As part of our Western Clinical Rheumatology Congress cover, Stephen Ziegler, PhD, JD, discusses his presentation, “No Prescription Required? The growth of humor therapy, psilocybin and cannabis as alternative and complementary treatments for pain and palliative care. Ziegler is professor emeritus at Purdue University in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
“There are various alternative and complementary treatments available for palliative care and pain management,” Ziegler said.
Palliative care aims to provide comfort and support to patients and their families. Some of the alternative treatments often recommended by medical professionals include psilocybin, cannabis, and humor therapy. However, it is essential to note that substances like psilocybin and cannabis, especially when they exceed federal limits, fall under Schedule I drugs, which poses legal problems. These substances may be legal at the state level but illegal at the federal level, creating a complex situation.
Humor therapy, Ziegler explained, is an “over-the-counter” treatment option.
“Laughter produces positive results,” he said. “And so, what will make people laugh are clowns, especially in the context of children. Some institutions have implemented clown therapy when dealing with pediatrics. Others have implemented it in nursing homes for elderly patients.
Ziegler encourages the removal of substances like cannabis and psilocybin from the Schedule I classification. This will allow research to inform future use, policy decisions and clinical practice. On the other hand, humor therapy does not face any legal restrictions. It has shown positive results in reducing pain and improving well-being, especially in children and the elderly. Although there is little research on humor therapy, it is one of many alternative and complementary therapies available.
This transcript has been edited for clarity.
