Researchers are seriously investigating the chemicals present in so-called “magic mushrooms” and how they could potentially help alleviate depression.
Psilocybin, the chemical found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is being studied at UT Health Houston to see if it is useful in treating depression in people who are unable to find relief from already-approved drugs.
“They’ve tried two or four different antidepressants and nothing has worked. So the notion is that psilocybin when combined with proper psychological support before, during, and after use, can help these people,” stated Dr. Thomas Meyer, Ph.D.
Meyer is a professor of psychiatry at UTHealth Houston.
He and his colleagues throughout the world are currently asking for people to participate in the study. To participate in the study, participants must be at least 18 years old, have been diagnosed with depression, and have tried previous drugs unsuccessfully.
Volunteers will receive a single 25-milligram dosage in a strictly controlled clinical setting. Approximately one-third of the volunteers will get a placebo.
According to researchers, psilocybin affects the way the brain processes serotonin.
“What it appears to do is downregulate specific areas of the brain, allowing us to form new connections and learn. “It appears to affect the brain system that deals with ourselves and how we perceive the world,” Dr. Meyer explained.
ABC News met with a Colorado mother who took the medicine and reported the results as follows.
“I suppose relief is a word that everyone can comprehend. Your mood may shift to one of stability rather than stasis,” said Tracey Tee, who founded Moms on Mushrooms after her own experience.
It is vital to remember that the treatment is currently in the experimental phase and has not been approved for use by the FDA.