Emily Johnson
Psilocybin, the key ingredient in magic mushrooms, is a hallucinogenic chemical that has the potential to produce perceptual changes, altering a person's awareness of their surroundings, thoughts, feelings, and emotions. While psilocybin is currently a Schedule I drug, recent studies have shown promising results in using psychedelic treatment with psilocybin to relieve symptoms of major depressive disorder for up to a year for most patients. However, it is important to note that the research studies have been small and limited, and the therapeutic approach requires careful preparation and structured support from trained clinicians and therapists.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Potential health benefits | Treatment for depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, addiction, pain, neurodegenerative disorders, and substance use disorders |
| Effects | Euphoria, hallucinations, altered perception of time and space, intense changes in mood and feeling, sensory distortion |
| Side effects | Headache, nausea, anxiety, dizziness, elevated blood pressure, flashbacks, disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, panic, accidental poisoning |
| Safety | Not approved by the FDA for clinical use, designated as a Schedule 1 drug by US federal law, not recommended by Lewis due to legal issues, lack of data, and the need for ongoing research |
| Legality | Illegal in Australia, some US states have begun decriminalizing it |
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What You'll Learn
Psilocybin's therapeutic potential for treating depression
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in so-called "magic mushrooms", has been the subject of a growing body of research over the last 20 years. Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic, and research has indicated its potential as a treatment for a range of mental health conditions, including depression.
A recent study from Johns Hopkins found that psychedelic treatment with psilocybin relieved major depressive disorder symptoms for patients for up to a month, with 75% of participants showing a response and 58% achieving remission at 12 months. These participants had previously been treated with standard antidepressant medications, and many were using antidepressants during their depressive episodes. The study also found that psilocybin had enduring effects, suggesting that it may relieve the symptoms of depression with one or two treatments, as opposed to standard antidepressants which must be taken for long stretches of time.
Psilocybin is currently a Schedule I drug, meaning that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) believes it has a high potential for abuse and serves no legitimate medical purpose. However, current research does not consider psilocybin to be addictive, and it has been showing promising results in producing positive therapeutic outcomes. In clinical studies, administering psilocybin involves an intense psychotherapeutic preparation before taking the substance, including being supported during an eight-hour session with two therapists. Following this session, the therapists and patient would engage in integration sessions that explore how to translate those experiences into the patient's life.
While the studies are promising, they are relatively small and involve participants that are extensively screened and monitored throughout the process. Further research is needed to explore the possibility that the efficacy of psilocybin treatment may be substantially longer than 12 months.
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Risks and side effects of psilocybin
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has been studied for its potential therapeutic effects on mental health conditions. While it has shown promising results in producing positive therapeutic outcomes, there are also risks and side effects associated with its use.
One of the main risks of consuming magic mushrooms is accidental poisoning from consuming poisonous mushrooms. Magic mushrooms look very similar to poisonous mushrooms, which can cause severe illness and even death. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately identify mushrooms before consumption to avoid accidental poisoning.
The effects of psilocybin vary widely among individuals. Factors such as the user's mental state, personality, and immediate environment can influence their response to the substance. Higher doses of psilocybin and pre-existing mental health conditions may increase the risk of negative experiences. Psychological distress, extreme anxiety, and short-term psychosis are potential adverse events following recreational use of psilocybin. Additionally, some people may experience persistent alterations in their perception, such as visual flashbacks or traumatic recalls of upsetting experiences, known as hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder, which is rare.
Common side effects of psilocybin include confusion, fear, hallucinations, headache, high blood pressure, nausea, and paranoia. Psilocybin may also increase the risk of mania in individuals with bipolar disorder or a family history of bipolar disorder. It could also worsen diarrhea in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Furthermore, psilocybin might interact with certain medications that increase serotonin levels, leading to serious side effects such as heart problems, seizures, and vomiting.
It is important to note that the only way to eliminate the risk of a bad trip is by refraining from consuming magic mushrooms. Hallucinogenic drugs can induce unpredictable and potentially dangerous behaviour, which may result in injuries. While magic mushrooms have a low risk of addiction, research in this area is still ongoing.
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History of psilocybin research
Psilocybin research has a long and complex history that dates back millennia. Indigenous cultures have been using psilocybin-containing mushrooms for generations in spiritual and ritual ceremonies. One of the earliest depictions of hallucinogenic mushroom use comes from a 4000 BCE cave painting in Spain, and imagery in cave paintings and rock art of modern-day Algeria and Spain suggests that human use of psilocybin mushrooms may even predate recorded history.
In the 20th century, psilocybin research took on a more scientific character. In 1938, Albert Hofmann first synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), and five years later, he became the first person to ingest LSD. In 1957, a photo essay was published in Life Magazine detailing the experience of a US banker, Gordon Wasson, and his wife, who participated in a mushroom ceremony in Oaxaca, Mexico. This article helped to introduce psilocybin mushrooms to the rest of the world. In 1958, Hofmann isolated psilocybin and psilocin from the mushroom Psilocybe mexicana, and his employer, Sandoz, marketed and sold pure psilocybin to physicians and clinicians worldwide for use in psychedelic therapy.
In the 1960s, Walter Pahnke and colleagues systematically evaluated mystical experiences (which they called "mystical consciousness") by categorizing their common features. In the 1962 Marsh Chapel Experiment, almost all the graduate degree divinity student volunteers who received psilocybin reported profound religious experiences. One participant, the religious scholar Huston Smith, called his experience "the most powerful cosmic homecoming I have ever experienced."
However, in the 1960s and 1970s, increasingly restrictive drug laws curbed scientific research into the effects of psilocybin and other hallucinogens. The Controlled Substances Act designated all psychedelics as Schedule 1 drugs, which meant they were considered to have no medical benefit and a high potential for abuse. This stalled research for several decades.
Despite these setbacks, there has been a recent explosion of interest in the field of psychedelics, particularly for their potential mental health benefits. Today, research institutions and private practice sites are conducting clinical trials with psilocybin for the treatment of depression and addiction, as well as studies into the ability of psychedelics to catalyze spiritual or mystical experiences.
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Legality of psilocybin
Psilocybin, the hallucinogenic chemical found in certain mushrooms, is classified as a Schedule I substance by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This classification indicates that the DEA believes psilocybin has a high potential for abuse and no legitimate medical purpose. Psilocybin is also listed as a Schedule I drug under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which defines Schedule I drugs as those with a high potential for abuse or no recognised medical uses.
Despite this classification, psilocybin mushrooms have had numerous medicinal and religious uses in various cultures throughout history, and some research suggests that they have a significantly lower potential for abuse than other Schedule I drugs. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in classic psychedelics like psilocybin as potential interventions to treat mental health conditions, particularly depression. Research in this area has shown promising results, with some studies indicating that psilocybin can relieve symptoms of major depressive disorder for up to a year.
However, the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide, and possession and use are prohibited under most national drug laws, often carrying severe penalties. For example, in the United States, psilocybin was first regulated by the Drug Abuse Control Amendments of 1965, and it is now illegal under the US Psychotropic Substances Act. Similarly, in the United Kingdom, psilocybin mushrooms are prohibited under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and in Canada, they are controlled by the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Despite these prohibitions, there has been some movement towards decriminalisation and legalisation of psilocybin in certain jurisdictions. For instance, in Oregon, a ballot initiative passed in 2020 that made psilocybin legal for mental health treatment in supervised settings from February 2021. Additionally, in some areas, there is ambiguity or selective enforcement regarding the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms, particularly around the spores of these mushrooms, which do not contain psilocybin and are therefore legal to possess in many places.
As research into the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin and other psychedelics continues to grow, it is likely that the legal landscape surrounding these substances will also evolve, with some localities already revising their legal frameworks to reflect the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic medicine.
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Microdosing psilocybin
Microdosing of psychedelic substances such as LSD or psilocybin involves taking a fraction of a regular dose (a sub-perceptual dose) that is much lower than one would take if one wanted to "trip" or hallucinate on these substances. There is no single, clearly recognized definition of microdosing for any psychedelic drug, but one definition is approximately 1/5 to 1/20 of a recreational dose. For psilocybin, a medium-strength dose is 2 to 3 grams of dried mushrooms, and a microdose is typically around 0.3 grams. Microdose practices are diverse and include combining psilocybin with substances such as lion's mane mushrooms and niacin (vitamin B3).
Microdosing with psychedelics is believed by many to enhance one's mood, creativity, concentration, productivity, and ability to empathize with others. However, the jury is still out on whether microdosing works. Some studies indicate a very real and significant benefit from microdosing, whereas others show little to no benefit. One recent study found small to medium-sized improvements in mood and mental health that were generally consistent across gender, age, and presence of mental health concerns. Other studies on microdosing are far less impressive.
Psilocybin is generally thought to be safe in low dosages and has been used for centuries by indigenous peoples. However, it is not safe for people with psychotic conditions like schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or severe forms of bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. Adverse effects from psilocybin can include increased blood pressure and heart rate, headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, poor sleep, anxiety, paranoia, persistent psychosis, and hallucinations. Microdosing psilocybin can lead to insomnia, increased anxiety and depression, poor mood, low energy, physical discomfort, poor focus and cognitive functioning, and impaired social skills.
Psilocybin is currently a Schedule I drug and not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for clinical use. However, research and clinical use of psilocybin began in the 1940s as a psychedelic medicine to treat various psychiatric conditions such as depression, substance use disorders, and alcohol use disorders. All research and clinical use of psilocybin was shut down in the 1970s after it was declared a Schedule I drug, ultimately becoming illegal. In recent years, there has been renewed interest in psilocybin as a potential intervention to treat a range of mental health conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
Psychedelic mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, are mushrooms that contain psilocybin, a hallucinogenic chemical. They are naturally occurring and are consumed for their hallucinogenic effects. They are classified as Schedule 1 drugs due to their hallucinogenic properties and perceived potential for abuse.
When psilocybin is ingested, it is converted in the body to psilocin, which is the chemical with psychoactive properties. Psychedelic mushrooms can affect all the senses, altering a person's thinking, sense of time, emotions, and perception of reality. The effects can vary between individuals and can range from euphoria to hallucinations.
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, has been studied as a potential treatment for depression. Research suggests that psilocybin may have therapeutic benefits for individuals with depression, including those with treatment-resistant depression. However, it is important to note that psilocybin is not currently approved by the FDA for clinical use and further research is needed to establish its safety and efficacy.
The use of psychedelic mushrooms carries certain risks, including the possibility of disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, and panic, and flashbacks. Additionally, there is a risk of accidental poisoning from consuming poisonous mushrooms. It is important to note that the effects of combining psychedelic mushrooms with other drugs, including prescription medications, can be unpredictable and dangerous.
