Psychedelic Mushrooms for PTSD Veterans

Psychedelic Mushrooms for PTSD Veterans

Psychedelics comprises plant medicines like Ayahuasca (a tea containing DMT-N, N-dimethyltryptamine, and a monoamine oxidase inhibitor), psilocybin which is the active ingredient of magic mushrooms, and other laboratory products like MDMA and lysergic acid diethylamide. These medicines have proven to be effective in treating conditions like anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depressions, tobacco and alcohol dependence, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Military experience is characterized by a wide range of brutal, tragic, and intense events that usually takes place at a hyper-speed. In most cases, the mind has to recalibrate itself to adapt to these operations. It’s often overwhelming and challenging for military personnel to return to normal life. Even though they are physically at home, their mind and spirit remain on the battleground. Administering psychedelics in a guided and safe setting to these veterans can help recalibrate their minds to the ordinary world.
The mechanism of action of these psychedelic substances is not fully understood in the medical community, However, research justifies its potential to recalibrate the mind. Western medicine is catching up to what the indigenous community has know for thousands of years.
The effect of traumatic experiences on the body is that it causes the brain to get used to negative and repetitive thought patterns, but psychedelics can break these patterns.
Veterans who have used psychedelic in safe settings reported the following:

• The ability to live a healthy and normal life
• Reduction in PTSD symptoms
• Improvement in emotional, physical, and mental well-being
• Drastic reduction in suicidal thoughts
• Reduction in the use of alcohol, medicals, and other similar substances

People’s experience with psychedelics is usually different and sometimes hard to describe. Veterans who had used psychedelics before described the experience with the following characteristics:

• A strong sense of peace about their existence
• A profound and life-changing experience
• A sense of wisdom downloaded into their mind
• Ability to view experiences with forgiveness and compassion

As mentioned above, there are quite a number of psychedelics that veterans use in managing PTSD, and a promising one today is psilocybin in magic mushrooms. Studies show that over 20 veterans commit suicide daily due to PTSD, which is due to different traumatic situations they have experienced in the past.

Psychedelic Mushrooms as a Solutions

Studies have shown that psychedelic mushrooms are a promising treatment option for PTSD. Even though these mushrooms are widely used as recreational drugs, research has shown that they can restructure the brain and offer a significant healing impact to PTSD veterans.
Bain Growth from Mushrooms
The research results from the University of South Florida showed that psilocybin could stimulate the growth of cells in the hippocampus. This is the center for memory and emotion in the brain. In mice, after replacing and rejuvenating these cells, it became easier for them to easily and quickly overcome fear, unlike mice that had not received psilocybin. This showed the efficacy of psilocybin in treating mental conditions like OCD, PTSD, and even addition by restructuring areas of the brain that mediate brain, painful memories, and addition.

Types of Psychedelic Mushrooms

1. Psilocybe semilanceata
This is also called liberty cap, and it is a widely spread fungi predominantly in temperate areas of Europe. The fungus produces baeocystin and psilocybin, both of which are the psychoactive compounds responsible for its effect.
2. Psilocybe cubensis
This mushroom contains 0.60% psilocin, 025% baeocystin, and 0.63% psilocybin, making it more potent. The mushroom helps to boost mood one hour after ingestion, especially when taken in low doses.
3. Psilocybe baeocystis
It contains 0.59% psilocin, 0.10% baeocystin, and 0.85% psilocybin in addition to other alkaloids. This mushroom also has hallucinogenic properties when taken in low doses.
4. Panaeolus cyanescnes
The mushroom is also called Copelandia cyanescnes, and it contains 0.48% psilocin, 0.02% baeocystin, and 0.11% psilocybin. It is also a potent mushroom and can induce auditory and visual hallucinations. Also, the effect of the mushroom is long-lasting.
5. Psilocybe pelliculosa
This is a lot similar to liberty caps, but it produces milder effects. It also contains little proportions of psilocin, psilocybin, and baeocystin, and it’s a potent mushroom for boosting creativity, productivity, and mood.
6. Psilocybe tampanensis
The mushroom is also known as the philosopher’s stone, and it contains 0.32% psilocin and 0.68% psilocybin. It has euphoric effects and is capable of boosting creativity.
So many studies have been carried out to prove the efficacy of psilocybin for PTSD veterans, and more studies are being carried out to show that it is also a successful treatment for other neurological disorders.