Johns Hopkins researchers have spent nearly two decades studying the therapeutic qualities of psilocybin—the psychoactive ingredient of so-called magic mushrooms—on treating afflictions such as addiction disorder, depression, and anxiety. But should it become the first psychedelic drug approved for medical use, psilocybin may face a rather mundane hurdle to widespread use: health insurance. The drug’s […]
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An estimated 5.4 million people worldwide are bitten by snakes every year. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that up to 2.7 million cases involve envenoming – where the venom is injected into the victim. Every year, between 81,410 to 137,880 people die from snakebites globally. In Malaysia, official figures from the Ministry of Health (MOH) […]
Scorpionism (scorpion sting) is a major public health issue in many regions of the world. Globally, 1.2 million scorpion stings happen annually, specifically in the tropical regions. Mortality due to these venomous stings is serious health problem in absence of suitable medication. Awareness of this problem is fundamental for preventive measures. Scorpion venom is composed […]
As bacterial infections become more resistant to antibiotics, the toxins on the skin of frogs presents huge opportunity for new drug discovery. As human diseases become alarmingly antibiotic resistant, identification of new pharmaceuticals is critical. The cane toad and other members of the Bufonidae family produce substances widely used in traditional folk medicine, but endangered […]