Trip the pain away: Psychedelic therapies for physical and mental pain

Cavarra, M. (2024). Trip the pain away: Psychedelic therapies for physical and mental pain.

The recent resurgence of interest in the analgesic potential ofpsychedelics has been driven by qualitative and survey studies,which have shown that individuals suffering from chronic painconditions, such as cluster headaches, reported improvementswhen using both high and low, non-hallucinogenic doses ofpsychedelics like LSD and psilocybin. More recent survey studieshave further supported these findings, demonstrating similarbenefits in samples of people living with chronic pain. Additionally,case studies have indicated that psychedelics may help managepain in conditions such as phantom limb pain, fibromyalgia, chronicfatigue, and cluster headaches. These findings suggest thatpsychedelics have the potential to serve as effective pain-relievingagents, offering a promising alternative for individuals strugglingwith chronic pain.