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Episode details

World Service,20 mins

Why I turned to Magic Mushrooms

Not by the Playbook

Available for over a year

In 2015 ice hockey player Daniel Carcillo was still living his dream playing for the Chicago Blackhawks and winning Stanley Cups. But despite having his named etched on the Staley Cup again in 2015 the year proved to be his last on the ice. Not even winning the most sort after prize in Ice hockey could hide the trauma he was going through. In February of that year he lost his best friend and former team mate Steve Montador. It was later revealed Montador had suffered with CTE, a degenerative brain condition is caused by concussions, something he and Daniel were more than used to as professional hockey players. Carcillo hung up his skates and left the rink for good but retirement did not bring him any peace, in fact his health deteriorated. Desperate for answer and living in the shadow of CTE Daniel spent over half a million dollars on traditional medical treatments and therapies which provided little relief. So he began researching alternative forms of treatment like Psilocybin, the naturally occurring main psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms. For him the results were life changing. Photo: Raitis Ivanans #41 of the Los Angeles Kings and Daniel Carcillo #13 of the Phoenix Coyotes are restrained by the officials during their game at Staples Center on Feburary 18, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (CREDIT: Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)

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