There are some fungi that create small molecules known as metabolites that end up altering the human mind. Now, recent research shows that these fungal metabolites may have potential for treatments.
Psilocybin
Psilocybin, most specifically, is a hallucinogenic ingredient found in magic mushrooms, as reported by Science Alert. Lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD, is also a psychedelic known to have fungal roots.
Medical News Today adds that psilocybin has a history of being used recreationally. However, their potential could go beyond that.
Humans have been familiar with the hallucinogenic characteristics of fungi for centuries. In fact, the Aztecs even provided magic mushrooms to those who were dying in order for them to peacefully transition to life after death, as reported by Science Alert.
Now, fungal metabolites have been an explosive object of interest. This is due to their neurological advantages and potential for being used to treat mental health disorders. This is not a surprise, given how fungal metabolite mechanisms interact with the human nervous system.
There are certain conditions, including chronic depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction, that have hallmark negative features, such as rumination and negative thinking. In such cases, people tend to have a counterproductive focus on negativity. The unfortunate thing is that these end up boosting neural connections that prompt the undesirable mental condition all the more.
However, fungal metabolites may offer the brain the freedom to delve into territories that are less visited, as noted by Science Alert. Psychedelics are known to enable people to have experiences beyond reality's boundaries. Science Alert notes that recent studies suggest that this actually manifests a novel exploration of the brain.
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Psychedelic Medicine?
Psilocybin, for example, stimulates a brain receptor known as 5-HT2a. Such receptors typically bind with serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that manages specific intercell communication.
However, when psilocybin gets bound to the said receptor, the brain finds it easier to alter and come up with new connections. This is also known as a neuroplasticity increase. These neuroplasticity changes could potentially interfere with the rigid thought patterns that lie at the heart of several mental health disorders.
Science Alert adds that a mix of psychedelics and psychotherapy could enable the exploration and understanding of the triggers behind negative patterns of thinking. This could also potentially stop negative thought cycles from resurfacing.
There are also other studies that reveal how fungal metabolites positively treat various conditions, including alcoholism, depression, and anxiety. Such studies note that psilocybin may affect symptoms even after a dose or two. This is significantly shorter and stronger compared to antidepressants, which may take several months to be effective.
Despite this potential, psychedelics should not be seen as a miraculous cure for psychiatric conditions, given how much mystery surrounds them. Several studies that focus on psychedelics are still preliminary as their sample is not sufficient.
However, in Australia, specifically, psilocybin has been medically acknowledged. In fact, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, starting July 1, 2023, authorized psychiatrists may prescribe psilocybin-containing medicines to patients going through depression that is resistant to treatment. Such changes also allow MDMA-containing medicines to be prescribed to those with PTSD.
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