Covid-19 survivor tries hallucinogenic fungi for relief
Numerous individuals experiencing Long Covid are disheartened due to the ongoing nature of their symptoms. Therefore, it's unsurprising that a woman has started looking for alternative remedies with a therapist and experimenting with psychedelics, with promising outcomes.
A 41-year-old woman suffering from Long Covid has experienced significant relief from her symptoms by taking psychedelics. Diagnosed with Long Covid a few months post-infection, she had received three vaccinations and had pre-existing migraines but had been in good health otherwise. After contracting the virus, she experienced neck and headaches, fever, cough, runny nose, fatigue, joint pain, reduced sense of taste and smell, severe anxiety and depression, insomnia, cognitive issues, and a new type of headache that occurred daily and lasted up to 12 hours, without any nausea or sensitivity to light and sound.
Despite multiple attempts with conventional and unconventional treatments including medication, intermittent fasting, meditation, acupuncture, and massage therapy, she found no significant improvement. Due to lengthy waiting lists for specialized clinics, the woman, with the guidance of a therapist, tried psilocybin and MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) in self-medication, purchased from online sources. Her symptoms were monitored by the therapist during these sessions.
After the second mushroom-assisted therapy session, the patient reported significant improvement and was able to resume her job. However, her headache returned six weeks later, prompting her to use Magic Mushrooms again. The relief was temporary, and she repeated this method a few more times, resulting in significant symptom improvement that allowed her to return to work.
Individual cases of Long Covid patients using psychedelics are not new. In 2023, Time Magazine reported another instance of a woman who improved her condition by taking magic mushrooms. While these isolated cases cannot yet provide conclusive evidence, they can provide useful insights for discovering potential treatments for Long Covid sufferers.
However, before drawing any conclusions, a research team at Columbia University is conducting a pilot study to determine whether the use of psilocybin and MDMA can effectively treat Long Covid symptoms. Currently, using MDMA and psilocybin for medical purposes is not legal in the US, but states like Oregon and Colorado have petitioned for their legalization. Psychedelic-assisted therapies are already being researched in other countries, such as Australia, for various psychological disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this case study highlights the potential of using psilocybin and MDMA as a possible treatment for Long Covid symptoms. While individual success stories cannot prove the reliability of such treatment, they can provide crucial evidence for scientific studies and further exploration of this therapeutic approach.
Individual cases of Long Covid patients using psychedelics have captured attention and raised questions about the potential benefits of these substances for addressing long-term covid symptoms. Yet, it is important to note that temporary relief does not indicate a long-term solution, and further research and scientifically-driven clinical trials are required to establish the viability and safety of this approach.
Regardless, it is worth noting that the issue of Long Covid is a pressing global challenge, and any developments and explorations into different treatments cannot be discounted. As new studies and treatments emerge, they will be met with heightened conversations, curiosity, and cautious optimism.
It should be emphasized that further research is needed to determine whether magic mushrooms can provide a viable treatment option for everyone suffering from Long Covid.
Read also:
- Given the limited effectiveness of traditional treatments for Long Covid, some researchers are exploring the potential of medication like psilocybin and MDMA to alleviate symptoms.
- The use of psychedelics for treating Long Covid symptoms is not yet widely accepted due to the lack of conclusive evidence and legal restrictions in many countries, including the United States.
- As more cases of Long Covid patients finding relief through psychedelic use emerge, there is a growing interest in conducting scientific studies to validate these findings and explore the potential therapeutic benefits of these substances.
