Magic mushrooms “reset the brain” and could become the next generation of antidepressants.
A small handful of species of magic mushrooms have the capacity to treat depression. They fall within the genus Psilocybe and have been consumed for their hallucinogenic properties for at least 3,500 years.
The responsibility lies with the psychedelic compound psilocybin.
Can magic mushrooms help treat depression? Several researchers are finding that magic mushrooms can act as antidepressants with fewer side effects than conventional ones.
Science keeps a magnifying eye on a small handful of species within the genus Psilocybe, characterized by the hallucinogenic properties of the compound psilocybin. Carefully regulated doses of this psychoactive substance in a monitored setting and with appropriate psychotherapy could treat depressive disorders, with fewer side effects than other drugs.
Magic mushrooms: the first drug consumed by humanity
Hallucinogenic mushrooms were one of the first drugs used by humanity, as evidenced by archaeological findings dating back to 1600 BC.C when the species Amanita muscaria was present in various rituals in India.
There are many cultures and civilizations soaked in the psychedelia of mushrooms, associated with Soma and Haoma, the sacred drug of immortality in Indo-Iranian cultures, the ragweed of Greek myths, the mysteries of Eleusis, and in a minority way, also the origins of Christianity.
Their consumption splashes all over the globe: nomadic Siberian tribes used them in their communal rites, while in regions such as Mexico and Central America there is a long history of use long before the Spanish colonization.
Although there are several genera and more than 200 species that contain these substances, Psilocybe encompasses most magic mushrooms with these psychoactive compounds: the most appreciated is Psilocybe cubensis, also known as golden cap and growing on nutrient-rich grasses and soils around the world, especially in the tropical regions of America, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
Its recreational use is quite widespread on our planet: its effects last between 4 and 6 hours and generate sensory and emotional responses that include more vivid colors, light sources that take on the appearance of halo or visual distortions, and optical effects.
At higher doses, hallucinations and a different perception of time occur.
As explained by Science Alert, magic mushrooms also promote emotional changes, increasing euphoria and pleasure, promoting a sense of peace, and disconnecting the person from reality, similar to a dream.
Recreational use also carries its dangers: feelings of drowsiness and confusion, nausea and vomiting from stimulation of the digestive system, and high levels of paranoia and extreme fear in people with anxiety and bipolar disorders. Flashbacks of previous trauma, weakness, dizziness, and distress may also appear.
However, the toxicity of P. cubensis is low and is considered fairly harmless.
How magic mushrooms can help treat depression: what do they do to the brain?
Scientists have studied the various changes of magic mushrooms in brain chemistry: the body breaks down psilocybin into the chemical psilocin, another psychoactive compound found in P. cubensis.
It affects the nervous system by competing for the activation of several different types of serotonin receptors known as 5-HT receptors. Competition interferes with areas of the brain involved in controlling temperature, appetite, and sense arousal, as well as mood.
But in addition, the psychoactive substance affects the levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate, related to thinking and self-esteem. Studies such as the one published in Neuropsychopharmacology have highlighted psilocin’s ability to change our perspective on our sense of identity and how we are connected to our environment.
A more general response to these changes in brain chemistry appears to be a restructuring of neural networks. Put another way, the psychedelics in magic mushrooms “reset” how the brain is wired.
There is a lot of very interesting research: A study conducted in the United States last year showed how a single dose of psilocybin can relieve the anxiety and depression felt by cancer patients.
Recently, scientists at Imperial College London have discovered how psilocybin restores brain circuits in patients suffering from depression, as explained in their article published in Scientific Reports.
Regulated doses of psilocybin in a controlled environment and supplemented with psychotherapy could turn magic mushrooms into effective antidepressants with fewer side effects and long-term benefits for the brain.
But we’re not there yet: long-term studies on its safety and efficacy are required, as well as larger samples from people.
