Mushrooming Downunder

'Magic mushrooms', with psilocybin, were used by Australian arborigines for circa 10,000 years. They ceremonially took this drug to induce a 'trance-like' state. Times change! From July, authorised Australian Psychiatrists will be allowed to prescribe psilocybin to patients with 'treatment-resistant depression' (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/apr/10/the-big-idea-should-doctors-be-able-to-prescribe-psychedelics). 'Treatment-resistant depression', is a version of that serious mood disorder, proved to be amenable to neither traditional antidepressive drugs nor talking therapies. Thus far, very limited studies on the effects of psilocybin on depression have been carried out. Given appropriate controlled circumstances, however, combining two doses of psilocybin with supportive talking therapy, seems to work. This treatment appears to be low risk, effective and easily tolerated. The beneficial effects on mood can last for weeks or even months, with little downside. Psilocybin appears to be transitioning, from being a rather disapproved of 'lifestyle drug', to becoming part of a Psychiatrist's armamentarium for treating depression. The old ones are sometimes the best?