Professor Jeniffer Strong
English 1120, Section D24
7 August 2021
00:04
Mushrooms have many benefits for human
consumption. With multiple studies going,
psilocybin is being proven to have benefits
for people that suffer from M.D.D., P.T.S.D.
anxiety disorders, alcohol dependence, and
tobacco dependency.
00:20
Psilocybin is the psychoactive ingredient (molecule) that is produced
in "magic mushrooms."
00:27
Psilocybin reduces negative moods, increases more upbeat moods,
and reduces the response of negative emotions within the amygdala.
00:37
Clinical trials are being done as psilocybin-assisted therapy.
Meaning, a clinician administers the psilocybin to the patient
within the clinician office or room designated for these experiences.
00:50
A study reviewed by J.A.M.A. Psychiatry reported out of the 24
people with M.D.D., 67% showed a more than 50% reduction in
depression symptoms at the one-week follow up, and 71% at
the four-week follow up. Four weeks post-treatment, 54% of
participants were considered in remission.
01:11
When taking psilocybin, it has been shown to shut down the D.M.N.
(default mode network), and "reset" it into a more beneficial configuration
by neuroplasticity.
01:22
Neuroplasticity is the ability to form and reorganize connections within
the brain. The neurons in the brain start firing in a different way to help
with one's perspective on life and the surrounding of life.
01:35
Ego dissolution, a.k.a. Ego Death, occurs within these expereinces.
An ego dissolution is when one understands its existence. The ego
subsides to the point that the individual feels one with everything-a unity
and bond between the self and everything in the world.
01:54
The C.S.A. (controlled substances act) scheduled cannibus, mushrooms,
and L.S.D. as schedule 1 drugs. In 1997, the first psilocybin study was
conducted since the '60s when Nixon declared the war on drugs.
02:08
Can a person overdose? Is there a potential for a bad trip? A person
would have to ingest three pounds of dried mushrooms before it would
become toxic in the body. Bad trips commonly happen due to the set and
setting. That is way assisted therapy is so vital. If a person was in an
unfamiliar environment with people that are not trusted, that person has
a high potential to have a "bad trip."
02:33
The F.D.A. has already approved ketamine, and is on the verge of
approving M.D.M.A. for the therapeutic use for P.T.S.D. treatment.
Psilocybin is looking to be approved for therapeutic use as well.
02:45
Its time to unlock the door for healthier and more effective treatments
for mental health issues. Psilocybin just might be that key.
02:52
Works Cited
Barret, Fredrick S. “Emotions and Brain Function are Altered Up to One Month After a Single High Dose of Psilocybin.”
Scientific Reports, 10, Article 2214, 10 February 2020, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-59282-y. Accessed 10 July 2021.
Brodwin, Erin. “7 Myths About Psychedelic Drugs Like L.S.D. That Are Doing More Harm Than Good.” Business Insider, 9 March 2017,
https://www.businessinsider.com/psychedelics-myths-misconceptions-mushrooms-lsd-2017-2. Accessed 5 July 2021.
Carhart-Harris, Robin L. et al. “Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistent Depression: fMRI-measured Brain Mechanisms.” Scientific Reports, 13 October 2017,
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5640601/. Accessed 10 July 2021.
Curran, Valeria H., et al. “Psychedelics and related drugs: therapeutic possibilities, mechanism and regulation.” Psychopharmacology, Vol. 235, Issue 2.
February 2018, http://dx.doi.org.libproxy.cnm.edu:8080/10.1007/s00213-017-4822-3. Accessed 5 July 2021.
Daniel, Jeremy and Haberman, Margaret. “Clinical Potential of Psilocybin as a Treatment for Mental Health Conditions.” The Mental Health Clinician,
23 March 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6007659/. Accessed 5 July 2021.
Davis, Alan K., et al. “Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder.” J.A.M.A. Psychiatry, 4 November 2020,
https://www.jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2772630. Accessed 5 July 2021.
Flynn, Dan. “As the 4-20 Holiday Nears, Denver Does What it Does to Remain Highest in the Land.” Food Safety News, 14 April 2021,
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2021/04/as-the-4-20-holiday-nears-denver-does-what-it-does-to-remain-highest-in-the-land/. Accessed 7 July 2021.
Jann, Michael W. “Psilocybin Revisted: The Science Behind the Drug and Its Surprising Therapeutic Potential.” Psychiatric Times, Vol. 38, Issue 3,
Volume 03. 9 March 2021, https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/psilocybin-revisited-science-behind-drug-surprising-therapeutic-potential.
Accessed 7 July 2021.
Jenkins, Bre. “The History of Magic Mushrooms.” Field Trip Health, 24 July 2020,
https://www.fieldtriphealth.com/blog/the-history-of-magic-mushrooms. Accessed 5 July 2021.
Kabil, Ahmed, “The History of Psychedelics and Psychotherapy.” Timeline, 13 January 2016,
Https://timeline.com/the-history-of-psychedelics-and-psychotherapy-fe70f72557aa. Accessed 7 July 2021.
Park, Yong-Sung, et al. “Identification of the Antidepressant Function of the Edible Mushrrom Pleurotus eryngii.” M.D.P.I. Journal of Fungi, 8 March 2021,
Https://mdpi.com/2309-608x/7/3/190htm. Accessed 5 July 2021.
Passie, Torsten et al. “The Pharmacology of Psilocybin.” Addiction Biology, 30 May 2002, https://maps.org/research-archive/w3pb/2002/2002_Passie
_22704_1.pdf. Accessed 7 July 2021.
02:56
Pollan, Michael, “How to Change Your Mind.” Penguin Press, 2018,
Page 218.
Raspolich, Joseph. “Can you Overdose on Mushrooms?” Arete Recovery, 2021, https://areterecovery.com/psilocybin/overdose/.
Accessed 10 July 2021.
Roseman, Leor et al. “Incresed Amygdala Responses to Emotional Faces After Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression.” Neuropharmacology, Vol. 142,
Pages 263-269, November 2018, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028390817306391. Accessed 10 July 2021.
“War on Drugs.” History.com, 17 December 2019, https://www.history.com/topics/crime/the-war-on-drugs.
Accessed 7 July 2021.
Wright, Anthony. “Chapter 6: Limbic System: Amygdala.” Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, 10 October 2020,
https://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/m/s4/chapter06.html. Accessed 10 July 2021.
