Could Psilocybin cure mental health issues?

[Lockedoorsopen]

NC

I watched a couple of really interning films this weekend. One was 'Fantastic Fungi" and another was 'Magic medicine'. Both were talking about the effects that Psilocybin can have on curing mental health.

(For anyone that does'nt know what Psilocybin is - its the active ingredient in magic mushrooms)

There was an interesting study in the U.K with macrodosing ( large quantities) and I think one is Canada has just started.

I have seen quite a few sites on macro dosing - very small doses ( not enough to get high) and people have been saying that its massively improved their lives.

Psilocybin is actually illegal in this country and thats why its been so hard to even get permission to have these trials/studies.

I am just wondering if people have heard of this or what their views on it were

Thank you

Thanks, McScreamy. That's helpful info. Just as an aside, the more I read about it all, the more outraged I feel that they're illegal. They've been a fundamental part of human development for as long as we've existed, and I feel "robbed" of potentially transformative experiences.

I haven't read the whole thread but I wanted to share that the onset of my paranoia, anxiety and horrible relationship with my parents is very intertwined with with short period of my life when I took lsd and mushrooms.
Tripping was boring, weird and unsettling and the last time it felt like it never ended.

@FranklyMyBeer

I haven't read the whole thread but I wanted to share that the onset of my paranoia, anxiety and horrible relationship with my parents is very intertwined with with short period of my life when I took lsd and mushrooms. Tripping was boring, weird and unsettling and the last time it felt like it never ended.

How old where you at that state of your life?

It's always important to be aware of side effects of anything but in this thread we are mostly talking about the effects of microdosing so the risk of psychosis or a bad trip is much much lessened as you don't ingest enough to have a psychedelic episode.

Are you doing better now? I hope so.

I’ve got a very matronly friend who has been microdosing mushrooms after twenty years on a cocktail of antidepressants and antipsychotics. She’s not worked for the whole time I’ve known her. In the last six months she’s been able to come off all her medications and is retraining.
She literally takes the tiniest amount and does jigsaws while her husband looks after her until the ‘trip’ ends. I’m fascinated with the affect on her.

@Mycatsgoldtooth

I’ve got a very matronly friend who has been microdosing mushrooms after twenty years on a cocktail of antidepressants and antipsychotics. She’s not worked for the whole time I’ve known her. In the last six months she’s been able to come off all her medications and is retraining. She literally takes the tiniest amount and does jigsaws while her husband looks after her until the ‘trip’ ends. I’m fascinated with the affect on her.

It's funny you say that. I've been bipolar my entire life. Lots of trauma etc. on and off very serious mood stabilises etc. couldn't stick with anything. Even took me 18 years chipping away at it to get a degree and a masters. I've been trying my best to be drug free the last few years but I've learnt more heavily on alcohol and smoking fags.

Since microdosing my alcohol consumption has plummeted. I've gone from 60 ish units a week to 6-12 ( some weeks nothing). I've quit smoking. My weight is stable ( but I do need to lose a few stone. But I've felt more "me" than ever before. The last time I felt this level of self comfort and acceptance I was a kid, before the abuse or any trauma. I'm just happy and at peace. And I've been applying for teacher training and been successful. I can, for the first time in ever, imagine me holding down a job and even possibly having a career.

Okay so, I feel like I've gone rogue. I decided that growing shrooms is getting ahead of myself a bit. I just want to try microdosing first. I've been furtively trying to find online shops, but it all looks a bit risky (duh!). I went down a bit of a rabbit hole, and have ended up contacting someone local on wickr. I have no clue if this is a stupid idea, and I'm likely to get scammed... Or busted!

McScreamy, that's such a heart warming story. I'm so glad it's worked well for you!

Just to add, "heartwarming" maybe sounded a bit glib. The trauma and abuse you experienced is awful. I'm glad you've found a way through it.

I've read this thread with great interest. Those of you that are knowledgeable, would using truffles for microdosing have the same effect? I know they're meant to be weaker but if you only want to microdose anyway is this a problem?
And how safe and reliable is acquiring such?

The research is interesting but I wonder if the cause of the depression might have some impact on whether these products work.
So if the depression is caused/triggered by a traumatic life event whether this would affect the outcome; alternatively if the depression is a simple imbalance and no other factors.
The data so far has been variable in the randomised controlled trials and after a period of time seems to wear off (as with antidepressants).

@Scianel

I've never used truffles myself but I don't see why they wouldn't work.

It’s all really interesting. It’s such a shame that there isn’t an easier way to do all this. How do you get the little circles where you inoculate into the jam jar lids?

Just a quick update you say that I was indeed scammed. Sigh.

To not you

I just wanted to try it out before committing to the whole growing thing.

How do you know you were scammed?

Because I sent money on PayPal (couldn't find any anyone who'd do a cash deal), and he didn't show up. I did realise it was a long shot for it to work out, but I can't think of any other option. I have no friends/contacts who can help with this sort of thing, so I had no option other than to take a punt on some random dodgy geezer. Not sure how to proceed further!

@SobranieCocktail

Just a quick update you say that I was indeed scammed. Sigh.

I'm very sorry to hear that.

Oh well. Worth a go and hope you didn’t lose too much money

Thanks for the sympathy :-). I didn't lose too much.

This is all leading me in interesting directions though. I've now joined a research project (as a researcher rather than a volunteer/interviewee), which is bringing me into contact with other mental health professionals and academics interested in this area!

Interesting!!

@SobranieCocktail

Just a quick update you say that I was indeed scammed. Sigh.

Oh no I was thinking the same, but wouldn't know where to start. I looked at the darknet once and hadn't a clue how to find something legit. I'm so tired of feeling like this, nothing seems possible anymore and I don't want the side effects of anxiety drugs.

So I shared some photos of my new jars with brown rice flour in. I innoculate them and now they are showing early signs of healthy mycelium growth. It's the white fuzzy/cotton Wool stuff.

Cool! So do you wait until it's all white and fuzzy, then transfer it into another container with space for it to fruit?

Following with interest.

I too can confirm that 100 x Liberty Caps would have you tripping hard. I used to forage, collect and dry these back in the day and also photograph other beautiful types of fungi. Occasionally I would take 5 or 6 dry ones recreationally and would enjoy a lovely, clear headed, light and warm buzz where colours and nature and friends would seem somehow more beautiful and engaging.

You cannot get the Liberty Caps where I live now though some culinary types are abundant which is great.

Although I'm doing pretty well I have found myself in a slight middle aged rut, lacking some energy and creativity so this thread has inspired me to to cultivate a few shrooms and try a few tiny doses.

The Paul Stamets books are fascinating!