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Mushrooms May Light Way to Depression Treatment

Psilocybin dampens areas of brain linked to depression, studies suggest

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 24, 2012 2:34 AM CST | Updated Jan 28, 2012 7:00 PM CST

(Newser) – Far out. Hallucinogenic mushrooms' effect on the human brain may provide valuable clues for scientists seeking treatments for depression. Two studies into the effects of psilocybin, the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms," reveal that it suppresses activity in the same areas of the brain dampened by anti-depressant treatments, reports Reuters. "Psychedelics are thought of as 'mind-expanding' drugs so it has commonly been assumed that they work by increasing brain activity," said a researcher at Imperial College London, who discussed the studies. But they actually decrease activity in certain areas, including the medial prefrontal cortex, which is known to be hyperactive in depression.

"We're not saying go out there and eat magic mushrooms," said the researcher. "But this drug has such a fundamental impact on the brain that it's got to be meaningful, it's got to be telling us something about how the brain works. So we should be studying it and optimizing it if there's a therapeutic benefit."

Psilocybin in the psychedelic element in mushrooms.
Psilocybin in the psychedelic element in mushrooms.   (Flickr)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 27 comments
offtohawaii
Jan 31, 2012 2:55 PM CST
     I have depression. Really, really bad depression. It stems from both environmental factors as well as genetic ones. However, the 'environmental factors' weigh most heavily in what's causing me to feel so blue. It's a combination of unfortunate circumstances, crushed hopes and dreams, etc etc etc. As of right now, I'm working part time at a minimum wage-paying job (which is depressing enough in itself). The rest of my time is spent staring into a TV for many hours at a time, night after night, week after week, until my brain feels even more numb than it's already feeling. That's always followed by sleep...usually from 5-6 AM until 1-4 PM, so about 7 to 11 hours. Then, it's off to work for 4 to 6 hours, then home, then repeat. It's all I'm able to do at the moment. I honest-to-God haven't the energy to do anything else.       My body is overcome by incredible weakness, from my head all the way down to my toes. It's a profound, heavy feeling, mostly in my legs. Gravity feels stronger (you feel much heavier, like weights are tied 'round your legs). My memory/thought processes are considerably slowed down. I'm always tired...well, 90% of the time at least. My appetite is completely gone, which causes many problems like irregularity to extreme constipation. I have no motivation to do anything; even the simplest task like sorting some laundry and doing a wash of clothes feels like an all-day hike going uphill. I'm totally anti-social...like I don't feel like hanging out with anyone. And the number one most noticable (and negative) effects of this depression is that your perceptions are clouded and you're numb to everything in the world. You're basically robbed of your emotions. For example, my favorite tunes seem flat and lack dimensions...it just doesn't sound as good.  This is just the tip of the iceburg...there's so much more shit I could list for you. Oh, my God there's SO much more.      Some of you may think I'm throwing myself a pity-party. Well, you're entitled to your opinions. But I promise you if you were in the same position as me you'd have your lips wrapped around a revolver. The only reason I don't kill myself is because it would destroy my whole family, especially my mother. She would never be the same. I'm not that f*cking selfish. Suicide is final...there's no undoing it. Besides, I believe that my life may have meaning someday; that it will be worth living. But right now, everything seems meaningless. I am a failure as a human being and I have amounted to very little. I am nothing. What's the difference between me and a rich executive with a fabulous social life, a beautiful wife, kids, and a lot of happiness in his life? Answer: nothing! He may have a much greater quality of life than me, but in the end, we will both go to sleep in the ground and never wake up. It will have been as if we never existed; our existence and the things we did while we were here are so small and inconsequential in comparison to the universe and the grand scheme of things. It will not have mattered much. Our life is just a breath...and then it's gone. If Earth vanished tomorrow...what would happen? Nothing much. The universe would keep on going and it would be as if nothing happened. We are all the same. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. 
BCS
Jan 28, 2012 11:31 PM CST
Ibogaine needs to be talked about too. Big Pharma and their army of corporate lobbyist will never let that one become legal. They would not want us to cure addiction in this country.
BCS
Jan 28, 2012 11:05 PM CST
Finally something in the mainstream about this wonderful mushroom. It makes me sad when people treat it like a party drug. It has so much to offer, when taken by itself in the proper dose and in the right environment. Use extreme caution if you pick them. Look alike mushrooms can be very very poisonous. Buy the spores from a spore bank and grow them yourself if you can. Other wise use only a trusted source that grows them from this method They are harmless, and impossible to become addicted too. This is due to the fact that you grow a temporary but almost instant resistance to them, and also because they are just not addictive. You have to wait two weeks before you can get the effects again. Don't take mushrooms if you are drinking or on other drugs or in a fragile mental state or around negative people, this can lead to a bad trip. Your body's way of telling you you're a giant asshole for putting yourself in a bad situation.

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