Magic mushrooms can reduce depression

A new study suggests that a single 25mg dose of synthetic psilocybin—the mind-altering chemical compound found in psychedelic mushrooms—“reduced depression scores significantly” over a period of three weeks.

The study involved 233 participants, suffering from hard-to-treat depression, administered 1mg, 10mg, and 25mg of synthetic psilocybin. People in the 25mg group benefited the most. But adverse side effects like suicidal behavior and self-harm, and mild side effects like headache, nausea, and dizziness occurred in 179 of 233 participants.

Despite this caveat, the study may help treat about 3 million people in the US suffering from treatment-resistant depression.

About 9 million people in the country are taking depression medication.

The final stage of the study is due to start in December 2022. Researchers say it could take three years before FDA approval.