Labour's war on farmers isn't just causing suicide and despair... it's threatening Britain's national security at a time of grave peril: JAMIE BLACKETT
The day before Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Budget last October, 78-year-old South Yorkshire farmer John Charlesworth killed himself.
He knew that the Government was going to mount a punitive tax raid on family-owned farms and wanted to make sure that his son and daughter would have the means to keep the farm and look after his dementia-stricken wife.
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Medical News Today
31 minutes ago
- Medical News Today
Psilocybin for IBS: Could altering the mind help alter the gut?
Could magic mushrooms help relieve symptoms and treat IBS? A new study aims to find out. Irina Efremova/Stocksy Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common conditions affecting the gut. Despite its prevalence and decades of research, treatments are limited, and the underlying causes remain shrouded in mystery. An ongoing study, conducted by Erin Mauney, MD, is taking a fascinating new approach to this mysterious condition: psychedelics, and more specifically psilocybin. In this article, we will investigate why researcher Erin Mauney believes psilocybin — the active compound in magic mushrooms — might help treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and how her ongoing research is breaking new ground. To help us understand how altering the mind might alter the gut, we will first explore the links between body and brain. Historically — and, to a certain extent, still today — the mind and body have been considered separate. As science has progressed, it has become increasingly clear that, of course, the mind is part of the body. There is no separation. The brain is in tight communication with the body at all times via nerves and chemicals, like hormones and neurotransmitters, and the body talks back in the same language. This two-way interaction is perhaps most pronounced between the brain and the gut. The enteric nervous system (the nervous system of the gut) is the second-largest nervous system in the body after the brain. Some experts even refer to the gut as our 'second brain.' Although the enteric nervous system evolved first, so we could consider it the ' first brain .' Aside from their shared ancient pedigree, why would the gut and brain share such a tight link? In our modern world, where we are never more than 20 meters from a bagel, it is easy to forget that life on the Savannah millennia ago was much less convenient. The gut needed to tell the brain when it required refilling with enough time to hunt, scavenge, or forage for its next meal. As the food is ingested, the brain needs to ask the gut to ramp up its operations and prepare to digest. This relationship helps explain why we can feel longing in the pit of our stomach, and butterflies dance in our intestines when we feel excited: The gut and brain are in cahoots. Speaking in a recent interview, published in the journal Psychedelics , Mauney explains how, during her gastroenterology training, she 'became aware of how common trauma, especially early life trauma, is in the human experience.' 'Although there is more discussion in pediatrics about the cumulative effects of toxic stress over the lifespan,' she continues, 'I think overall this is an area that medicine, particularly gastroenterology and obesity medicine, really fails to understand and address meaningfully.' This piqued her interest in psychological approaches to gut issues. These links have led researchers to believe that IBS has a strong gut-brain component. Mauney and colleagues are currently embarking on the first-ever study to investigate whether talking therapy in conjunction with psilocybin might help relieve symptoms of IBS. Speaking in an interview with the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology ( JC G), Mauney explained that around 60% of people with IBS do not respond to first-line therapies, such as dietary interventions or medications. So, the scientists recruited people with IBS who had already tried a wide range of approaches without experiencing significant benefits. This, she explains, included talking therapies, mind-body therapies, dietary changes, and drugs. In her JC G interview, Mauney explains how psilocybin acts 'transdiagnostically.' In other words, it can alter a range of psychological domains that are common across multiple mental health conditions. For instance, she explains how the drug can influence psychological characteristics such as: Rigidity: An inability to adapt or change. An inability to adapt or change. Rumination: Dwelling on negative thoughts and feelings. Dwelling on negative thoughts and feelings. Anxious over-focus on the self: A preoccupation with personal matters, while almost forgetting the outside world. She also says that psychedelics like psilocybin can help some people shift ingrained thought patterns, which is another facet of many mental health conditions, and some people with IBS. Beyond the psychological aspects of psilocybin treatment, Mauney also has some gut-focused theories. As the gut digests food, it squeezes, swells, deflates, and so on. For most people, these movements cause no distress or go unnoticed. For people with IBS, however, these routine movements may cause discomfort or pain. This is called visceral hypersensitivity. Research in animals suggests that a subtype of serotonin receptors in the gut, called 5HT2a receptors, might play a role in visceral hypersensitivity. Why does this matter? Psilocybin primarily works by activating 5HT2a receptors — so, perhaps it might reduce these uncomfortable sensations. Aside from this link, as Mauney explains in her JCG interview, scientists have also explored whether psilocybin might reduce pain in general. For instance, researchers have examined, with differing results, whether psilocybin could help in the treatment of migraine headaches, chronic neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and more. Because IBS causes visceral pain, this is yet another potential mechanism by which it may impart benefits. With its potential to influence psychology, visceral hypersensitivity, pain, and inflammation, psilocybin is a hopeful candidate for the treatment of IBS. Now, we just need to see the data. Mauney and colleagues' ongoing study was halfway through enrollment as of her April 24th JC G interview. Although she was cautious not to preempt the findings, Mauney was excited to share that at least some of the participants had experienced benefits. In the study, participants are paired with two medical professionals with backgrounds in psychotherapy or psychiatry. Each of the two therapy sessions (two weeks apart) involves the 'dosing' part of the study, where the participant takes psilocybin and relaxes while listening to a carefully curated playlist. Then, the three of them discuss the participants' symptoms, previous life experiences, and whatever comes up during the session. In total, these sessions last 6–8 hours. Mauney explains how the psilocybin 'acts as an amplifier of therapeutic processes,' perhaps enhancing standard talking therapy. Although this approach has not worked for everyone in the trial, for some, Mauney says, it has. She explains that it has encouraged some individuals to engage deeply with difficult parts of their lives, make meaningful changes that they could not manage before, or influence close relationships in ways that have led to reduced symptoms. For others, their symptoms have remained unchanged, but they report that the symptoms are no longer so bothersome. Medical News Today reached out to Ruvini Wijetilaka, MD, a board certified Internal Medicine Physician at Mecca Health, who was not involved in the study. 'As a physician, I find this early research into psilocybin-assisted therapy for treatment-resistant IBS intriguing and encouraging,' she explained. 'IBS is a complex condition rooted in the brain-gut connection,' she continued, 'and traditional treatments don't always work for everyone.' 'In cases where symptoms persist despite initial interventions, psilocybin may offer a promising alternative for targeting the neurological pathways involved. It's an exciting area of exploration for patients who experience chronic, unrelenting symptoms and have few remaining options.' — Ruvini Wijetilaka, MD Mauney's study is the first to look at this relationship, and the preliminary results are encouraging. However, as she explains, the study is not yet complete, and it might not work. With that said, because the mechanistic theory is promising, and it seems that at least some people have already benefited, we might be forgiven for being optimistic. 'It might sound a little bit out there to the average gastroenterologist,' says Mauney. 'But I think this is really what's needed, and what our patients are calling out for. […] A holistic approach to their suffering.' 'People with IBS that are not responding to available treatments need more options. Under the right conditions, psychedelics are worth a try for this group,' he said. However, he also suggested comparing its efficacy with Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), which he told us has had some success in the treatment of 'people with chronic musculoskeletal pain, back pain (when combined with mindfulness), and long COVID.' Psilocybin is unlikely to work for everyone, but Mauney hopes that, at least for some, this intervention could improve thought processes and relieve the negative impact of a chronic condition that remains poorly understood. 'While more concrete research is needed on this, the study could mark a meaningful shift in how we approach IBS care and gut health as a whole,' concluded Wijetilaka.
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- The Independent
Reform-led councils in ‘shambles' since local elections, opponents claim
Reform UK gained control of nine councils and minority control in three more in May's local elections, but opposition councillors claim the party's organisation and productivity have been a "shambles" since. Across the 12 Reform-controlled councils, 33 meetings have been cancelled or postponed in the first nine weeks since the election, and at least 21 Reform councillors have missed their first meetings. In Kent, nine out of 22 scheduled meetings have been cancelled since the election, including legally required meetings like the governance and audit committee. Kent County Council said some meetings, such as planning committees, were scheduled on an 'if required' basis, and were cancelled because there were no applications requiring an immediate decision. Nottinghamshire Council's new Reform leader Mick Barton dismissed the criticisms as "political rhetoric from the opposition."
Telegraph
33 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Brighton GP practice investigated for prescribing trans hormones to children
An investigation into a GP clinic in Brighton that prescribed transgender hormones to children has been launched by the NHS. The WellBN GP practice, which runs three clinics in Sussex, was ordered by health service leaders to stop prescribing cross-sex hormones to under 18s and the NHS has now launched a 'rapid investigation'. The NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board, which oversees the region's health services, said that the actions of GPs at WellBN 'may fall outside of national clinical policy and guidance'. 'Following concerns raised about some prescribing for children and young people by WellBN in Brighton and Hove, that may fall outside of national clinical policy and guidance, we are working with NHS England and have launched a rapid investigation into this activity to determine the most appropriate care and treatment for these patients,' it said. The administration of cross-sex drugs, also known as gender-affirming hormones, involves giving hormones such as testosterone to help someone change their physical appearance. They are different to puberty blockers, which stop the onset of puberty by suppressing the release of hormones. The Cass review, led by the paediatrician Baroness Hilary Cass, said all under 18s questioning their gender should be seen by a team of experts for a range of conditions, including mental health issues and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, before any treatment is considered. 'Extreme caution' recommended The independent review concluded that medical pathways to change genders had been 'built on shaky foundations' and called for puberty blockers to be banned, citing the 'weak evidence' to support their use in this group of patients. It urged 'extreme caution' in relation to cross-sex hormones in under 18s. But WellBN continued to prescribe the drugs, claiming on its website that it would prescribe the hormones to patients with a referral to a gender identity clinic while they waited for an appointment, and that it would also arrange a referral for any patients who did not have one. The GP practice is already the subject of a legal challenge by the parents of Child O, an anonymous 16-year-old boy, who claimed their child was prescribed cross-sex hormones without having been properly assessed by a gender-identity clinic and without their knowledge. The clinic previously said it had 'fully considered and responded back to the correspondence received from the family's representatives and will engage fully on any next steps'. It also said it is 'confident that any young patients under the age of 18 are assessed in accordance with good medical practice', adding: 'Gillick competence and bodily autonomy are at the heart of all care we offer and this framework is consistently applied.' 'Trans health hub' The practice operates a 'trans health hub' and patients - of which it says around 2,000 are trans or non-binary - can receive annual check-ups with 'a supportive and affirming clinician'. It has defended its prescribing of hormones to under 18s based on an 'informed consent pathway', which it says 'sets out the risks, potential side effects and reversible and irreversible intended effects of hormone therapy'. It comes after Wes Streeting last month ordered a review into the use of cross-sex hormones in children, which could join puberty blockers in being banned for use in under 18s to treat gender dysphoria. NHS Sussex said the majority, but not all, of the children being prescribed cross-sex hormones by the clinic lived in the region and that it would be reviewing each case to consider next steps for their treatment and care. 'The cohort of patients whose cases are being reviewed are all aged under 18, and for whom WellBN is prescribing or arranging the supply of medication for gender dysphoria,' it said. 'There will be a process to review their notes, and consider next steps in their treatment, in line with national guidance and clinical advice.' Temporary pause It said there would be 'different outcomes for different patients', with some referred to specialist NHS gender services, others seen by local mental health services, while some would have their hormone treatment reviewed. WellBN revealed last week that the NHS had 'forced us to temporarily pause initiating new NHS prescriptions for gender-affirming care to anyone under the age of 18', including a ban on taking on prescriptions from private sector providers. It vowed to try to 'turn this decision around' and said it would be meeting with NHS Sussex. Rachel Cashman, co-founder of community group PSHE Brighton, said she welcomed the investigation, adding that parents she had spoken with had been 'concerned' about WellBN's approach to treating under 18s with gender issues for some time. ' Gender distressed children deserve the most clinically efficacious treatment,' she said. 'PSHE Brighton welcomes an investigation by NHS England into the care provided by this service'.
