Combat the cluster A new study from Yale School of Medicine found that psilocybin can significantly reduce the frequency of cluster headaches. The context : Cluster headaches cause excruciating pain and are notoriously difficult to manage. This study involved a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 16 adults who experienced cluster headaches. Participants received either three doses of psilocybin or a placebo, spaced five days apart. The results : Participants treated with psilocybin experienced a 50% reduction in the number of cluster headaches. They also noted a reduction in the severity of their pain to about 10% on a numerical rating scale and a 37% reduced need for medication to stop the attacks. The compounds that matter : Previous reports suggested psilocybin's potential for relief, but this study offers concrete scientific evidence. Researchers hypothesize that psilocybin’s efficacy is not linked to its hallucinogenic effects, indicating that pain relief could occur without altered states of consciousness. More research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these findings and determine the mechanisms behind psilocybin’s effect on cluster headaches. Read more.