Disease: Alcohol dependence

Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat

Researchers studied how psilocybin mushrooms given in a retreat setting could help military veterans with traumatic brain injuries who also experienced mental health problems like PTSD and depression. Veterans participated in guided psilocybin ceremonies and showed significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and overall quality of life, along with positive changes in their brain activity patterns measured by EEG. The study suggests that psilocybin retreats may be a promising therapeutic approach for this vulnerable population and supports the need for larger research studies.

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Cystathionine Gamma-Lyase Regulate Psilocybin Biosynthesis in Gymnopilus dilepis Mushroom via Amino Acid Metabolism Pathways

Researchers studying the ‘magic mushroom’ Gymnopilus dilepis discovered that a specific enzyme called CTH plays a crucial role in producing psilocybin, the compound with potential antidepressant effects. By blocking this enzyme, they reduced psilocybin production, but adding a related compound called L-cysteine restored it. This finding suggests that controlling amino acid metabolism could help increase psilocybin production for medical use.

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Rediscovering Psilocybin as an Antidepressive Treatment Strategy

Scientists have renewed their investigation into psilocybin, a compound found in certain mushrooms, as a potential treatment for depression. Studies show promising results with patients experiencing significant improvements in depressive symptoms, sometimes sustained for months after a single treatment session. When administered in controlled therapeutic environments with professional support, psilocybin appears relatively safe, though it can cause temporary side effects like headaches and anxiety. This research represents an important shift in how we might treat severe depression, especially in patients who haven’t responded to conventional antidepressants.

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Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers

This large international study of over 8,700 people found that adults who microdose psychedelics report taking small doses for health and wellness reasons. Among people with anxiety or depression, microdosers showed lower symptom levels than non-microdosers. Most microdosers used psilocybin and combined it with other substances like Lion’s Mane mushrooms or niacin, practices they refer to as stacking.

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Current situation regarding psychedelics and magic mushroom in Korea

This article reviews the current status of psychedelic mushrooms and their potential medical uses in Korea. Several wild mushroom species containing psilocybin have been identified in Korea and can cause hallucinations and other nervous system effects lasting a few hours. While psychedelics show promise for treating depression and anxiety, Korea currently classifies them as controlled substances, and only approved clinical trials can be conducted with government permission.

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Safety, tolerability, and clinical and neural effects of single-dose psilocybin in obsessive–compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, non-crossover trial

This study tests whether psilocybin (the active compound in certain mushrooms) can help people with obsessive-compulsive disorder who haven’t responded to standard treatments. In a carefully controlled trial, participants receive either a single dose of psilocybin or a placebo while receiving psychological support, with their brain activity and symptoms monitored. The research aims to determine if this novel treatment is safe and whether it could work faster than existing medications for this difficult-to-treat condition.

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Toxicology and Analysis of Psychoactive Tryptamines

Tryptamines are a growing class of psychoactive drugs that can cause hallucinations and other dramatic changes in perception. These substances, including compounds like DMT and psilocybin from magic mushrooms, work by affecting serotonin receptors in the brain. While some research explores their potential medical use for treating depression and anxiety, they also carry serious risks including dangerous changes in heart rate, body temperature, and mental state. Scientists have developed new laboratory methods to detect these drugs in blood and urine samples to help doctors diagnose and treat overdoses.

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Neural mechanisms underlying psilocybin’s therapeutic potential – the need for preclinical in vivo electrophysiology

Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, shows promise for treating depression and other mental health conditions. This review examines how psilocybin works in the brain, particularly by affecting brain regions involved in self-reflection and emotion regulation. The authors argue that new brain recording techniques are needed to fully understand how psilocybin produces its beneficial effects, which could help improve treatments for people with severe depression.

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Multianalytical Investigation of Psilocybe cubensis Mushrooms: Physicochemical Characterization and Biological Evaluation of Psilocybin and Psilocin Compounds

Scientists extracted and analyzed psilocybin and psilocin from Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms to develop a medication for treating mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. Using various analytical techniques, they confirmed the extract contained about 3.26% psilocybin and was safe, pure, and stable. The research shows that creating a psilocybin-based medicine from these mushrooms is feasible and could offer a new treatment option for people struggling with mental health issues.

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