Trial Findings: Magic Mushrooms Can Help A Depressed Brain
In a shocking turn of events, research, and trials, Hallucinogenic or Magic-Mushrooms, if consumed in a recommended, controlled, and safe amount can make psychological therapy more successful.
Depression and other mental illnesses are increasingly and alarmingly wide-spreading. An estimated 100 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with severe clinical depression. Some cases can get so intense, that proven and available techniques don’t show any results. This is worrisome for us as a society and where our mental health is heading.
Why Psilocybin?
For many years, researchers have been examining how psilocybin affects mental health conditions.
Though encouraging, recent trials have been too brief to evaluate long-term impacts.
- Study: Psychedelics help depressed people feel better.
- Depression treatment using psychedelic drugs
- “Promising” magic mushroom mixture for depression
In recent trials, 1mg, 10mg, and 25mg doses of psilocybin were tested on 233 test subjects from 10 different countries. The trial showed 25mg doses to have the best results.
The Subjects And Their Experience
According to the researchers from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at King’s College London, the majority of the patients were approximately 40 years old and had had severe depression for more than a year.
Following a single 25mg Comp360 psilocybin dose with psychotherapy:
- At three weeks, one in three people had their depression diagnosis removed.
- At 12 weeks, one in five people noticed a noticeable improvement.
The patients underwent a psychedelic “trip” for six to eight hours while they were laying on beds in quiet rooms. One patient described the event as “a waking dream.”
The Other Side Of The Coin
While there are recorded improvements, in the end, the substance being played with is a harmful drug that can have serious side effects on one’s mental and physical health.
After a week, some patients in all groups reported adverse effects such as headaches, nausea, acute fatigue, and suicidal thoughts.
The researchers claimed this was unusual, but some experts believe it may raise safety issues.
Potential Threat
When it comes to mental illnesses like depression, it isn’t something that can be healed in a few sittings. It can sometimes take years for people to get over the battles they are fighting among themselves. Hence, using a drug like Psilocybin for that long of a period can be harmful more than healing.
Additionally, some experts pointed out that the results and effects of the 25mg dose started to wear off after about 12 weeks.
Prof Andrew Mclntosh said “Psilocybin may [one day] provide a potential alternative to antidepressants that have been prescribed for decades,”
It will take many more trials and observations before Psilocybin can be deemed safe enough to be authorized and trusted. Till that day arises, Psilocybin is a drug that, if overdosed, can be life-threatening.
