Magic mushrooms may be the answer to migraines.

Yale University researchers have found a potential natural relief option for migraines and cluster headaches that don’t just rely on medication. The solution could come from none other than magic mushrooms, which contain a compound called psilocybin.

But don’t worry, the researchers at Yale University School of Medicine aren’t using the psychedelic effects of psilocybin. Instead, they tested very small doses of the compound on severe headache patients. Psilocybin also affects people’s serotonin levels.

According to the Congressional Hill Report, Dr. Christopher Gottschalk, a professor at Yale University School of Medicine, said, “The likelihood of a migraine attack is greatly reduced in the next two weeks.”

Gottschalk said that using small doses of psilocybin reduced the number of times patients experienced headaches by six times a month, which is a significant breakthrough for those suffering from severe headaches.

Dr. Emmanuelle Shindler, a Yale doctor, is leading the study, making her the only researcher in the US studying the effects of hallucinogens on headaches.

One promising discovery is that the study doesn’t involve taking medication every day. Gottschalk said, “You take two to three doses in a row, spaced a few days apart, and you can completely stop any further attacks.” He said the effects can last up to two weeks.

Gottschalk said that these findings could be a “life-changing experience” for people with cluster headaches, which are one of the most painful types of headaches and occur periodically or during a cluster period. The frequent attack period is called the cluster period.

He said that unlike this mushroom research, current headache medications on the market are pills or injections that can stay in the bloodstream for a month and may have side effects.

While the research is still in its early stages, it could take a few more years to become an approved treatment method by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Nonetheless, this provides hope for those suffering from related headaches.

“So, all of this is tantalizing new information, providing us with methods for treating headache diseases in the future,” said Dr. Gottschalk, who noted that researchers are continuing their studies.

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