of Morchella mushrooms decreased the number of breast cancer cells more effectively as the dose increased. Even at very low concentrations (0.017 to 0.68 mg/ml), the Morchella mushroom extracts showed significant potential in killing cancer cells.

A prebiotic powerhouse 🥣 Using natural solvents and probiotic fermentation, researchers extracted a chitin-glucan complex (CGC) from shiitake mushrooms. The study highlighted CGC’s ability to support gut health by promoting beneficial bacteria, showing a prebiotic score of 118-134% and releasing short-chain fatty acids (up to 9.99 mM). The CGC also demonstrated strong antioxidant properties and structural resilience, making it suitable for nutraceutical-enriched foods.

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

Your turn, Washington 🌲 Campaigners in Washington introduced Initiative Measure No. 2076 to legalize the personal use of certain psychedelics for adults 21 and over. This measure would allow the cultivation, possession, and use of substances like mescaline (excluding peyote), psilocybin mushrooms, and DMT, while keeping commercial sales illegal. The campaigners at REACH WA wrote, “We are committed to refining and improving the language of our initiative, whether it’s for the next ballot or in hopes of finding a legislative sponsor.”

Debilitating chronic pain 🖐️ A new study aims to uncover how psilocybin-assisted therapy affects fibromyalgia patients. Over eight weeks, 20 participants will undergo EEG and MRI scans before, during, and after two dosing sessions of psilocybin to monitor brain activity.

Jumpstarting imagination ⚡️ A 34-year-old autistic woman with aphantasia, the inability to visualize or picture things, found her world transformed after taking psilocybin. She began seeing images in her mind, having vivid dreams, and experienced an improved ability to remember routes and visualize thoughts. While promising, this single case study hasn’t yet been peer-reviewed. I’m including it today because the full study is available to read online.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

What we can’t perceive 🌴 Researchers from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland discovered that DNA in the air can reveal the vast diversity of fungi. By sampling fungal spores from around the world, they found that most fungi were specific to one climatic zone and that tropical regions had the highest diversity, except for certain types like lichenized fungi which were more diverse in temperate zones. This shows that fungal diversity follows predictable global patterns influenced by climate.

OK unripe walnuts 👏 Green walnut husks (GWH) as a substrate for cultivating oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) was explored in a recent study. Adding 10-20% of the thicker green layer of walnut fruit improved the yield and nutritional content, increasing protein and fat in the mushrooms. In turn, higher GWH content prolonged the cultivation cycle.

GROWING GOURMET

In search of vegan chicken nuggets 🐔 Mushroom and chickpea-based nuggets with a 55:15 mushroom-to-chickpea ratio are science’s newest creation. This alternative flour offers a better texture compared to soy-based nuggets so much that it could replace soy protein. The new nuggets also show improved moisture and fat retention, despite having lower protein content.

The cows come home 🐄 Adding cattle manure to the composting process of Agaricus bisporus mushroom substrate significantly boosts the formation of humus, per a new study. Humus is vital for soil health and sustainable farming. Agaricus bisporus is key because it equals baby bella, cremini, and portobello mushrooms in different maturity stages.

Royal flush 💠 Fantastic Fungi (yes, that Fantastic Fungi) released its Summer Forager Box and product spotlights include Earthy Energy, a mushroom and cacao drink whose founder than 100 marathons in 100 days, and a stunnin’ pack of mushroom playing cards from Oregon artist Chris Adams, the creator of The Mushroom Tarot.

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

Combat the cluster 🧠  A new study from Yale School of Medicine found that psilocybin can significantly reduce the frequency of cluster headaches.

  • The context: Cluster headaches cause excruciating pain and are notoriously difficult to manage. This study involved a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 16 adults who experienced cluster headaches. Participants received either three doses of psilocybin or a placebo, spaced five days apart.

  • The results: Participants treated with psilocybin experienced a 50% reduction in the number of cluster headaches. They also noted a reduction in the severity of their pain to about 10% on a numerical rating scale and a 37% reduced need for medication to stop the attacks.

  • The compounds that matter: Previous reports suggested psilocybin's potential for relief, but this study offers concrete scientific evidence. Researchers hypothesize that psilocybin’s efficacy is not linked to its hallucinogenic effects, indicating that pain relief could occur without altered states of consciousness. More research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these findings and determine the mechanisms behind psilocybin’s effect on cluster headaches. ➡️ Read more.

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

More data 📊 The University of Toronto has launched a groundbreaking study, the EMBRACE trial, to explore psilocybin's potential for treating major depressive disorder, aiming to find alternative therapies for those who don't respond to conventional treatments.

  • The context: About one third of people with depression do not respond to traditional treatments. The EMBRACE trial will investigate psilocybin's effect on brain networks and its efficacy as a rapid-acting antidepressant. This study will recruit 50 participants diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder or Persistent Depressive Disorder, randomly assigning them to psilocybin or placebo groups.

  • The approach: Participants will undergo neuroimaging brain scans before and after taking either the placebo or psilocybin, allowing researchers to observe changes in brain activity and blood flow, especially in areas associated with mood and depression. After three weeks, the placebo group will transition to psilocybin treatment to compare immediate and longer-term effects on their conditions.

  • Supportive therapy: Throughout the study, participants will receive supportive psychotherapy to help them process their experiences and and monitor depressive symptoms using clinical psychiatric scales. ➡️ Read more. 

FUNGUS OF THE WEEK

Tiger Milk Mushroom (Lignosus rhinocerus)

Rare photo 📸 Lignosus rhinocerus, known as tiger milk mushroom or "Cendawan Susu Rimau" in Malaysia, is a medicinal fungus found in tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. High in polysaccharides and beta-glucans, it’s long been used in general tonics, often boiled with Tongkat ali, or Malaysian ginseng.

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