Psilocybin mushrooms may hold the power to not only treat but transform mental health care, bringing opportunities for recovery that once seemed out of reach. For people battling depression and anxiety, magic mushrooms (that contain the chemical psilocybin) could represent a new path to hope and healing.
How psilocybin mushrooms work
While traditional treatments for depression and anxiety can be effective, they often fail to fully address root causes of mental distress or provide long-term relief. Psilocybin works differently, binding to serotonin receptors like 5–HT2AR, which influences mood, cognition, and perception.1Madsen MK, Fisher PM, Burmester D, et al. Correction: Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2019 Jun;44(7):1336-1337. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-019-0360-5 This triggers a shift in brain activity, temporarily breaking down rigid, entrenched thought patterns and mental loops.2Siegel JS, Subramanian S, Perry D, et al. Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain. Nature. 2024 Aug;632(8023):131-138. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07624-5
For the thirty percent of people whose depression or anxiety does not respond to treatment, magic mushrooms could offer a new way forward.3Goodwin GM, Aaronson ST, Alvarez O, et al. Single-dose psilocybin for a treatment-resistant episode of major depression. N Engl J Med. 2022 Nov 3;387(18):1637-1648. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2206443 Psilocybin-assisted counseling could influence profound shifts in perspective, perception, and emotional regulation.4Rucker JJ, Marwood L, Ajantaival RJ, et al. The effects of psilocybin on cognitive and emotional functions in healthy participants: results from a phase 1, randomised, placebo-controlled trial involving simultaneous psilocybin administration and preparation. J Psychopharmacol. 2022 Jan;36(1):114-125. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811211064720 As brain matrix proteins temporarily dissolve and then regenerate, a “gate effect” occurs, creating an opportunity for new neural networks to form.5McCulloch DE, Madsen MK, Stenbæk DS, et al. J Psychopharmacol. 2022 Jan;36(1):74-84. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811211026454
Psilocybin’s supported uses and ongoing research
Psilocybin has shown powerful potential across multiple areas of mental and behavioral health care. It can provide relief for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder, assist in safely processing painful memories for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alleviate symptoms of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) by disrupting rigid thought patterns, and help break addiction cycles associated with smoking and alcohol dependence.6Szafoni S, Gręblowski P, Grabowska K, Więckiewicz G. Unlocking the healing power of psilocybin: an overview of the role of psilocybin therapy in major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance use disorder. Front Psychiatry. 2024 Jun 11;15:1406888. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1406888
Mushroom therapy is also being explored for new uses. Early studies suggest it may relieve chronic pain, enhance cognitive function in Alzheimer’s-related dementia,7Zheng S, Ma R, Yang Y, Li G. Psilocybin for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Front Neurosci. 2024 Jul 10;18:1420601. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1420601 support emotional regulation for borderline personality disorder,8Zeifman R, Wagner A. Exploring the case for research on incorporating psychedelics within interventions for borderline personality disorder, J Context Behav Sci. 2020;15:1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2019.11.001 and improve overall well-being and acceptance in end-of-life care.
The role of psilocybin in treating the whole person
What distinguishes psilocybin therapy from conventional treatments is its ability to treat the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Psilocybin mushrooms may offer a longer and more sustainable therapeutic response compared with a daily antidepressant and even daily use of herbal treatments and supplements, especially when combined with counseling or psychological support.
Trained behavioral health practitioners help patients navigate the experience, explore suppressed feelings, and foster personal growth. Paired with ongoing psychotherapy,9Pots W, Chakhssi F. Psilocybin-assisted compassion-focused therapy for depression. Front Psychol. 2022 Mar 25;13:812930. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.812930 people may be able to build new, healthier neural pathways that counteract those associated with depression, anxiety, and other conditions.
With the promise of more effective treatments and powerful alternatives for lasting recovery, mushroom therapy could usher in a whole new era of behavioral health care. Psilocybin’s transformative effects have the potential to help people move forward and reclaim their lives, finally breaking the cycle of debilitating anxiety and depression.
Microdosing: a less intense way to benefit
Although traditional psilocybin therapy involves full-dose psychedelic or altered-states-of-consciousness sessions, there is an alternative way to benefit. Microdosing—taking very small amounts of psilocybin—eliminates hallucinogenic effects while still providing therapeutic efficacy.10Rootman JM, Kiraga M, Kryskow P, et al. Author correction: Psilocybin microdosers demonstrate greater observed improvements in mood and mental health at one month relative to non-microdosing controls. Erratum for: Sci Rep. 2022 Jun;12(1):11091. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14512-3
Microdosing is thought to boost mood, spark creativity, and sharpen cognitive function—all without the intense, disorienting effects of a full psychedelic experience.11Prochazkova L, Lippelt DP, Colzato LS, Kuchar M, Sjoerds Z, Hommel B. Exploring the effect of microdosing psychedelics on creativity in an open-label natural setting. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2018 Dec;235(12):3401-3413. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-5049-7 However, while early retrospective surveys show promising results, more studies are needed to fully understand microdosing’s potential for long-term behavioral health improvements.
Accessing psilocybin therapy
Psilocybin therapy is becoming more widely available, but where and how people can access it still depends on local laws. One of the most reliable ways to experience psilocybin is through clinical trials for depression, PTSD, and addiction. In Oregon and parts of Canada, where psilocybin therapy is regulated, licensed centers offer guided sessions with trained professionals.
Some therapists specialize in integration therapy to help people process past psychedelic experiences. Compassionate use programs may also allow patients with serious health conditions to use psilocybin under medical supervision when other treatments haven’t worked.
Footnotes
- 1Madsen MK, Fisher PM, Burmester D, et al. Correction: Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2019 Jun;44(7):1336-1337. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-019-0360-5
- 2Siegel JS, Subramanian S, Perry D, et al. Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain. Nature. 2024 Aug;632(8023):131-138. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07624-5
- 3Goodwin GM, Aaronson ST, Alvarez O, et al. Single-dose psilocybin for a treatment-resistant episode of major depression. N Engl J Med. 2022 Nov 3;387(18):1637-1648. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2206443
- 4Rucker JJ, Marwood L, Ajantaival RJ, et al. The effects of psilocybin on cognitive and emotional functions in healthy participants: results from a phase 1, randomised, placebo-controlled trial involving simultaneous psilocybin administration and preparation. J Psychopharmacol. 2022 Jan;36(1):114-125. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811211064720
- 5McCulloch DE, Madsen MK, Stenbæk DS, et al. J Psychopharmacol. 2022 Jan;36(1):74-84. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811211026454
- 6Szafoni S, Gręblowski P, Grabowska K, Więckiewicz G. Unlocking the healing power of psilocybin: an overview of the role of psilocybin therapy in major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance use disorder. Front Psychiatry. 2024 Jun 11;15:1406888. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1406888
- 7Zheng S, Ma R, Yang Y, Li G. Psilocybin for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Front Neurosci. 2024 Jul 10;18:1420601. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1420601
- 8Zeifman R, Wagner A. Exploring the case for research on incorporating psychedelics within interventions for borderline personality disorder, J Context Behav Sci. 2020;15:1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2019.11.001
- 9Pots W, Chakhssi F. Psilocybin-assisted compassion-focused therapy for depression. Front Psychol. 2022 Mar 25;13:812930. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.812930
- 10Rootman JM, Kiraga M, Kryskow P, et al. Author correction: Psilocybin microdosers demonstrate greater observed improvements in mood and mental health at one month relative to non-microdosing controls. Erratum for: Sci Rep. 2022 Jun;12(1):11091. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14512-3
- 11Prochazkova L, Lippelt DP, Colzato LS, Kuchar M, Sjoerds Z, Hommel B. Exploring the effect of microdosing psychedelics on creativity in an open-label natural setting. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2018 Dec;235(12):3401-3413. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-5049-7
