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Could magic mushrooms revolutionise healthcare?

July 11th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Do you ever wonder if it’s possible to reboot your brain?

Medical researchers have found that magic mushrooms (also called psychedelics) can boost brain function, particularly in people diagnosed with depression. It’s been revealed that people who are unresponsive to conventional treatments benefit when treated with natural psychoactive compounds.

Magic mushrooms contain a psychoactive compound called psilocybin. This substance leads to a reduction in depressive symptoms when given to patients in clinical trials.

Brain awakening

Psilocybin is a well-known natural psychedelic substance. It’s been known to bring on therapeutic effects in people with depression. Researchers say that the drug helps to revive emotional responsiveness in the brain.

In fact, therapy along with the use of psilocybin therapy may alleviate depression by increasing a person’s emotional connection. Research from Imperial College in London has found that psilocybin can actually “reset” brain activity in people who suffer from depression.

In an experiment by the college, patients received doses of psilocybin, and reports say that they felt a decrease in depressive symptoms. MRI scans of their brains revealed that this may have been due to a reduction in blood flow to areas involved in handling emotional responses, stress, and fear.

Although the findings of the treatment have been well received, extensive and larger studies are needed to see if the positive effect can be reproduced in more patients, and eventually become a part of mainstream medicine.

According to American author of How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, Michael Pollan, the biggest misconception people have about psychedelics is that they are drugs that make you crazy. The evidence is there that psychedelics can cause this, but in many more cases, they could actually help restore your sanity and correct emotional instability.

Scientists believe that the chemicals can allow you to essentially reboot the brain. If the brain is stuck in narrow grooves of thought, say through an obsession, fear, or the story you tell yourself; all those deep grooves that lock you into patterns of both thought and behaviour can be dissolved and temporarily suspend them in a way that can allow you to break those patterns. Goodbye obsessive-compulsive thoughts and anxieties…

Psilocybin has appeared to be very useful in treating anxiety in cancer patients, depression and addiction in both smoking and alcohol.

A large-scale study is still needed to confirm findings on its effect on smokers. Researchers are planning on carrying out larger trials with a healthy control group in which the effects of psilocybin could be compared with an existing antidepressant.

References

4 healthy braai recipes

October 24th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Forget the fatty lamb chops and greasy wors. Hosting a healthy braai is possible. Try these tasty, low-calorie recipes. 

Juicy beef burgers

Ingredients

  • 400g beef fillet
  • 200g pork mince
  • 1 slice of stale bread, made into breadcrumbs
  • 1 large handful of basil leaves, roughly chopped
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1 teaspoon allspice powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • 1 egg
  • Olive oil

Method

  1. Fry the onions and garlic in some olive oil until lightly browned.
  2. Dice the beef and put it into a bowl big enough to hold all of the ingredients.
  3. Add the pork mince, bread crumbs, basil, egg, coriander powder, allspice powder, some salt and pepper, and the cooled browned onion and garlic. Mix well with your hands.
  4. Wash your hand and pour a little olive oil into your palms. Once your hands are well-coated with the oil, roll a handful of the meat mixture into a ball. Pat smooth and then flatten into a patty.
  5. Place the patties onto a tray and refrigerate for about an hour.
  6. Light a fire or stoke up your gas braai and chargrill the patties.
  7. Serve on lightly toasted hamburger rolls with fresh lettuce and a slice of tomato, or choose the healthier option: replace the buns with the mushrooms below!

Mexican spice-rubbed chicken

Ingredients

  • 6 chicken breasts
  • 1 teaspoon crushed dried red chillies
  • 1 tablespoon whole coriander seeds, roasted
  • 1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds, roasted
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper
  • 50ml extra virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 2 limes

Method

  1. Grind all the spices until well-blended. Combine with the olive oil and lime juice.
  2. Rub the chicken breast with the mixture and leave to marinate for 20 minutes.
  3. Place the chicken on an oiled grill and cook for about 20 minutes, or until tender and juicy.
  4. Remove from the grill and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Ginger prawn kebabs

Ingredients

  • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • Juice and zest of 1 lemon and 1 lime
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 16 king prawns, deveined with shell intact
  • 8 small brown onions, peeled
  • 8 peppadews

Method 

  1. Whisk together the oil, garlic, ginger, citrus juice and zest. Season to taste.
  2. Thread the prawns, onions and peppadews onto skewers. Place the kebabs in a baking dish and pour the ginger mixture over. Let it marinate at room temperature for 10 minutes.
  3. Place the kebabs on the braai. Turn and baste with the marinade occasionally, until lightly charred and cooked through (about four minutes).
  4. You should have eight delicious kebabs.

 

Cheesy pesto grilled mushrooms

Ingredients

  • 6 large black mushrooms.
  • Italian cheese sprinkle.
  • 90ml olive oil.
  • Basil pesto.

Method

  1. Wipe the smooth tops of the mushrooms with a damp cloth.
  2. Season on the stem side with Italian cheese sprinkle.
  3. Drizzle a little olive oil over the gills.
  4. Spread a generous tablespoonful of basil pesto over the gills.
  5. Place the mushrooms, stem side up, on the braai and cook slowly until done.
  6. Enjoy as is, or use as replacement for buns, and create a bun-less burger with the beef patties! Delicious.

References:

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