AMERICAN health campaigners have demanded the right to follow the example of Ipswich's Purple Shop.The Evening Star last week revealed how the store was selling hallucinogenic magic mushrooms and peyote over the counter.
AMERICAN health campaigners have demanded the right to follow the example of Ipswich's Purple Shop.
The Evening Star last week revealed how the store was selling hallucinogenic magic mushrooms and peyote over the counter.
Now campaigners supporting sufferers of cluster headaches have contacted The Evening Star to demand the same rights in America.
Some research suggests the psilocybin present in magic mushrooms could be used to treat the agonising headaches.
Tom DiStefano, of Clarion Pennsylvania, contacted The Evening Star after reading about our expose.
He said: "We cluster headache sufferers in the U.S. would love to be able to purchase psilocybin mushrooms over the counter.
"Hell, we would love to be able to get them on a prescription basis.
"Instead, upstanding, law-abiding citizens risk their reputations and careers – and sometimes their freedom – to find relief from a condition so painful it leads some to suicide."
Cluster headaches are rare, but devastating for sufferers. They strike unpredictably, but will usually re-occur at about the same time for days or even weeks.
They cause intense pain, usually behind one eye, and often lead to swelling and pain in the eyes and nose.
Sufferers are often left in such agony they are led to banging their head against the wall in an attempt to detract from the searing pain.
There are several treatments available from doctors. But campaign group Clusterbusters believes psilocybin provides more reliable and sustainable pain relief.
Mr DiStefano said: "This is not a joke. This is not a scam. I am one of a small group of sufferers investigating the use of indole-ring hallucinogens to treat cluster headaches.
"The anecdotal evidence we have collected seems to indicate these drugs are more than 80 per cent successful – better than any known medication, over-the-counter or prescription."
n What do you think? Are you or a member of you family plagued by cluster headaches? Would you like to see experiments on the medical use of psiolcybin?
Contact The Evening Star at 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN, by email at starnews@eveningstar.co.uk or by telephone on 01473 324789.
Factfile
Cluster headaches are rare, but seem to occur more frequently in men.
Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll was known to suffer from migraine
The cause of cluster headaches is unknown. They do not appear to be related to other illnesses or to run in families.
* People who think they may be suffering from them should keep a diary of attacks to take to their doctor.
* Sufferers should try to maintain a normal lifestyle pattern during outbreaks. They should also stay away from alcohol completely.
* The condition is usually treated with a regular dose of medicine before attacks with a top-up for when the headaches strike. There are a number of different treatments available.
Weblinks
www.familydoctor.org/handouts/035.html
www.clusterheadaches.org.uk
www.clusterheadaches.org
www.clusterheadaches.com
www.clusterbusters.com
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