Psilocybin:

A Natural Medicine
By Austin Aldrich
Psilocybe cubensis
Psilocybe cubensis is a hallucinogenic mushroom found all over the world.

It contains the psychoactive compounds psilocyn and psilocybin

which are considered Schedule I drugs in the United States of
America and most countries around the world.
The human body develops an immediate tolerance to these
compounds meaning it has a low potential for abuse and is
non-addictive.
There has never been an overdose resulting in death from consuming psilocybin.
Psilocybin as Medicine
Psilocybin has been used in shamanic rituals as far back as 1000 B.C.

Psilocybin has been proven to treat neurological conditions such as curing

addiction, alleving depression, and easing anxiety in terminally ill cancer patients.
It does this better than the pharmaceutical alternatives and without the extensive
negative side effects.

Findings suggest this compound may even lead to neurogenesis (the regrowth of
brain cells).

The positive effects of these mushrooms can last over a year according to
Livescience.
Tobacco Addiction
22.5% of adults regularly smoke tobacco Six months after the treatment ended 80% of
products. participants had reported they had quit smoking.

According to the World Health Organization, the Other studies using pharmaceutical medicines
use of tobacco products results in 6 million to aid in the recovery of tobacco addiction only
annual deaths. have about 25% success rates six months after
treatment.
A study from John Hopkins University
administered fifteen patients addicted to
cigarettes to a fifteen week treatment to
overcome their addiction. They were given
psilocybin once during week 5 and week 7, with
the option of taking it again during week 13 of
their treatment.
Clinical Depression
Theres an estimated 350 million people globally Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
suffering from depression.
SSRIs are a form of antidepressants that alter the
A study published by the British Journal of amount of serotonin in the brain to treat depression.
Psychiatry in 2012, found that after the use of
psilocybin patients subjective well-being had Treatment using SSRIs require patients to regularly
improved. This finding suggests therapeutic use take their medicine which can have side effects
of psilocybin could help reverse negative such as:
cognitive biases in those suffering from Low sex drive
depression. Dizziness
Nausea
Clinical studies have found that even after one Headaches
session patients have experienced a significant Insomnia
long-term improvement in mood after using Feeling jittery
psilocybin.
Terminal Disease Treatment
In a 2010 study ran by a group at New York University, 12 terminally ill cancer
patients were subjected to psilocybin to see if it would ease their depression and
anxiety.

Following the study patients who experienced the full effects of the drug reported a
significant improvement in their depression and anxiety six months after
consuming the psilocybin, compared to those only administered a low dose of the
drug.
Conclusion
Psilocybin containing mushrooms have great potential in the medical world,
although it is difficult to perform research on due to psilocybins highly illegal
status.

The compounds found in these mushrooms could be used in treating several

conditions, not just limited to those covered in this presentation.

While pharmaceuticals are great for treating thousands of conditions and diseases
they are not necessarily the healthiest or most efficient treatment in all
circumstances. In many situations there is a healthier and more organic treatment
option available for people suffering from many various conditions.
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