In a context where mental health issues are increasingly worrying, scientific and medical research is trying to identify innovative solutions to improve the psychological well-being of patients.
It is with this in mind that mushrooms, and in particular their active ingredient, psilocybin, are today at the heart of promising studies and research.
French Mush gives you an update through this article.
Psilocybin as a Potential Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa
According to a recent study, it appears that psilocybin is highly effective in treating certain eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa.
Combined with psychological support, it allowed around 40% of the participants in this study to significantly improve their condition and reduce their anxiety linked to their weight, their figure and their diet.
Hope for an innovative treatment
Dr Trevor Steward (doctoral student), a senior researcher at the University of Melbourne, confirmed that the study demonstrated good tolerance to psilocybin in anorexic patients.
He also clarified that it gives hope for other mental illnesses.
These results are particularly encouraging for health professionals, since they offer a new perspective for the management of anorexia nervosa – an illness with serious consequences involving often hospitalization and long-term follow-up for the patients concerned.
The possibility of combining therapy combining psilocybin with psychological support could represent a real breakthrough for their well-being.
Other relevant mental illnesses and disorders
Beyond anorexia nervosa, psilocybin is also attracting great interest for treating other problems related to mental health.
Among these pathologies, we can cite:
- Depression: several studies have shown positive results on the effectiveness of psilocybin for the treatment of depression, particularly when it is resistant to traditional treatments .
- Anxiety: the anxiolytic effects of psilocybin have been demonstrated in studies carried out on patients suffering from anxiety disorders, with a significant improvement in their symptoms.
- Addictions: Some research suggests that psilocybin could be useful in helping addicted people to free themselves from their addiction, whether to tobacco, alcohol or other substances.
Controversial therapeutic potential
It should be noted, however, that the use of mushrooms for medical purposes is not without controversy.
Indeed, their pharmaceutical quality must be rigorously controlled.
Furthermore, certain substances are still considered illegal in many countries today, which complicates the conduct of clinical studies and slows down the development of this therapeutic avenue.
Perspectives and challenges to overcome
Despite the controversies surrounding its use, psilocybin constitutes a promising line of research to improve the management of mental disorders.
To realize this potential, several challenges will need to be addressed:
- Conducting clinical studies: in order to confirm its effectiveness and safety, it is crucial that psilocybin is the subject of in-depth studies with a large panel of patients.
- The adoption of appropriate legislation: to allow the development of medical treatments based on hallucinogenic mushrooms, adequate regulation must be put in place by the competent authorities .
- An ethical approach: researchers and health professionals must ensure that they use psilocybin in a benevolent approach that respects the rights of patients.
In short
If certain obstacles remain to be overcome, current perspectives show that it is more necessary than ever to seriously consider mushrooms as a new avenue of improved brain health.
As scientific research progresses, we can hope that these substances will reveal even more therapeutic benefits to address the major mental health issues facing our societies.
Discover the benefits of our mushrooms at French Mush now.
Sources :
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02455-9
Psilocybin, a promising treatment to combat anorexia nervosa
Megan Brooks
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