Mushrooms: Nature's Medicine For Trauma And Healing

Magic mushrooms have been used for centuries in traditional medicine. Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has been found to reduce psychological distress in adults with a history of trauma, particularly childhood trauma. Research has shown that psilocybin can stimulate nerve cell regrowth in parts of the brain responsible for emotion and memory, helping to heal addiction, depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. While the efficacy of current PTSD treatments is underwhelming, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has shown preliminary efficacy in facilitating the confrontation of traumatic memories, decreasing emotional avoidance, and increasing acceptance and self-compassion. However, the risks of using psychedelic compounds for trauma-related disorders need further study.

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) for PTSD

PAP involves the administration of psilocybin in a controlled therapeutic setting under professional supervision. The psychedelic experiences induced by psilocybin can last 4-8 hours and include visual imagery, vivid imaginative sequences, synesthesia, feelings of bliss and connectedness, ego dissolution, and mystical-type experiences. These experiences can be emotionally intense and are often subjectively significant for the individual.

The therapeutic benefits of PAP for PTSD are attributed to its ability to facilitate the confrontation of traumatic memories and the reduction of emotional avoidance. PAP has been found to decrease symptoms such as depression, anxiety, pessimism, and disconnection from others. It promotes self-compassion, acceptance, and forgiveness, which are crucial aspects of PTSD recovery. PAP may achieve these outcomes by stimulating nerve cell regrowth in brain regions responsible for emotion and memory, leading to the growth of new neural pathways.

While PAP has shown promising results in early studies, it is still considered investigational. Clinical trials typically involve drug-free preparation sessions, followed by treatment sessions with psilocybin, and subsequent drug-free psychotherapy sessions to integrate the insights gained during the psychedelic experience. The psychotherapy component is tailored to the patient's experience, and specially trained therapists guide them through the process.

PAP with psilocybin has been designated a "breakthrough therapy" by the FDA for treatment-resistant depression, and it is expected to gain similar recognition for PTSD. However, it is important to note that psilocybin is currently a Schedule I drug, indicating a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Ongoing research is working to address these concerns and establish the safety and efficacy of PAP for PTSD treatment.

Magic mushrooms for addiction

Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, have been touted as a potential treatment for addiction. While the mushrooms are still illegal in most countries, there is a growing body of research that suggests they could be an effective treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.

Psilocybin is the active ingredient in magic mushrooms and is a hallucinogen that can cause changes in perception, thought, and mood. It is important to note that while the addiction risk associated with psilocybin mushrooms is low, psychological dependence can still develop. In addition, psilocybin mushrooms can impair judgment and coordination, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.

However, when used in a controlled environment, psilocybin has been shown to help patients break their dependencies on other substances. For example, a 2017 Johns Hopkins University pilot study found that the majority of 15 participants were able to quit smoking for at least 16 months after receiving two to three moderate to high-level doses of psilocybin. A similar study into alcohol use disorder in 2015 found that abstinence among addicts increased significantly following the use of psilocybin. Observational studies have also found that psilocybin is associated with a reduced risk of using substances like cocaine, marijuana, and opioids.

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has also been found to be effective in treating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PAP has been shown to facilitate the confrontation of traumatic memories, decrease emotional avoidance, depression, anxiety, pessimism, and disconnection from others, and increase acceptance, self-compassion, and forgiveness of abusers.

Overall, while there are some risks associated with the use of psilocybin mushrooms, they may be an effective tool in the treatment of addiction when used in a controlled environment and combined with therapy.

Psilocybin for childhood trauma

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has been found to reduce the psychological distress that adults may experience due to traumatic childhood events. Childhood trauma can have a long-lasting impact on an individual's physical and mental health. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can include abuse, neglect, having an incarcerated parent, war, poverty, systemic racism, natural and man-made disasters, severe illness, bullying, and more.

Child maltreatment negatively affects the formation of internal schemata of self and others during development, leading to negative adaptations in self-concept and social cognition. The impact of ACEs can manifest in adulthood as hypervigilance, with individuals feeling they are constantly on guard for perceived threats. This can drive anxiety and psychological distress. Additionally, ACEs can cause disruptions to serotonin signaling, which is crucial for regulating mood and anxiety.

Psilocybin has been found to activate serotonin receptors, helping to regulate mood and anxiety. It is believed that psilocybin provides an opportunity for individuals to reprocess and reevaluate early traumatic experiences, allowing for the potential rewiring of neural pathways. This can lead to improved mental health outcomes, including reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, pessimism, and disconnection from others.

While the potential benefits of psilocybin for childhood trauma are promising, it is important to note that the use of psychedelic drugs can also come with risks and side effects. Some individuals have reported experiencing flashbacks or feeling as if they are having a trip when not under the influence. Physical effects of psychedelic drug use can include increased blood pressure, increased body temperature, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and muscular issues.

Overall, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy shows preliminary efficacy in treating childhood trauma and warrants further investigation as a potential treatment approach.

Mushrooms and neurogenesis

Psilocybin has been found to activate serotonin receptors, which are responsible for regulating mood and anxiety. Unlike other psychedelics, such as MDMA, psilocybin does not deplete serotonin levels, which can otherwise lead to feelings of depression. By activating serotonin receptors, psilocybin may reduce the psychological distress that adults with a history of trauma experience. This distress is often a result of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that alter the stress response, impacting mental health in the long term.

Research has shown that psilocybin can induce emotional breakthrough experiences, which are key to long-term psychological change in the treatment of mental health disorders. Furthermore, psilocybin can decrease amygdala reactivity, which is typically heightened in PTSD. This reduction in amygdala reactivity increases the ability to process traumatic memories.

In addition to psilocybin, other types of mushrooms are being explored for their therapeutic benefits in mental health disorders. For example, substances like lion's mane mushrooms have demonstrated potential in promoting neurogenesis and cognitive function, which may be useful in treating depression.

Overall, mushrooms and their compounds show promise in healing trauma through neurogenesis and the creation of new neural pathways. However, further research and clinical trials are needed to fully understand the effects of psilocybin and other psychedelic compounds on trauma-related disorders.

Safety and abuse research on psilocybin

The safety and abuse potential of psilocybin have been assessed according to the eight factors of the US Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Psilocybin has an abuse potential appropriate for CSA scheduling if approved as medicine. However, the potential for abuse is low compared to prototypical abused drugs. The risks can be further minimized through dose control, patient screening, preparation, and supervision in a medical facility.

Research suggests the potential safety and efficacy of psilocybin in treating cancer-related psychiatric distress and substance use disorders. In a small double-blind study, Johns Hopkins researchers reported that a substantial majority of people suffering from cancer-related anxiety or depression found considerable relief for up to six months from a single large dose of psilocybin. An online survey of over 300 people with Alcohol Use Disorder also reported reducing or abstaining from alcohol use after taking psilocybin.

Psilocybin has also shown potential in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). An open-label study in traumatized AIDS survivors found that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) reduced PTSD symptoms, attachment anxiety, and demoralization. Several PAP trials show preliminary efficacy in facilitating the confrontation of traumatic memories, decreasing emotional avoidance, depression, anxiety, pessimism, and disconnection from others, and increasing acceptance, self-compassion, and forgiveness of abusers, all of which are relevant to PTSD recovery.

However, there are concerns about the safety of psilocybin due to potential adverse effects, including panic reactions, possible precipitation of enduring psychiatric conditions, and long-lasting visual perceptual disturbances. Additionally, people who take psychedelic drugs have reported experiencing flashbacks or feeling as if they are tripping when they are not. These experiences can be dangerous in certain situations, such as when operating a motor vehicle. Therefore, further studies are required to assess the abuse potential of psilocybin and guide appropriate scheduling placement.

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