A recent survey shows that spirituality increases with psychedelic use, and that increased spirituality is linked to improved emotional regulation. The findings suggest that better emotional regulation is associated with decreased scores for depression, anxiety, and disordered eating.
A study discovered that psilocybin can reduce the odds of alcohol relapse!
How does it work? Alcohol reduces a protein in the brain called mGluR2. In a rat model, researchers found that the more protein lost, the more alcohol the rats craved, creating an addictive cycle.
Psilocybin was able to restore protein levels, thus decreasing relapses.
A new study found that people who used psychedelics within the past six months were 55% less likely to use opioids daily.
A little bit of weed could make your trip more spiritual and less scary.
A survey of 321 people suggests that using cannabis while on psychedelics increases the odds of mystical experiences, ego deaths, and intense visuals. These factors are all associated with more spiritual and meaningful experiences!
The data also showed that low doses of cannabis reduced the chances of bad trip, whereas high doses increased feelings of fear and insanity.
Researchers have known for years that ketamine can reduce depression symptoms and suicidal ideation in as little as 24 hours, but a recent study helps us understand why it’s so beneficial.
The study showed that a single dose of ketamine rapidly improved cognitive function, problem-solving abilities, and distorted thinking in suicidal patients.
“Being able to think more clearly can make someone feel less suicidal,” explains Ravi. N. Shah, MD, one of the researchers.
Ketamine was more effective than Midazolam, a benzodiazepine used as a sedative for surgeries. After the dose, suicidal ideation was diminished for up to 6 weeks.
A new study suggests that psilocybin therapy can make patients feel more secure in their relationships!
After undergoing individual therapy, group therapy, and a single psilocybin session, a group of 18 male AIDS survivors showed significantly reduced scores for attachment anxiety – an attachment style characterized by clinginess, fear of abandonment, and difficulty trusting others.
There were no significant changes in attachment avoidance, which is characterized by repressing emotions and discomfort with close relationships.
However, high attachment anxiety scores were associated with a greater chance of mystical experiences, whereas high attachment avoidance scores were linked to grief, fear, physical distress, and paranoia during the trip.
A new, inexpensive production method using tin foil and an aquarium could quickly produce massive amounts of psilocybin for clinical use.
A recent study suggests that it’s possible to produce a potent “psilocybin moonshine” using a simple homebrew method that doesn’t involve growing mushrooms or sterilization.
Researchers inserted magic mushroom genes into E. coli bacteria, which was then added to bottles, submerged in a water tank that was aerated with an aquarium pump, and covered with aluminum foil to maintain a temperature of 37 °C.
In less than two days, 300 mg of psilocybin were produced per liter of water. The method even worked without sterilization, but produced only 100 mg/L, yet this deficit was counteracted by adding a form of penicillin.
A recent study suggests that repeated psychedelic drug use may be effective in reducing PTSD symptoms and internalized shame in people who endured maltreatment during childhood.
The researchers surveyed adults with severe physical, emotional, or sexual trauma and found that those who took psychedelics for therapeutic purposes (in non-clinical settings) were less likely to have a negative self-concept or disturbances in relationships.
Participants who used psychedelics with therapeutic intent 5 times showed the lowest levels of internalized shame and complex trauma.
To escape the boredom and stress of the pandemic, college students are turning to psychedelics and marijuana.
A recent study found that psychedelic drug use among college students nearly doubled during the pandemic, increasing from 5% in 2019 to 9% in 2020. For non-college young adults, use increased from 8% to 10%.
College students also reported record-high marijuana use and record-low levels of alcohol consumption and binge drinking, likely as a result of fewer social events.
Experts predict that these trends reflect need to cope with mental health issues the desire to break monotony with a different mental state.
Mushroom tea could be the secret to aging gracefully.
Aging, as well as several chronic diseases like cancer, arthritis, neurodegeneration, chronic depression, and cardiovascular disease, are often tied to pathological inflammation.
A new study from a South African university revealed that psilocybin mushrooms have potent anti-inflammatory properties that could help treat chronic these conditions. Researchers analyzed 4 species of psilocybin mushrooms, which were extracted in hot water, and discovered that they suppressed the body’s inflammatory response by inhibiting several inflammatory proteins.
