In this post, we’d like to explore some of the up and coming research that is showing the psilocybin health benefits of what are commonly called “magic mushrooms.”
Our topics on mushrooms have been focused on medicinal mushrooms, those that are tasty additions to recipes, and ones that often can be found by foraging in a local forest.
While psilocybin is illegal under federal law in the United States, some states are decriminalizing it for therapeutic use. In controlled clinical trials, and with medical supervision, science is showing the potential for psilocybin health benefits that make it worth studying.
So let’s learn about these unique fungi, what kind of psilocybin health benefits we can expect, and who they can potentially help.
Like This Article? Pin it on Pinterest
What Are Psilocybin Mushrooms?
Psilocybin mushrooms are commonly called magic mushrooms, an informal group of mushrooms that contain psilocybin. They have been traditionally used in indigenous cultures for religious or spiritual means. In modern times, they were brought from Mexico to Europe and studied in the 1950s.
In the 1960s, Timothy Leary traveled to Mexico to experience psilocybin mushrooms, and then returned to Harvard and started the Harvard Psilocybin Project with Richard Alpert. They were eventually dismissed, and then started promoting the mushroom’s psychedelic experience to the drug culture of the 1960s.
That along with popularization by others led to a growth of their use. Their availability from wild and cultivated sources have made them one of the most widely used of the psychedelic drugs.
What Makes These Mushrooms Different?
The effects of psilocybin mushrooms come from psilocybin and psilocin. The psilocybin is broken down by the liver, creating the psilocin, which creates a variety of psychedelic, mind-altering effects. Psilocybin is not known to cause addiction, but it can cause various physical reactions beyond the mind-altering effects, including nausea, lack of coordination and drowsiness.
The main effects are what can be described as distortions in reality. Psilocybin is used as a recreational drug, and its effects are typical of hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD.
Effects vary between users, can depend on dosage, and can last several hours. And as with any drug, some users experience negative effects, like hallucinations, panic and anxiety.
What Are The Health Benefits of Psilocybin?
As with other mushrooms, science is learning about potential health benefits from these mushrooms. These are not instances of people taking them recreationally. These are clinical studies, with patients who have been screened, who understand the situation, and who are closely monitored when they take the psilocybin mushrooms.
There are some exciting studies being done, in a variety of areas. Here are some of them.
Psilocybin may boost healthy psychological functioning
One study concluded that controlled doses of psilocybin could help individuals boost healthy psychological functioning and experience positive changes in attitudes and behavior. The study began by supporting nonsectarian spiritual practices such as meditation, and then after one or two months providing differing doses of psilocybin. There were significant positive changes in “interpersonal closeness, gratitude, life meaning/purpose, forgiveness, death transcendence, daily spiritual experiences, religious faith and coping.” Participants reported increases in well-being.
Psilocybin may help cancer patients deal with anxiety and depression
Another study showed that psilocybin produced “immediate, substantial, and sustained” improvements in anxiety and depression in cancer patients. It also helped decrease feelings of hopelessness, improved spiritual well-being, and increased quality of life. These anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects are positive for those with cancer, since those feelings can be associated with poor psychiatric and medical outcomes.
Psilocybin may help those with addictions
There have been smaller pilot studies that show promising success rates for treating both tobacco and alcohol addiction. In one study, for instance, the conclusion was that psilocybin may be helpful when used in conjunction with other smoking cessation treatments. Similar studies have been done using psilocybin in the treatment of alcohol dependence. In what’s described as motivational enhancement therapy, the psilocybin was combined with therapy sessions as part of the program. Positive results have encouraged researchers to do further study.
Psilocybin may be an effective treatment for MDD and perhaps PTSD
Recent clinical trials have focused on using psilocybin as a treatment for major depressive disorder, or MDD. Under controlled conditions, the measurement of depressive symptoms as well as anxiety symptoms decreased, compared to the participants’ baseline scores prior to treatment. These are positive indications, since almost half of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also suffer from MDD. So psilocybin could be a promising drug for a range of disorders where existing drugs have not been effective.
There Are Cautions
Despite findings showing psilocybin health benefits, they are listed as a Schedule I substance in the Controlled Substances Act, making it “illegal to cultivate or possess psilocybin producing mushrooms for either personal consumption or distribution.” The tests we have cited were done in controlled settings with medical supervision.
And not everyone has positive results. Another study documents cases where there have been acute and enduring adverse effects of psilocybin. By surveying a group of 1,993 men about their experience, 39% rated it among their top five most challenging experiences. Dangers like putting themselves or others at risk, aggression and violence were noted.
So it’s important to remember that these positive effects of psilocybin were reported when it was administered in laboratory studies, with supervision over screened participants, who receive support during the study. It’s often combined with other aspects of therapy to support the health of the participants.
Final Thoughts
Psilocybin mushrooms, or magic mushrooms, are usually associated with use in the 1960s as part of the rise of psychedelic and other illicit drugs.
But recent studies using psilocybin mushrooms as part of treatment programs have shown positive results in treating depression, anxiety, addictions, and generally in boosting psychological health.
These early results are encouraging, and further studies will continue to explore the psilocybin health benefits.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybin_mushroom
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5772431/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5367551/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5509636/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4286320/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6785028/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5551678/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/308850#risks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_status_of_psilocybin_mushrooms
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotropic_Substances_Act_(United_States)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybin_decriminalization_in_the_United_States
https://drugpolicy.org/drug-facts/are-psilocybin-mushrooms-illegal
More to Explore
