Psilocybin and the Medical Potential of Magic Mushrooms

What are Magic Mushrooms?

Magic mushrooms are organic, naturally occurring fungi species that contain varying molecules including mind altering compounds such as psilocybin. Historically, psychoactive substances like psilocybin have been used in religious and healing rituals, with evidence suggesting their use by humans for thousands of years (Nature).

These hallucinogenic compounds can have varying effects ranging from mild euphoria and relaxation to visual and auditory hallucinations depending upon the specific strain of mushroom as well as dose/dosage form and administration route. When dosed inappropriately sometimes these compounds can produce unwanted side effects such as dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

At this time, the federal government categorizes magic mushrooms and their hallucinogenic compounds as Schedule I drugs with no current medical use. This harsh classification as a Schedule I substance made researching benefits of psilocybin nearly impossible to obtain funding for in past years. However, limited research in the 1990’s was truly just the tip of the iceberg for the potential medical uses of psilocybin. Following this ever-growing accumulation of data and research, there may be promise in sight for the mainstream medical opinion to be trending in a different direction.

Now, what exactly IS going on with Magic Mushrooms & Main Stream Medicine?

Notably, in the current landscape, quite a lot! Over the past several years, psilocybin has been at the forefront of some of the most cutting-edge medical minds. There is continuous research going into psilocybin’s potential medicinal uses and its possible place in the treatment recommendations for a wide array of different diagnoses. The effects of psilocybin on mental health disorders have been studied extensively, with findings suggesting that it can reduce negative mood, increase positive outlook on life, and reduce the amygdala’s (aggression response) response to negative stimuli (Nature, Forbes). These notable effects have even created some research diving into the potential benefits of using microdoses of these compounds on a regular basis and their role in overall mental wellness and general well-being. Another exciting avenue of research that requires more study is the differing effects of the varying strains of hallucinogenic mushrooms and the potential for different strains to be valuable in different disease states.

In medical practice, psilocybin-assisted therapy combines the drug’s pharmacological effects with psychological therapy and support, offering promising treatment options for a range of mental health disorders and addictions (NCBI). Currently, some of the disease states psilocybin is being studied in are substance use disorders, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and existential dread associated with terminal illness. Our current treatment regimens in mental health disorders such as depression have not had new modes of action for treatment since the mid 1980’s. The research promoting the efficacy of psilocybin is so compelling that comparisons between psilocybin therapy and traditional treatments like SSRIs have begun, with some studies indicating that psilocybin may offer immediate improvement and robust antidepressant effects with fewer doses, though comprehensive comparative studies are still needed (JAMA).

In conclusion, psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms, has potential as a promising and novel treatment for various mental ailments. This enlightened school of thinking is gaining popularity and scientific evidence to support continued reclassification and decriminalization of psilocybin nationwide. Reducing the barriers to access psilocybin will enable research to continue and allow for psilocybin mushrooms to find their potential place in our currently outdated mental health treatment regimens.

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