Do you know magic mushrooms, also called psilocybin, can address severe depression when used in Psilocybin Therapy? This is not just a baseless hope for people who are living on anti-depressants. There are plenty of clinical trials and studies to back up these claims.
Researchers found that following a single 25-mg dose of psilocybin plus therapy sessions designed to assist patients in finding potential causes and remedies for their depression, nearly a third of patients with severe depression had fast remission.
Psilocybin Therapy Canada is said to be legal in most Canadian districts. The main reason behind its legality is its proven effectiveness for several health conditions like depression, anxiety, and addictions. There are many individuals all around the globe, mostly in Canada, who suffer from depression. Fortunately, Psilocybin Therapy offers an efficient solution for those afflicted by depression. Psilocybin Therapy by Mind Mend in Canada presents a cost-effective and affordable treatment option for individuals who might otherwise expend significant sums on psychiatric consultations and antidepressant medications.
We’ll discuss what exactly is psilocybin therapy and its benefits for depression. Stay with us and stay tuned!
What Is Psilocybin Therapy?
Psilocybin therapy is a treatment option that has been researched for mental health issues for years. It combines psychological support with the pharmacological benefits of the hallucinogenic drug psilocybin.
Psilocybin is an active component of some mushroom species, commonly known as “magic mushrooms,”. We are researching the efficacy of psilocybin therapy, initially in treatment-resistant depression, and have created a synthesized psilocybin formulation called COMP360.
Psilocybin is a safe and useful treatment for patients suffering from depression, anxiety, addiction, and other mental diseases when used in conjunction with psychological support from licensed therapists, according to preliminary research carried out in cutting-edge academic institutions.
Before getting any further, let’s see if psilocybin therapy is accepted by Canadians.
Approval Of Psilocybin Therapy In Canada
The adoption of psychedelic therapies advanced when Quebec, the first Canadian governing body, openly allocated funds for medical psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in December 2022. This historic move establishes a model that other Canadian provinces can follow and represents a significant advancement in the recognition of psilocybin, the primary hallucinogenic ingredient in “magic mushrooms.”
In a statement released on December 15, TheraPsil, a nonprofit organization committed to promoting the advancement of psilocybin therapies, said, “This decision marks a momentous leap forward in recognizing psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a legitimate medical treatment.”
This opens the door for other provinces to take the laudable lead and makes it easier for people in Quebec to receive this possibly life-saving medicine.
How Psilocybin Therapy Can Treat Depression According To Studies?
Clinical depression is a serious medical condition that can have a profound impact on a person’s behavior, mood, and bodily processes like food and sleep patterns.
The usual treatment plan is to take antidepressant medicines, which can help 40% to 60% of people with moderate or severe depression with their symptoms over a period of six to eight weeks.
However, it is crucial to remember that these drugs have a number of side effects, including headaches, vertigo, and erotic issues, which can occasionally cause patients to stop taking their prescription.
Researchers have recently become more interested in investigating the therapeutic potential of psychedelics—such as psilocybin, the main ingredient in magic mushrooms—as a substitute method of treating depression and other mental health issues.
A phase 2 clinical trial, published on August 31st in JAMA, sought to address certain limitations observed in previous psilocybin research endeavors, notably the small sample sizes and the potential for participants and researchers to discern whether they were receiving psilocybin or a placebo.
In this innovative investigation, 104 healthy individuals who fit the criteria for major depressive disorder but were otherwise 21–65 years old were included. The majority of participants were Caucasian, with women making up about half of the group. Instead than dealing with a single episode, the majority were dealing with persistent depression.
The study, which was carried out from 2019 to 2022 at 11 locations across the United States, carefully screened potential participants, excluding those who had a history of psychedelic substance use within the previous five years, moderate to severe alcohol use disorder, recent suicidal thoughts or behavior, or those who were receiving deep brain stimulation treatment for depression.
One oral dosage of either 100 milligrams of niacin or 25 milligrams of psilocybin was given to participants at random. Participants’ regular antidepressant drugs were gradually reduced or stopped, and then this dosage was given.
Niacin produced a safe flush on the skin and had no hallucinogenic effects; hence, it was an active placebo. This method decreased the possibility that participants and researchers would correctly identify the substance that each individual received.
Researchers assessed the individuals’ depressive symptoms at the beginning of the study and again 2, 8, 15, 29, and 43 days after giving them niacin or psilocybin. Participants were also asked about their general quality of life, any adverse effects they may have had, and any symptoms of anxiety.
These assessments were completed over the phone to reduce the possibility of researchers becoming aware of the participant’s group assignment.
The psilocybin for the experiment was donated by the nonprofit medical research group Usona Institute Inc., which also organized and managed the study and assisted with data interpretation and drafting the scientific publication.
Key Takeaway
A significant finding was made by researchers in a 6-week clinical experiment. They discovered that, in comparison to a non-psychedelic placebo, a single dose of psilocybin given in conjunction with therapy produced more notable benefits in reducing symptoms of depression.
Throughout the experiment, psilocybin showed a noteworthy and favorable safety profile. A small number of clinical study participants experienced mild adverse effects, including headaches, nausea, and hallucinations. It is noteworthy that most of the visual effects started to appear on the day of the dose and had gone away entirely by the time the trial was over.
More importantly, taking psilocybin by yourself won’t help you with anything. You must join Psilocybin therapy sessions to get the most out of your efforts.
