When you first hear it, mushrooms being a cure to depression does not sound like a very believable idea. While normal mushrooms do not in any way help cope with depression as held by popular belief, it is a specific variety of mushrooms called psilocybin mushroom also widely known as magic mushroom that works wonders for a person with the psychiatric condition of depression. It is asserted that this particular form of fungi contains a number of psychedelic compounds, such as psilocin, baeocystin, and psilocybin. The earliest inclusion of magic mushrooms as a action stimulating fungi can be traced to the beginning of the 18th century, in the London Medical and Physical Journal.
Depression Treatment with Magic Mushrooms
The number of people facing depression is growing exponentially these days, the rapidity with which the psychological condition is becoming widespread is an alarming situation and calls for our immediate attention. Various medicines and drugs are prescribed by psychiatrists to the patients that suffer from the mental condition, most of them are known to have numerous side effects as a result of their consumption. Adverse effects include apathy, a feeling of emotional disconnect and indifference that comes and gradually sets in while using types of antidepressants.
A number of studies conducted over the years have been a testament to the statement that psychedelics assist in recovering from depression and prove to have immense potential as a promising treatment for depression and its symptoms. Few scientists at Johns Hopkins University have penned down their opinions on the miraculous effects of consuming psilocybin mushrooms and they most evidently consider it a reliable science breakthrough. In a recent article that was published by The Medical Journal of Neuropharmacology ; a few eminent psychiatrists, have clearly supported the cause of magic mushrooms being made legally available to people by medical professionals as their positive results are proven to far outweigh its any possible health issues. All clinical evidence available presently authenticates their claims. Dr Robin Carhart –Harris- a head researcher at Imperial College London in the United States who led a study on psychedelic compounds of magic mushrooms- has been quoted saying “ We have shown for the first time clear changes in brain activity in depressed people treated with psilocybin after failing to respond to conventional treatments.”
The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States) considers psilocybin a Schedule 1 Drug, and being skeptical about the implications of its medical usage, specifies it as having “no medical use”. Though a numerous researches and studies conducted serve prove to the contrary ; a driving force in establishing the ever increasing popularity of the psychedelics’ therapeutic possibilities. The continual researches have suggested that psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin can effective help treat several forms of mental illness, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
The Journal of Psychopharmacology published an article by Roland R Griffiths and Mathew W Johnson, the authors are found stating -based on their seminal work- “ At this point, the data the data suggest that the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin-assisted therapy are real, and of potential medical and public health significance.” This has given surge to a whole new avenue of researches abounding in clinically examining and determining any possible psychedelic properties in drugs like LSD, ecstacy, ketamine, and marijuana. Several other studies of the psilocybin have vehemently suggested its role in curbing obsessive -compulsive disorder , except the other widely known benefits.
Though the psychedelic drug has been proven to reduce the effect of certain health issues; its most remarkable trials suggest, that the psychoactive compound can effectively help reduce and assuage fear and anxiety, prevalent among patients suffering from advance stages of cancer. A number of studies have paved way for more research so that the drug can be clinically proven helpful and thus used with proper medical guidance and a sense of responsibility. This shall highly assist in the process of enabling people cope better with their depressive tendencies and subside them. The psychedelic works in a peculiar way by resetting the mind and acting as a rejuvenating and therapeutic medicine.
Based on the outcomes of various studies and researches, psychedelics have been believed to hold immense health benefits. Despite all the facts and scientific proves no administration run under the law of the States has shown even the tiniest inclination to rescheduling the psilocybin drug or any other psychedelic. Any claims whatsoever mentioned in this article, though strictly based on clinical hypothesis and result do not in any way legalise the use of psilocybin.
Psychedelics have been credited to alleviate depression and recent discoveries and studies back this opinion. The mechanism of the psychedelic is not completely clear, but its transforming effect has been astonishing in a number of cases. Research and articles have been published in leading dailies such as New York Times and The Gaurdian that attest to the claims of various leading scientists.
References
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
http://www.thegaurdian.com