Post-traumatic-stress-disorder or PTSD is a dynamic condition that affects an increasing number of the population. Its list of side-effects is long, and the symptoms can be quite debilitating when offset. Which experts in the medical field are having a hard time finding a treatment suitable for.
That was until the research into psychedelics and specifically magic mushrooms was expanded. As science opens its mind to alternative sources of healing, like cannabis and psilocybin from shrooms… we’re learning more about how hallucinogenic effects can help conditions like PTSD. So here we’ve put together an in-depth guide to psilocybin AKA magic mushrooms for PTSD and how it’s quickly becoming a new way to heal.
What is PTSD?
PTSD affects about 10% of Canada’s population and can stem from a variety of sources. Most commonly, patients are diagnosed with the condition when exposed to or experiencing a trauma that causes a set of specific symptoms. Including:
- Agitation or irritability
- Hostility or hypervigilance
- Social isolation
- Self-destructive behaviour
- Mistrust and fearful
- Severe anxiety
- Loss of interest in activities
- Emotional detachment
- Insomnia
- Nightmares or flashbacks
Post-traumatic-stress-disorder is like depression in the way that it’s somewhat ‘treatment resistant’. Meaning experts can’t quite find a way to internally influence the exact areas of the brain responsible for allowing these side-effects to continue. In fact, many experts cite nearly 30 to 40% of patients with PTSD don’t receive sufficient treatment.
Luckily, many progressive researchers have been privately exploring the use of psilocybin or magic mushrooms for actual treatment. What they’re finding, has been promising enough for legalization in many areas.
How does Psilocybin work?
With that said, let’s get to know psilocybin better and learn how it works to enact its therapeutic effects for PTSD. Research has quickly caught up and found out how the compound interacts internally with our brain to be relieving of many mental health conditions. Upon ingesting psilocybin that’s naturally found in magic mushrooms, the compound transforms into psilocin.
Psilocin interacts with our body’s internal receptors to produce the hallucinogenic and euphoric effects you might be familiar with from using shrooms in the past. Much of these effects come from psilocin’s influence on the 5HT2A serotonin receptor. Serotonin is often termed as ‘the happy chemical’ and is responsible in part for feeling an overall sense of well-being.
Psilocybin also works towards ‘re-wiring’ the brain through its varied functions. Psilocin naturally strengthens neural-connectivity for improved communication between areas of the brain that normally don’t connect.
In addition, in areas where hyper-connectivity can cause psychological disorders psilocybin has a way of disrupting these dysfunctional circuits. Altogether this additional information on psilocybin’s internal interactions are proving successful in treatment for depressive type disorders like PTSD.
Magic Mushrooms for PTSD Symptoms
Which is being proven through the few specific trials that have been conducted on magic mushrooms for PTSD symptoms. Here’s a brief summary of the findings, so far –
- Research presented to the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, by the Medical University of South Carolina’s Dr. Michael Mithoefer showed psychedelics like psilocybin can be novel in treating PTSD. The findings came from Phase II of 6 clinical trials, from four different countries.
- A 2016 John Hopkins University study on psilocybin showed it effectively relieved anxiety and depression for 80% of the trial’s participants.
- Another trial of 12 patients at John Hopkins University being administered just one dose of psilocybin reported ‘Acute psilocybin effects include reduced negative mood, increased positive mood, and reduced amygdala response to negative affective stimuli.”
With growing research into how psilocybin can help treat a number of mental health conditions, the push for widespread legalization is surging forward. TheraPsil is largely to thank. The British Columbia based non-profit advocacy group fights for patients rights to therapeutically use psilocybin. Even securing the right for terminal-ill patients to use the psychedelic compound for healing.
How to Consume Psilocybin for PTSD
Now that you know more about how psilocybin can help relieve PTSD symptoms, it’s time to learn how to consume safely for therapeutic effects. If you’ve ever known someone to have a ‘bad trip’ or experienced one yourself, you know how important it is to dose properly. One reason why ‘microdosing’ has risen in popularity over the years.
The average dose of a psychedelic like psilocybin is 3.5 grams for someone with an average body weight. Microdosing recommends taking about 1/10th of this suggestion. Smaller doses still allow for the same neural connectivity benefits, without as strong hallucinogenic effects. Many users say this ‘sharpens the mind’ and scientists are finding it can support more cognitive thinking.
Even enticing employees of Silicon Valley, who were recently trending for their use of microdosing as a ‘productivity hack’. For those suffering from PTSD with symptoms that affect them throughout the day, this technique can allow them to function and work as normal.
Whether you’re microdosing, or not, the growing popularity for psilocybin has led to a growth in products, too. A variety of species and strains of magic mushrooms are now widely available to purchase online. In addition to specifically infused edibles, like chocolate bars and softgel capsules. These types of goods are especially popular due to their accurate dosing for optimal effects, and the ability to half or quarter pieces for microdosing purposes.
Magical Way of Healing – Psilocybin & PTSD
When further exploring ancient and more natural ways of healing…the modern world of medicine is finding that our ancestors were definitely on to something. After being criminalized for years, we’re re-discovering the powers that psilocybin and magic mushrooms can provide, in safe and low doses for relief.
PTSD is just one of the conditions that the ‘magical’ compound psilocybin is helping to treat. If you suffer from PTSD, or other depressive related conditions, experimenting and microdosing shrooms, maybe for you. Now, you can do so from trusted magic mushroom breeders and retailers – like, MMJDirect.co. Check out our top-quality collection of natural psilocybin products, to begin your new journey of healing.