Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic organic substance that occurs naturally in over 200 species of fungi known collectively as "psilocybin fungi." Today, there is more and more discussion about the potential effect of psilocybin in the treatment of certain forms of depression, especially those forms that are resistant to hitherto permitted antidepressants.
History of psilocybin Fungi of the genus
Psylocybe have the largest amount of this substance, but there are other related genera of fungi. On murals from the area of Algeria dating from the period of 9000 years p.n.e. there are depictions of these mushrooms, which were actually used for ritual purposes.
Nevertheless, perhaps the most widespread ritual use of psilocybin mushrooms was in the area of Central and South America, among the Mayan and Aztec tribes and other Indian tribes of this area. After the arrival of Catholic missionaries, at the time of the spread of Catholicism in this area, the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms and other psychoactive substances was banned as pagan, however, the natives managed to find ways to keep this tradition secret.
There was no scientific research into the effects of psilocybin until the 1960s, when the scientific team of Timothy Leary of Harvard University began studying this substance in volunteers. Namely, these effects have been shown to be highly variable and to depend on many factors, such as the dose and the environment in which psilocybin is given. These effects range from euphoria, synesthesia, joy, hallucinations, all the way to anxiety, depression and lethargy. Investigations of the effects of psilocybin One of the first studies of the possibility
of using psilocybin
in the treatment of depression was conducted in 2016 at Imperial College London, in a small cohort of 12 people.
These were 12 volunteers who had depression for a very long time, averaging 17.8 years, and in whom a form of depression resistant to therapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI antidepressant therapy) was reported. One week after receiving one oral dose of psilocybin, a significant improvement was observed in these patients. After three months of therapy, 5 of them were in complete remission.
In a study by neuroscientist and biologist Roland Griffiths of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 80% of patients reported significant improvement and reduction in depression after 6 months of controlled psilocybin therapy.However, this substance is on the A-list of banned substances in most countries, which complicates the path of this substance to testing in larger groups and entering clinical practice. Psilocybin research is more difficult to obtain grants and waits longer for approval.
Psilocybin is not the only psychotropic substance being investigated as a potential cure for mental illness - LSD and MDMA have also been shown to be potentially effective in treating some serious conditions and illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and severe headaches. New effects of ketamine as an antidepressant are also being discovered.
The mechanism of action of psilocybin on behavior and especially on depression is not yet clear, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown a reduction in blood flow to some parts of the brain, especially the amygdala - small almond-shaped structures in the brain that play an important role in emotional response. The study that showed this was also done on a small group of 20 people who showed symptoms of SSRI-resistant clinical depression, and was published in 2017 in Scientific Reports.
The future of research into hallucinogenic and psychotropic substances, including psilocybin, on depression and mental illness is still uncertain. It is very difficult to convince those who give grants that they should try these researches on larger groups because these substances are taboo. .
Each mushroom has its own poisonous counterpart so I admire people who recognize them.