Microdosing psilocybin works magic for depression levels? Study says it might

12 Jul 2022 --- Further evidence has been presented regarding the potential therapeutic benefits of magic mushroom microdosing on mental health, a study in Nature-Scientific Reports reveals. Mood, depression, stress and anxiety levels showed improvement after microdosing for 30 days.

“Our findings of improved mood and reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress add to the growing conversation about the therapeutic potential of microdosing,” says Dr. Zach Walsh, associate professor at Irving K Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the University of British Columbia, and lead researcher of the study.

The findings showed significant improvements in mental health and psychomotor ability. This was confirmed due to the change in results between the microdosing group and the group that did not consume the magic mushrooms. Additionally, the participants over the age of 55 showed the most positive changes.

Mental health improvementsMagic mushrooms are receiving increased interest as research suggests it may be helpful in tackling depression.
The method was a randomized controlled clinical trial which conducted longitudinal data over a year and a half (November 2019 to May 2021). There were a total of 1133 participants, with 953 microdosing small amounts of psilocybin, and the remaining 180 did not.

Microdosing is the process of self-administering a dosage of 0.1 to 0.3 g of dried mushrooms to consume three to five days per week.

The participants completed several assessments on mental health symptoms, measuring cognition and mood. 

There were overall reductions in depression, stress and anxiety levels for all the participants, including those who struggled with mental health issues before the experiment, and for those who did not.

Microdosing on trend
With the psychedelic compound demonstrating efficiency for anxiety and depression, magic mushrooms are increasingly moving forward into the supplement industry. Therefore, companies are experimenting with how to legally use mushrooms until regulatory developments “catch up with demands.”

However, the dosage amount is vital to receive the correct effect. “Large doses of psychedelic psilocybin mushrooms have a long history of use among some Indigenous peoples and are prized in Western culture for their psychedelic effects,” explains Walsh.

The recent interest has taken a change in consumer interest from large amounts known for creating dramatic alterations in mood and consciousness to microdosing quantities so small that they do not interfere with day-to-day activities or daily functioning.

Microdosing is also commonly used for LSD. However, psilocybin mushrooms are considered non-addictive and non-toxic compared to many other substances, such as tobacco and alcohol.

Depression and anxiety on the riseThe COVID-19 pandemic has worsened depression levels globally, leading the industry to search for alternative approaches.
The World Health Organization reported earlier this year that the COVID-19 pandemic brought a global 25% increase in anxiety and depression levels. Previous studies have stated that nutritional patterns and food supplements do not tackle depression alone, as previously hypothesized. 

Psilocybin has shown to work “differently” in comparison to antidepressants, as the brain becomes more “flexible and fluid,” and there has been a recorded reduction in negative thinking patterns, which often are associated with depression, Professor David Nutt, head of the Imperial Center for Psychedelic Research previously said.

Researchers have also explored the usage of psilocybin for weight loss and other eating habits improvements. Although also caused by a psychological effect as neural pathways are affected by the compound. 

“Changed habits and cognitions can increase caloric expenditure and reset the behaviors and cognitions that link life stress and trauma to eating behavior,” Penny White, CEO at NeonMind, previously told NutritionInsight.

The new study encourages future research in implementing a more systematic recruitment approach, finding the optimal dosage and gathering more data on the adverse effects of psychedelic microdosing. 

Edited by Beatrice Wihlander