The Benefits of Psilocybin on Mental Health You Should Know
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Psilocybin is a fungal metabolite that you find in certain mushrooms. Several studies have shown that when this compound is administered in a controlled environment, it helps in treating mental health issues like depression, stress, and psychiatric disorders. However, the benefits of psilocybin are not as popular as such. Nevertheless, the use of psilocybin to treat mental health issues is becoming popular.
Despite the recent use of psilocybin to treat mental health issues like depression, there are still growing concerns regarding the stigma, regulation, etc. Psilocybin is new in some jurisdictions but has long been taken in others. Read and learn the benefits of psilocybin as it regards mental health.
Psilocybin Treatment Origin
Interestingly, psilocybin therapy has been around for a while. More so, it was used by most jurisdictions in Central America. Meanwhile, psychedelic mushrooms became popular in Western societies in the 1950s. The first American mycologist to discover psilocybin treatment was R. Gordon Wasson.
He discovered this treatment during his trip to Huautla de Jiménez in Oaxaca, Mexico. Wasson took part in the rituals where psychedelic mushrooms were used. This was how Wasson’s discovery of the treatment started. The entire experience is documented in Life magazine, “Seeking the Magic Mushroom.”
Furthermore, Albert Hofmann also discovered psychedelics in magic mushrooms. These discoveries have laid the foundation for other researchers to conduct more findings about the magic mushroom and its relationship with mental well-being. Several trials to establish the efficacy of this treatment have been carried out from the 1960s till date.
After a while, interest in psilocybin treatment reduced but increased in 2000. Although in some jurisdictions, psilocybin is steeped in stigma, it has become a recommended treatment for mental health in others.
Why do Mental Health Experts Recommend Psilocybin?
Even though extensive research has been conducted about psilocybin, the possible benefits are thrilling. Researchers are happy with what they have seen regarding psilocybin’s treatment of mental health issues. Check out the benefits of psilocybin for mental health below.
Treat Major Depression
One of the successes that psilocybin has had is in the treatment of major depression. Depression has become a major reason people commit suicide. Furthermore, the interesting ways psilocybin assists in helping you out of depression cognitive rigidity. When you start feeling self-defeated or having such thoughts, it could cause major depression. Psilocybin treatment is going to help you out of it.
It Might Help Reduce or Stop Substance Abuse.
One of the major causes of depression or mental health issues is substance abuse. Usually, the conventional treatment for substance abuse involves going in for therapy or using conventional drugs. However, studies have shown that psilocybin can treat dependence on substances like alcohol.
In one study, research has discovered that psilocybin helped reduce the dependence on alcohol in a small group of participants. In another study, the participants were able to stop the use of drugs after 12 months.
Helps Street Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a major cause of mental health issues. The treatment is most often conventional, and the traditional aspect of it requires going for therapy. However, PTSD is not a mental health issue that can just disappear after one treatment. Researchers have discovered that low doses of psilocybin have helped reduce fear response when tested on mice. This shows that magic mushrooms can reduce PTSD or any disease related to it. Nevertheless, research regarding the treatment of PTSD by psilocybin is still ongoing.
Helps Reduce End-of-Life Anxiety
Facing a terminal illness such as cancer can be frustrating. The anxiety and fear that comes with such terminal illnesses are excruciating. Research has shown that about 40% of cancer patients develop depression or anxiety.
Also, other studies have also shown that depression and anxiety could also affect the treatment of cancer negatively. In other words, curbing depression and anxiety will help the treatment of cancer. Psilocybin has the ability to change the thoughts of terminally ill patients to a more positive one. Also, facilitated support by psilocybin experts will improve their mental health.
Helps With Headaches
Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can cause severe headaches. Also, studies have shown that anxiety causes headaches, which can lead to migraine. Psilocybin treatment can relax headaches and migraine.
Meanwhile, another study has postulated that psilocybin could cause headaches if the dosage is higher than should be taken. However, the severity of the headaches caused by an overdose of psilocybin is lower.
Side Effects of Psilocybin Treatment That You May Not Know
Like most revolutionary treatments, psilocybin has its side effects and downside. The side effects of psilocybin are minimal and negligible compared to other traditional ways of treating mental health issues. Whether the side effects are negligible or not, you must know them.
Muscle Weakness
Although not felt by every patient, muscle weakness can occur when the dose of psilocybin is high. A high dose of psilocybin is administered to patients whose conditions are severe and resistant to traditional treatment.
Drowsiness and Yawning
The whole idea of psilocybin treatment, as it regards depression and anxiety, is to calm your nerves and keep you in a good State of mind. Drowsiness and yawning occur because the treatment is supposed to make you rest or even sleep better. Not sleeping well could lead to anxiety and depression.
Lack of Coordination
This is not a common side effect with psilocybin treatment, but it happens but is very rare. This often happens if the patients take higher doses of psilocybin without any professional assistance. Therefore, psilocybin must be taken with the assistance of an expert to avoid this side effect.
Conclusion
Psilocybin treatment is already approved in most jurisdictions in Europe. However, some states in America are also pushing to approve the use of psilocybin to treat mental health conditions. Nevertheless, psilocybin retreats are legal in the Netherlands. Mental health is a big issue in developed countries compared to other continents like Africa, where communal life exists. Finally, only engage an approved psilocybin treatment center to get the needed result.
