Magic-mushroom compound blocks a severe side effect of chemotherapy in mice Study shows that psilocybin acts on nerves to prevent the painful condition called peripheral neuropathy. By Max Kozlov

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-02744-6?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=4dd3d42714-nature-briefing-daily-20260904&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-33f35e09ea-50432164 The psychoactive compound psilocybin seems to protect mice from a debilitating side-effect of chemotherapy called neuropathy. As many as 60% of people treated with platinum-based chemotherapy drugs can experience neuropathy, which causes a constant feeling of burning, or pins and needles, in their hands and feet. Just two doses of psilocybin administered before chemo completely prevented the adverse effect in mice, which could argue for expanding the use of psychedelic compounds beyond the conventional uses in mental-health conditions such as depression, says oncologist and study co-author Moran Amit.