A General Introduction

Welcome to an examination of the medical benefits of psilocybin physically, cognitively, and in outlook. Hopefully you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed putting this together, and stay tuned for two weeks time for another report!

A great book to start your journey with -

Psilocybin and Mushrooms

The examination of psilocybin -active as psilocin- and its' effects on the human brain, has been largely researched in recent times due to the increasingly large percentage of general western culture population groups becoming more open about usage for personal medical benefit.

When exploring mushrooms and their benefits, it is also important to keep in mind the strain being investigated, such as the regular P. Cub strain of psilocybin, but also the Azurescens, Cyanescens, and additional species and their effects.

Similar to affecting our cognition however, there are also other medical benefits of psilocybin that we will examine first;

Gastro-Intestinal and General Health Benefits of Psilocybin

In small amounts, sometimes taken daily by individuals, psilocybin has proven effective in treating a wide array of mental health conditions and physical health ailments, as well as increasing cognitive and physical function.

This process is called "Microdosing" and includes taking doses ranging from 0.05g-0.65g (heavy micro dose) daily to benefit the individual's cognitive ability as well as physical health, positively.

The digestion of psilocybin affects the brain's 5-HT2A receptor, suggesting a route of travel between the "kynurenine pathway" from the brain to the gut. Thus, enabling tryptophan metabolism, where the resultant tryptophan is converted to serotonin and eventually into kynurenic acid and quinolinic acid, which does not follow this pathway back but instead ultimately reduces biological stress on the gut and encourages the development of healthy gut flora through development of biologically healthy gut microbiome.

Examined in; "K.P.C. Kuyper's Science Direct Medical Hypotheses, 'Psychedelic medicine: The biology underlying the persisting psychedelic effects'", found here https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987718313252 ; other positive outcomes can be extrapolated from and ultimately examined.

Auto-Immune (Autonomous) Parasympathetic & Sympathetic System, Neuroendocrine & Neuro-Immune System, and Enteric Nervous System - Benefits of Psilocybin

Similar to the above mechanisms of action, this same receptor has not affirmatively been confirmed to reduce inflammation or body pain, but there is growing evidence that the usage of such can help in the management, or "numbing" of pain related, similar to how ones Cancer Diagnosis and Outlook can be positively affected, sometimes recovering the body in ways not yet known, and in ways we are still learning.

It has been shown, however, that usage of Psilocybin to treat Neuro-Degenerative and Joint-Pain disorders can however sometimes have a positive medical benefit in reducing the inflammation of the physical body.

Cognitive Disorders

Through specific activation of 5-HT2A, as explained previously, cognitively the human brain benefits from utilization of these receptors, ultimately releasing serotonin.

In high doses, the release of dopamine occurs, and this can alter, stop, or inhibit the rapid-firing of specific neurons responsible for some conditions, like:

Cluster and Suicide Headaches, and
Epilepsy

The dosage of psilocin/psilocybin plays a large role in allowing Neuroplasticity of the brain (reconnection of neurons) and ultimately, Neuro-Genesis of brain cells - sometimes the recovering of memories past. This plays a key role in sometimes slowing down memory-related issues through life -if microdosed- and in slowing down the conditional response of:

Alzheimer's and Dementia (Neuro-Genesis and Neuroplasticity)

Mental Health Disorders

Moving forward, psilocybin and magic mushrooms showcase a plethora of additional health benefits when examined further.

Due to the tryptophan-serotonin releasing effects of the 5-H2TA receptor, sensory feelings, visual and perceptual changes, etc., that is due to the digestion of psilocin by a specific liver enzyme after consuming some form of psilocybin, the psychedelic and psychoactive effects induced sometimes allow people suffering from certain conditions, ailments, or disorders of past to come to personal realizations and overcome these fears, compulsivities, or habits, helping with mental disorders such as:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and
Addictions Disorder (Alcoholism, Smoking, etc)
Sleep Disorder (through induction of lucid dreamt sleep)

Other disorders are positively affected upon digestion of psilocybin, dependant on dose, in that co-aligning with the release of tryptophan-serotonin; energy is increased, mood enhanced and stabilized, sociability desired, and pesimism decreased coinciding with an increase in overall pleasure.

Generalized Anxiety, Social, and Panic Disorder's
Bipolar (1 and 2) Disorder
Borderline and General Personality Disorder

This is due to a lessened amygdala reactivity to stimuli, showcasing as well that the release of this serotonin can affect and ultimately boost mood processes and general enjoyment of life for individuals living with these conditions, in small doses.

Clinical Depression

Condition(al)s & Additional(s)

Lastly, no examination of psilocybin is complete without discussing conditions not medically diagnosed but that of which the general community believe to be of importance in examination. Of such, own belief in the psychological management of ones own body itself after use of psilocybin -majorly seen in cancer patients fighting for desire to live all around the world-, is sometimes able to push your body to help itself, or for you to push forward and feel the motivation to not give up.

Providing introspection into ones life and discovering mystical self-realization through ones own journey into the psychoactivity of psilocybin can do just this and ultimately help an individual discover who they really are; whether that be through recovery of ones own Ego, or the feeling of being lost in own body and world separate from everyone else; psilocybin has been proven in single high doses to, in certain cases, restore this ego and personality affectance in some people, spark further self-realization of desires, and motivate one to push themselves to new heights after acceptance of self.

Ego Dissolution
Personality Dissociation
Creative Disarray

In "Barbara E. Bauer's article 'Positive Effects of Single Dose Psilocybin Last Nearly Five Years"' found here, https://psychedelicreview.com/positive-effects-of-single-dose-psilocybin-last-nearly-5-years-in-people-with-life-threatening-cancer/

it is interesting to examine how these individual patients suffering from depression were able to take away a positive outcome from one dose, a dose that has affected their life for nearly five years and pushed them to move forward.

A great example of psilocybin deployment for mental health individuals suffering from long or short-term clinical depression.

General Heightening and Onward

A new term for a mode of operation in the human brain, DMN, or Default Mode Network showcases a decrease in the Decision Model Notation part of the human brain when psilocybin is consumed. This ultimately leaves the user with a lessened sense or memory of time, increased euphoria to surrounding, and is often considered to be the mystical experience of psilocybin.

This can lead some users to spiritual guidance, but also to fear. Fear, however, is only truth in disguise.

In Closing

A heightened consciousness and altered perception can lead the user down a path of ultimate enlightenment. But with psilocybin it is always important to remember!

Dose accordingly, dose safely, and dose at the right time in the right place, for the right reason! Psilocybin can cure the mind of many ailments and benefit your life in a plethora of ways, but respect the mushrooms and they will respect you.

Stay safe and enjoy everyone!