Mental illness is on the rise today, with growing percentages of one in every five people suffering severe mental illness at one point in their lives. This concern requires a new approach that will take care of physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. But what can you do about your mental health? While there are several things you can do to enhance your physical well being, there is no set procedure or routine that practically ensures mental wellness. You may seek conventional treatment alternatives or go for a natural regimen that restores and promotes mental balance. This is why the use of mushrooms in mental health care is gaining traction, as nature’s blessing towards mental health and wellness.
In the article
What are magic mushrooms?
Magic mushrooms also known as shrooms have been in existence for centuries. History depicts that they have evolved with humanity being used for spirituality and their healing properties. While mushrooms cause a hallucinogenic effect, they may also help in the treatment of mental illnesses. Even though without limitation, it is not legal in most states. Psilocybin’s use of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound present in magic mushrooms, could help ease mental health ailments. These could include anorexia, depression, addictions, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other mental disorders.
How does psilocybin affect the brain?
Even though there is little understanding of how psilocybin affects the brain to relieve mental health conditions, it is evident that it disrupts negative thoughts in the brain’s 5HT2Z receptors. While common antidepressants protect against stressors that trigger depression, they do not remedy the underlying biopsychosocial causes that psilocybin addresses. Even more, it harnesses the therapeutic window opened by the brain to help facilitate emotional release.
Even more, psilocybin helps in the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain. For its effort in mental health treatment, serotonin regulates mood changes, enhances sleep, social behavior, and the brain’s overall functioning. Even though there are over 200 species of magic mushrooms, they have varying compositions of hallucinogenic effects that impact mental health.
Benefits of psychedelics in the treatment of mental health problems
Several studies suggest that mushrooms do not lead to dependency, offer healing effects and lasting mental well-being benefits. Here are some of the health conditions that magic mushrooms show potential help.
1. Mushrooms can help manage OCD
OCD is among the most common mental illnesses affecting about 2% of the global population some point in their life. It could arise from underlying conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In an effort to find the right treatment for OCD, psilocybin proves to be a great alternative. While conventional therapies help OCD patients break habits through resistance, magic mushrooms treat the problem from the root causes. This might include brain activation, brain rewiring, or a combination of the two to help alleviate symptoms. Magic mushrooms also help users with self-interaction, which provides perception and focuses on new habits that gradually trigger behavioral change.
2. Mushrooms can stimulate brain cell growth
Psilocybin indeed enhances brain communication and overall brain health. A study from the University of South Florida shows that when psilocybin was introduced to fear-conditioned mice, it overcame the fear and threat. Even more, the study showed that magic mushrooms lead to a rise in brain cell growth and brain cell regeneration. The mushrooms bind brain receptors that promote new brain cell growth and the formation of short-term memory. Even though there is growing evidence on how psychedelics boost brain cell growth, the breakthrough is in its initial research stages.
3. Mushrooms will help with overcoming addiction
Substance abuse is one of the mental health conditions that is widespread among different age groups. Breaking addictions and habits can be distressing and might be a challenge to overcome. This is the reason there is growing research and findings that support overcoming the problem. A study at John Hopkins University revealed that psilocybin can help users to abstain and overcome substance abuse. Users managed to stay away from the substances over twelve months after mushroom therapies.
4. Mushrooms can help to manage psychological ailments
When it comes to psychological issues, there is a myriad of conditions that a patient faces. It could be anxiety, severe depression, stress, and other forms of psychological disorders. But are psychedelic mushrooms the future to treating or managing psychological issues? Magic mushrooms contain psilocybin and psilocin, which initiate and promote communication in the brain and spark a new perspective in the patient’s life. This might help produce a new approach towards dealing with depression, anxiety, or stress. The two compounds also enhance dopamine levels in the brain to create relaxation and some type of euphoria.
Conclusion
Psychedelics in the medical industry are growing. They portray a greater possibility of developing brain structure to heal mental distress. When combined with psychological therapy, magic mushrooms could be highly effective in treating mental conditions. It is true to say that magic mushrooms are the future of progressive mental health care.
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