Posted by Flash (217.32.131.179) on March 01, 2001 at 04:27:00:
OK Check this out!
I am glad to hear this. Let me know if and when you need some assistance from us. George ----- Original Message -----
Subject:
Re: Psilocybin treatment for cluster headaches
Date:
Wed, 28 Feb 2001 19:42:07 -0700
From:
"George Greer"
To:
"Ethan Russo"
CC:
"Mark Geyer"
"James Thornton"
"Dennis McKenna"
"Dave Nichols"
"Pedro Delgado"
References:
1
Ethan,
From: "Ethan Russo"
To: "George Greer"
Cc: "Mark Geyer"
"Dennis McKenna"
Wallace"
"Pedro Delgado"
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 7:19 PM
Subject: RE: Psilocybin treatment for cluster headaches
> Dear George et al.,
> Rick Doblin of MAPS brought this to may attention. As a
> neurologist/researcher interested in the benefits of Schedule I compounds
in
> headache treatment, I have frequently heard of LSD, psilocybin and
Psilocybe
> mushroom treatments of cluster. The concept has a solid historical
> background ethnobotanically, anecdotally in modern times, and there is
> considerable serotonin receptor research that is also supportive.
> I would be very interested in a collaborative research program to examine
> these issues. For migraine, I could do this locally in Missoula, MT with
the
> local population. Cluster is much less common, and a multi-center trial is
> likely necessary. Schedule I restrictions by the DEA make home
> administration of these substances very difficult. They may go so far as
to
> require that patients receive all doses in the clinic.
> With the assistance of MAPS and Heffter, I am sure that a worthwhile
> project can be initiated.
> Best wishes,
> Ethan Russo
>
> Ethan Russo, MD
>
> Office:
> Montana Neurobehavioral Specialists
> 900 North Orange Street
> Missoula, MT 59802
> USA
> Voice: (406) 327-3372
> FAX: (406) 327-3355
> E-mail (Primary): erusso@blackfoot.net
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: George Greer [mailto:george@newmexico.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 8:06 AM
> To:
> Cc: Mark Geyer; Lynette Herring; Jerry Patchen; James Thornton; Franz
> Vollenweider; Dennis McKenna; Charlie Grob; Bob Wallace; Dave Nichols;
> Chuck Nichols; Pedro Delgado; Francisco Moreno; Rick Doblin
> Subject: Psilocybin treatment for cluster headaches
>
>
> Craig,
>
> This is an impressive report. I am forwarding it to psychiatrists who are
> involved in psilocybin research. I see you have already contacted MAPS,
who
> has been working with a neurologist who is trying to do research treating
> migraines with marijuana. The fact that you are in contact with a CH
expert
> is most important. I think a first step, if it has not already happened,
is
> to have a CH specialist publish your case and the cases of others in
> neurological or headache journals, to spread the word and to generate
> interest in research in the subject.
>
> Any research projecton this treatment, such as a small pilot study, would
> best be done by a neurologist who specializes in CH and is on the faculty
of
> a medical school. The Heffter Institute would welcome any such research
> proposal and would seriously consider it for funding once it was approved
by
> the FDA. We would have to raise the money, though, and our funds are
fully
> committed at this time. However, with an FDA-approved proposal, I am
> betting that the money could be raised within the community of CH patients
> and others interested in medical applications of hallucinogens.
>
> I would be happy to work with any medical school neurologists on this. We
> work with researchers who have gone through the FDA process with
> hallucinogens and can advise them on the process.
>
> George Greer, M.D.
> Medical Director
> Heffter Research Institute
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Craig Adams"
> To:
>
> Sent: Monday, February 26, 2001 3:31 AM
> Subject: Cluster Headache Sufferers have discovered a valid medical use
for
> hallucinogens
>
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I hope one of you is the right person to contact!
> >
> > I owe my life to LSD and Psilocybin. I suffer from a
> > condition known an cluster headaches. AKA suicide headaches, reputedly
> > the worst pain a human can endure. Aside from the pain, cluster
> > headaches are a benign condition, in as much as they do not cause any
> > permanent physical damage. However they have a significant impact on
> > the quality of a sufferers life.
> >
> > I am an episodic sufferer, my attacks occur every year for a 2 month
> > period. During this time I may suffer up to 8 x 1 hour long attacks on
> > a daily basis. These are similar to migraines (I occasionally get
> > migraines) but of a magnitude beyond anything you can imagine. I'm
> > lucky - chronic sufferers go through this every day of their lives.
> >
> > The effect of being housebound, and tortured by my head for a couple of
> > months every year (since the age of 16) had a drastic effect on my
> > life. It disrupted my school work, I was labelled an under achiever. I
> > barely scraped into college, where I continued to under achieve, poor
> > attendance during cluster episodes ensured I had to resit exams every
> > year (destroying summer vacation). Girlfriends deserted me when the
> > headaches came. Eventually I dropped out of college near the end of my
> > final year, at the onset of another episode.
> >
> > Things then began a swift slide into the gutter. I had been dabbling
> > with drugs for a while, and mixing with the wrong people. This now took
> > over my life, and eventually I ended up homeless. Jail was looming on
> > the horizon.
> >
> > Then a miracle happened. The headaches stopped. I managed to pull
> > myself together, went back to college and completed my degree - even got
> > good passes (despite a bout of glandular fever, this demonstrates the
> > profound effect of CH, since most people drop out due to glandular
> > fever). I had made peace with my parents, and formed a long term
> > relationship with a girl. I even got a good job.
> >
> > Then the headaches returned. I was desperate, I could see my life
> > slipping away, beginning with my new job... What had I done differently
> > in 1993 and 1994 that somehow prevented the headaches from coming? I
> > had access to the Internet, and searched for information on migraines
> > (cluster headaches were too rare to find much info online in 1995).
> > Strangely enough I came across an article relating to Albert Hofmann
> > and LSD. It mentioned that Dr Hofmann had been working on a migraine
> > treatment (both Ergotamine and Methysergide the two main CH treatments
> > are also extracts of Ergot). I had taken LSD on a handful of occasions
> > in 1993 and 1994, something I ceased to do because of drug testing in my
> > new job. Could these infrequent doses of LSD have somehow prevented CH
> > attacks, even months later? I decided to find out.
> >
> > I couldn't get hold of LSD, and was concerned about getting busted, so I
> > decided to try magic mushrooms instead (these are semi legal in
> > Scotland).
> > This was October 1995, and they were growing in abundance not far from
> > where I lived. Along with some friends I took a full strength mushroom
> > trip. The headaches never arrived.
> >
> > Since then I have experimented on myself every year. Both LSD and
> > Psilocybin act as preventatives to CH, even if taken months before the
> > episode is due. A single dose of 1/4 the normal recreational dose can
> > protect for up to 12 months. Both substances can also break the cycle
> > if taken during an episode, again relief is sustained for up to 12
> > months. Since 1993, when I inadvertently managed to treat myself with
> > LSD, the results have been spectacular. Here is a list of all
> > hallucinogens ingested, and all CH episodes from 1993-present:
> >
> > 1986-1992, either 2 months CH episode every year.
> > 1993 - acid ingested in January.
> > 1994 - acid ingested in March.
> > 1995 - CH episode struck in March/April.
> > 1995 - psilocybin ingested in October (50 Liberty Cap mushrooms).
> > 1996 - CH episode aborted in October using psilocybin (25 Liberty Cap
> > mushrooms). Another 12 Liberty Cap mushrooms ingested on 31st December
> > (recreational use).
> > 1997 - no hallucinogens ingested, CH episode struck in December/January.
> >
> > 1998 - psilocybin ingested in October (12 Liberty Cap mushrooms).
> > 1999 - CH episode aborted in October using psilocybin (12 Liberty Cap
> > mushrooms).
> > 2000 - CH episode struck in October/November. Partial relief from
> > Psilocybin (6 Liberty Cap mushrooms), but failed to abort episode.
> >
> > Aborts were attempted 1-2 weeks into the episode.
> >
> > I believe that I discovered the minimum effective dose in October 1998.
> > The 6 Liberty Cap mushrooms ingested in October last year helped a
> > little, and the episode only lasted lasted 3 weeks instead of 2 months.
> > The abort was attempted 2 weeks into the episode. I believe a larger
> > dose of at least 12 Liberty Cap is required for successful treatment.
> >
> > I posted all this information on the Cluster Headaches Message board at:
> >
> > http://www.clusterheadaches.com
> >
> > My first post is back in 1998 under my own name Craig. Shortly
> > afterwards I started posting this info under the alias of Flash (I
> > feared the authorities might become interested). Since I started
> > posting over 2 dozen others have tried this treatment, almost all have
> > had remarkable success. There have been 3 failures, but these may have
> > been down to under dosing or using the wrong mushrooms. Many have
> > successfully used the treatment on more than one occasion. People email
> > me that this treatment has saved their lives.
> >
> > You can search for all related posts on the site using the search
> > facility on:
> >
> > Flash
> > shroom
> > LSD
> > pinksharkmark
> > stavi
> >
> > There are hundreds of posts on this subject.
> >
> > CH sufferers would like to see this treatment legalised. Many have
> > started to cultivate their own mushrooms. We have had positive contact
> > with the foremost CH expert in the world, Dr Peter Goadsby, on this
> > subject. We have also contacted the MAPS foundation and Glaxo the
> > pharmaceutical giant.
> >
> > Everything I have read about LSD and Psilocybin has stated that they
> > were declared illegal because there was no direct medical use.
> > Treatment of CH (and possibly migraine) is a legitimate medical use for
> > hallucinogenic substances. CH sufferers need all the help they can
> > get. We would like to see greater publicity on this subject. We hope
> > this might lead to clinical trials.
> >
> > CH dragged me to the edge. Hallucinogenic drugs brought me back. Now
> > I run my own IT business with 38 employees. I'm married! CH almost
> > destroyed my potential. If I hadn't taken LSD I would probably be in
> > jail or dead. That is not an exaggeration. I am compelled to help
> > other
> > CH sufferers discover this incredible treatment.
> >
> > Is the Heffter Research Institute interested? Can you help us?