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'Magic mushrooms were popularized during the 1960’s as a recreational drug and symbol associated with the counterculture movement. They have also been used throughout history as a source for a spiritual journey or “awakening” by many cultures. However, as a result of its relationship with such a rebellious movement during the Vietnam era, “Shrooms” have been avoided as a legitimate therapy in recent years. Its taboo political status caused it to be overlooked, and it was not considered for use as a medically sound therapeutic tool.
Recent research has shown that it is very possible that Psilocybin, the potent psychoactive substance found in magic mushrooms, could be used to treat anxiety and depression.
This new study was conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. The study is a part of a breakthrough area of research using psychoactive drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline to treat alcoholism and other addictions, along with treating anxiety and depression. The research found that Psilocybin can be safely used in a controlled setting, resulting in positive mood alterations and life-changing experiences. The positive effects of these changes were retained even after the psilocybin was no longer active in their body.
“Previously, we looked at a single high dose of and showed that it occasioned these mystical-type experiences that had profoundly meaningful and spiritually significant effects,” says study researcher Roland Griffiths, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and neuroscience at Hopkins.
For the study, 18 healthy adult volunteers were given different doses of Psilocybin. After just one dose, nearly 75% of the volunteers stated that they had amazing spiritual and mystical experiences that made them more open-minded and honest, closer to family and friends, and less judgmental of others in general.
On the down side, about 30% of the volunteers also experienced some bad effects such as periods of overwhelming anxiety and fear. However these periods were short and most volunteers said that the experience was ultimately beneficial. In subsequent studies it was found that reducing the dose drastically decreased the occurrence of these bad effects, with minimal reduction of the “mystical” or positive effects of the drug.
Nearly half of the participants in the study rated their experience with Psilocybin to be the most life-changing and meaningful experience of their lives.'
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