Published by Programme B
Magic mushrooms are ancient fungi also known as psilocybin mushrooms or shrooms. In tropical and subtropical regions, anyone can find these magic mushrooms growing in the wild. Psilocybin is the active component of this mushroom that has psychedelic effects. Indigenous humans have consumed these psychotropic fungi for medicinal and spiritual uses for thousands of years in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. There are over 116 known species of mushroom that has psilocybin.
This long history and multicultural experiences of magic mushrooms have intrigued science once again. Thus, this increasing interest triggered the recent resurgence of psychedelic research across the globe. Over 65 universities across Europe and North America have been approved to legally conduct clinical studies for treating anxiety, depression, addiction, and Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, compelling neuroimaging results in recent studies suggest there are remarkable effects of psilocybin in some brain networks.
As the stigma against psychedelics is starting to fade, some may call this age the renaissance of psychedelic research. With that, we will look at recent and past discoveries and the potential of magic mushrooms as medicine.
Psychological Disorders Magic Mushrooms May Treat
Recent findings in clinical studies disprove the claims made in the past during the 1950s and 1970s that magic mushrooms have no medicinal value. It is quite the opposite. These recent clinical findings are showing magic mushrooms have encouraging results in treating multiple psychological disorders:
Anxiety
A group of 12 participants with terminal illness took part in several psilocybin-aided psychotherapy sessions in 2008 and have shown a tremendous reduction in anxiety levels and significantly boosted their moods.
Another study in 2016 also found that psilocybin-aided psychotherapy drastically reduced participants’ anxiety levels who were suffering from terminal cancer.
Addiction
Clinical trials were done during the 1950s and 1960s in New Mexico, with 10 participants having alcohol and tobacco dependence. After running multiple psilocybin-aided psychotherapy sessions, the participants showed significant reductions in consumption and dependence on these substances. Psilocybin also offers a lot of potential in treating drug addiction in limited early studies.
Depression
A clinical study at Johns Hopkins Medicine yielded promising results in treating depression amongst a small group of participants. After two psilocybin-aided psychotherapy sessions, the participants showed a tremendous reduction in depressive symptoms. Half of the participants in the study showed no depressive symptoms for up to four weeks. In a follow-up study, these remissions could last up to a year for some patients.
Bottom Line
Regulations and stigma against these ancient fungi are fading. North American countries are at the forefront of this renaissance of psychedelic research. With that, it has brought the convenience of being able to order shrooms online in Canada and some parts of the US. Although magic mushrooms grow in the wild, it is highly advised not to go hunting for them, since there are highly poisonous species of mushrooms that look very similar to Psilocybin mushrooms. The beauty of being in a country leading in psychedelic research is that you can access top-shelf quality products.