Can Psychedelic Mushrooms Treat Depression? Research Says Yes.

Just a couple of decades ago, the thought of using psilocybin treatment for depression would have seemed completely absurd. After a complete halt on psychedelic research after the 1960s, the idea that psychedelics could benefit mental health was not popular at all. Thankfully, due to the push of certain people and organizations, psychedelic research has made its comeback by bringing groundbreaking results that far exceeded even the wildest expectations. Let’s dive into the latest findings!

What are psychedelic mushrooms?

Psychedelic mushrooms, also widely known as psilocybin mushrooms or ‘magic mushrooms’, contain a psychoactive substance called psilocybin. Psilocybin creates a hallucinogenic, ‘trip-like’ effect that can last for a few hours. These mushrooms can be found growing all over the world, exceeding well over 180 species, varying in strength and size. The use of psychedelic mushrooms can be traced back to thousands of years ago, becoming a vital part of many cultures and their sacred rituals. The effects have been known to offer a spiritual or mystical experience, cause a change of perception of time and space, bring on colourful visuals, and intensify the feelings of anyone consuming them. Psychedelic mushrooms are a powerful substance and should be treated with caution and respect. Reading further into the article, you will learn that they can be used as a great tool for healing treatment-resistant depression.

Psilocybin Research

In the 1950s and 1960s, psychedelic drugs were tested on around 40,000 people in total, with more than 1,000 articles published by scientists on psychedelic substance use as a potential and effective psychiatric treatment. As the recreational use of these substances spread, causing a strong anti-war movement and chaos, they were banned. Any further psychedelic research along with recreational use was pushed underground.

As of the early 2000s, despite the difficulties and stigma around psychedelics, the research has resurfaced, bringing fascinating and hard-to-ignore results which in turn, has attracted a lot of attention from both mainstream media as well as potential investors. In the year 2020 alone, a total of 17 psychedelic trials were conducted (13 of them being a psilocybin research trial). MAPS, a Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, raised $30 million dollars in a span of 6 months to be able to complete a study on using MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With all this exciting research happening, there have been some groundbreaking findings that we will now go over to see what psychedelic medicine can offer to our mental health.

Psilocybin Treatment for Depression

In a study with people suffering from major depression, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers reported that two psilocybin sessions, given with supportive assisted psychotherapy, produced quick reductions in depressive symptoms, with most participants showing improvement. What’s even more amazing is that slightly more than half of the study participants achieved remission through the four-week follow-up, not qualifying for depression any longer. These kinds of results are groundbreaking and far exceed existing treatments.

If you would like to learn more about this psilocybin research, you can watch the footage of Roland Griffiths, Ph.D. talking about his research here, and if you’d like to hear a research participant talk about his experience in Johns Hopkins' psilocybin study, click here.

When will psilocybin treatment become available for the wider public?

With so many cities in the U.S. decriminalizing psilocybin mushrooms, centres being built for psilocybin assisted therapy, and the ongoing research that brings more positive results each year, it is estimated that it will only take a couple of years until psilocybin treatment will become more widely accessible.

Until then, it is quite possible to find a psilocybin retreat hosted where psilocybin is legal or decriminalized. For example, in the Netherlands, the root part of the psilocybin mushroom, often called ‘magic truffles’ or ‘psilocybin truffles’, is legal.

Since the research results have been reached in a strictly controlled setting with trained professionals, we wouldn’t recommend taking psilocybin mushrooms on your own if it is your first time or you suffer from severe depression or a mental health condition. Always make sure to consult your healthcare practitioner to find the best option for your treatment.

Aside from depression, psilocybin mushrooms can also be used as a tool for self-discovery, awareness, and expanded understanding of the world. They offer a greater insight into whatever it is you are looking to explore during this experience. The outdated view of psychedelic mushrooms potentially damaging brain cells has been completely debunked by plenty of research showing that the active compound psilocybin, in fact, allows neurons to create new connections in your brain, creating an opportunity to look at things differently and lie down a pathway for a completely new understanding of a problem or a challenge.

If you are interested to buy or grow your own psilocybin mushrooms, our company Next Level sells high-quality psilocybin truffles, as well as psilocybin mushroom grow kits to grow your own mushrooms at the comfort of your home. Since growing them can seem a little intimidating, we provide easy-to-follow step by step instructions that will ensure you grow luscious, healthy, and amazing little mushrooms. We ship to most countries worldwide from the Netherlands and provide customer service to answer any questions you may have.

*Always make sure you take psilocybin mushrooms (or truffles) in a safe setting, preferably with an experienced guide or a friend next to you who can take care of you before, during, and after your trip (if needed). If you’d like to read about some guidelines for your psilocybin journey, we recommend reading this article here.

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Research reference: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2772630