Psilocybin

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In Latin America, psychoactive mushrooms have been used as medicine for the soul for thousands of years. The first records and artefacts date back to 1000-500 BC. Between 1955-1985 the Mexican Curandera María Sabina from Oaxaca passed on her indigenous knowledge to western scientists. As a result, psychedelic substances gained popularity in the West in the 1960s, and extensive studies explored their effects on expanding the mind and curing chronic ailments. These studies came to an abrupt halt when LSD was banned in the USA in 1966 and classified as a non-marketable substance in Germany in 1971. This classification can be seen as questionable considering the low addictive potential of psychedelics, especially when one keeps in mind the free availability of addictive substances such as sugar, coffee or alcohol.

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The research of psychedelic-assisted therapies has experienced a renaissance since around 1990. It seems particularly promising for chronic diseases like depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD or addiction, for which western medicine has often only provided unsatisfactory treatment methods. Maastricht University, for example, conducts extensive studies into the effects of psychedelics, and a study by the Imperial College London in 2021 indicates that high doses of psilocybin, administered under therapeutic supervision, are at least as effective as long-term use of recognized psychotropic drugs such as lithium supplements. In contrast to psilocybin, however, psychotropic drugs can cause serious side effects such as weight gain, stomach and intestinal problems, sleep disorders, cardiac arrhythmia or loss of libido. You can learn more about this study in the documentary "Psilocybin Medical Trial: The Healing Mushrooms (Medical Documentary) | Real Stories". At the time this website was published, the documentary was freely available on Youtube. 

Microdosing involves taking a small amount of a psychedelic substance, such as psilocybin, over an extended period of time. A microdose is very small and does not cause hallucinations. Microdosing can improve mood and focus, increase creativity and improve mental health.