FOLLOW US

  • facebook
  • twitter
Sun

March 15, 2026

America December 18, 2020

Psilocybin or magic mushrooms seen to help treat depression, addiction [study]

America ı By Dee Dulfo

871 0 Comments

Psilocybin or magic mushrooms

With cases of depression and mental health issues accelerating during the COVID-19 pandemic, a study released by Johns Hopkins University found that psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms, could treat depression, neuropathic pain, and many illnesses with unmet medical needs.

In a study published in November, researchers found that two doses of psilocybin, combined with psychotherapy, produce “rapid and large reductions in depressive symptoms.”

While psilocybin remains among the most restricted drugs in the region, recent amendments in regulations have paved the way for more clinical research and trials of the substance.

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is part of the list of Schedule I substances by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. These substances are classified as having no medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Dr. Alan Davis of the Psychedelic Research Unit at Johns Hopkins University said this move has delayed crucial treatments.

“It’s taken decades to overcome that kind of stigma, and we still deal with it to some extent,” Davis said.

 An important use of psilocybin or magic mushrooms

Results of the recent research by Johns Hopkins University experts, however, uncovered an important use of the substance.

“One week after the treatment was completed, about 67-percent of people had a clinically significant response,” Davis said, “and 58-percent of people were in complete remission from depression.”

These results, according to the study, are four times more effective than any antidepressant drug available today.

Psilocin, which is present in most psychedelic mushrooms together with its phosphorylated counterpart psilocybin, work by activating certain neurotransmitters in the brain, such as  5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C.

Alan Kozikowski, an American medicinal chemist, and drug designer told Observer that psilocybin-like drug targeting specific receptors in just the right amount could be an “effective treatment for opiate addiction as well as eating disorders—two conditions that the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic havoc and social-distancing isolation can trigger—and treatment-resistant epilepsy.”

Just recently, the Canadian government has allowed people in the country with a terminal illness to possess and consume psilocybin or magic mushrooms and later granted 16 healthcare experts the same exemptions.

----------------------------------------

Have a story you want USA Herald to cover? Submit a tip here and if we think it's newsworthy, we'll follow up on it.

12

Previous Article

FDA advisory panel endorses Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use

Read More
180 Posts

Dee Dulfo

Dee is a journalist and a news anchor. He enjoys traveling the world with just a backpack.

Don’t Miss It
Arizona January 11, 2025
Kelly Warner Law Firm Blames USA Herald for Arizona Bar Investigation

In what appears as a desperate attempt to defend multiple allegations of fraud on the courts, the Kelly Warner Law…

By – USA Herald
Arizona January 4, 2025
Aaron Kelly Law Firm Resorts To Attacking Former Client Again On KellyWarnerLaw.com – Pattern Recognized

Attorney Aaron Kelly and his law partner Daniel Warner are currently under investigation by the Arizona Bar for legal misconduct.…

By – Jeff Watterson
Arizona December 12, 2024
Arizona Bar Opens Investigation on Attorney Aaron Kelly

USA Herald recently reported on a developing story involving Attorneys Daniel Warner and Aaron Kelly. Both Warner and Kelly have…

By – Paul O'Neal
America March 12, 2026
Old Dominion University Shooting Investigated as Terrorism After Gunman Identified

Authorities have identified the suspect in the Old Dominion University Shooting, a violent campus attack that left one person dead…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 12, 2026
Gulf Travelers’ Jet Prices Soar as War Disrupts Middle East Air Travel

As conflict intensifies across the Middle East, a sudden and dramatic shift in air travel has unfolded. The escalating war…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 12, 2026
Shooting at Michigan Synagogue Leaves Suspect Dead After Security Confrontation

A violent incident unfolded Thursday afternoon at Temple Israel, where authorities say a suspect rammed a truck into the synagogue…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 12, 2026
Stolen Military Drones And The Emerging Threat of Foreign UAV Attacks On The California Coast

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – A quiet warning issued to California law-enforcement agencies has raised a troubling…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Hollywood’s “Disclosure Day” And Washington’s Silence Raise Questions About Timing of UFO Transparency

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – A curious convergence is beginning to capture attention among observers of government transparency, national…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
The World Cup Security Reckoning: Trump Warns Iran Soccer Team About Safety As War Tensions Spill Into Global Sports

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – A short Truth-Social post from President Donald Trump on Thursday morning is now…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
The World Cup Security Reckoning: Trump Warns Iran Soccer Team About Safety As War Tensions Spill Into Global Sports

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – A short Truth-Social post from President Donald Trump on Thursday morning is now…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Scientists Identify 22 Anomalies In Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS As It Leaves The Solar System

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is now fading from view, heading back into deep space…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Iran Appears To Have Conducted Its First Major Cyberattack Against A U.S. Company, Since The War Began – New Front Opens Against American Healthcare

An alleged Iran-linked cyberattack on Stryker appears to mark a dangerous turn in the conflict, pushing digital retaliation from nuisance-level…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Hormuz Shock Hits U.S. Legal And Insurance Sectors As War Risk, Cargo Claims And Contract Fights Begin to Spread

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – The developing Strait of Hormuz crisis is no longer just an energy-market…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 12, 2026
Beyond Gas Prices The Strait of Hormuz Crisis Could Hit Fertilizer, Plastics, Aluminum And Global Supply Chains

By Samuel Lopez | USA Herald – Right now, most Americans hearing about the Strait of Hormuz are thinking about…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Fani Willis Blocked From Trump Fee Fight As Georgia Judge Lets $16.8 Million Reimbursement Battle Move Forward

INSIDE THIS REPORT A Georgia judge has ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis cannot re-enter the collapsed Trump…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Cumulus Media Files for Chapter 11 as Radio Giant Moves to Cut Massive Debt

In a dramatic turn for one of America’s largest radio broadcasters, Cumulus Media has filed for bankruptcy protection, seeking a…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 11, 2026
Gordie Howe Bridge Tolls Revealed Ahead of Spring Opening

The long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge is inching closer to welcoming travelers, and officials have finally unveiled a key piece…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 11, 2026
Nasa Satellite to Crash to Earth as Spacecraft Re-enters Atmosphere

A Nasa satellite to crash to Earth has prompted warnings from space officials, who say debris from the aging spacecraft…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Lux Aeterna $10M Seed Funding Fuels Ambitious Reusable Satellite Vision

A Colorado startup aiming to change how satellites operate — and survive — in space has secured fresh investment to…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Jupiter’s Shift Direction Lights Up the Night Sky Again

Skywatchers may notice something unusual unfolding overhead this week as Jupiter’s shift direction brings an end to months of celestial…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Google and Tesla Power Grid Initiative Targets Lower Energy Costs

Two of the world’s most influential technology companies are stepping into the energy policy arena, launching a campaign they say…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Trump’s Laser Talk Sparks New Questions About America’s Secret Arsenal

President Donald Trump has once again done what he often does best in moments of war and tension: he dropped…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 8, 2026
The Northern Lights Return

The Northern Lights have a chance to be visible from several northern U.S. states on Tuesday night, forecasters at the…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
February Unemployment Up as Job Losses Surprise Economists

February Unemployment Up as the latest labor market data revealed weaker-than-expected job growth and a slight increase in the national…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
Late-Night Attack by Venezuelan National at Florida Beach

A Late-night attack by a Venezuelan National has left a Florida community shaken after authorities say a 26-year-old man ambushed…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
Trump’s War in Iran: Congress Confronts Escalation After U.S. Strikes

Trump’s War in Iran  was triggered open conflict, casualties, and renewed constitutional debate in Washington. The crisis intensified following reports…

By – Jackie Allen
America February 28, 2026
U.S. And Israel Launch Major Strikes On Iran — What It Means For America

TEHRAN, Iran – In a dramatic escalation of global tensions, the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Fani Willis Blocked From Trump Fee Fight As Georgia Judge Lets $16.8 Million Reimbursement Battle Move Forward

INSIDE THIS REPORT A Georgia judge has ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis cannot re-enter the collapsed Trump…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
FBI Bulletin Raises Troubling Questions About California’s Readiness

[USA HERALD] – A leaked FBI bulletin has now forced an uncomfortable question into the open along California’s coast. If…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Google and Tesla Power Grid Initiative Targets Lower Energy Costs

Two of the world’s most influential technology companies are stepping into the energy policy arena, launching a campaign they say…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Medtronic to Buy Scientia Vascular in $550 Million Neurovascular Deal

In a move poised to reshape the future of stroke treatment technology, Medtronic to buy Scientia Vascular marks a major…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 11, 2026
Winklevoss Twins’ Bitcoin Transfer Sparks Market Speculation

A wave of cryptocurrency movement tied to the founders of the Gemini exchange is drawing fresh attention across the digital…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 11, 2026
Alabama Man Fatal Shooting Death Sentence Commuted by Governor

In a rare act of clemency that halted an imminent execution, the Alabama man fatal shooting death sentence tied to…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America February 21, 2026
When The Files Are Finally Unsealed The Most Mind-Bending Truth May Not Be What We Expect

[USA HERALD] – There is a widespread assumption that if governments release their most highly classified files related to unidentified…

By – Samuel Lopez
America February 17, 2026
Civil Rights Icon Rev. Jesse Jackson Dies at 84 As President Trump Issues Personal Tribute

[USA HERALD] — The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering figure of the American civil rights movement whose career spanned more than…

By – Samuel Lopez
America February 13, 2026
Clues to Savannah Guthrie Missing Mom’s Disappearance Found on Security System

The disappearance of the mother of Savannah Guthrie has taken a dramatic turn as investigators focus on digital clues tied…

By – Jackie Allen
America February 8, 2026
Mike Tyson Urges Americans to ‘Eat Real Food’ in Emotional Super Bowl Ad Highlighting Health Risks

Boxing legend Mike Tyson is using his platform ahead of Super Bowl 60 to address a personal and national health…

By – Tyler Brooks
America February 7, 2026
Deadly “Death Cap” Mushrooms in California Cause Multiple Deaths and Liver Transplants Amid Rare Super Bloom

California health officials are warning the public after four deaths and three liver transplants linked to the highly toxic death…

By – Ahmed Boughalleb
America February 7, 2026
From Migraines to Miracles: How Becca Valle Survived a Glioblastoma Diagnosis Against the Odds

Becca Valle, 41, thought her headaches were just migraines—until a sudden, unbearable pain revealed something far more serious. In September…

By – Tyler Brooks
America March 1, 2026
Cadillac Names Inaugural Formula 1 Car MAC-26 in Tribute to Mario Andretti Ahead of 2026 Australian Grand Prix Debut

Cadillac has officially revealed the name of its first Formula 1 challenger, confirming that its 2026 car will be called…

By – Ahmed Boughalleb
America February 20, 2026
Norway Tops Medal Table After Day 13 at 2026 Winter Olympics as Team USA Surges Into Second Place

With 13 days complete at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Norway sits atop the overall medal standings, collecting 34…

By – Ahmed Boughalleb
America February 18, 2026
Olympic Science Explained: How Figure Skaters Spin at Blinding Speeds Without Getting Dizzy

When Amber Glenn finishes her routine, the arena usually rises with her. The music builds, her blades carve a tight…

By – Tyler Brooks
America February 16, 2026
Olympic Villages Run Out of Condoms at 2026 Milan-Cortina Games

Condom supplies in the Olympic Villages at the 2026 Winter Games have been temporarily depleted, the Milan-Cortina organizing committee confirmed,…

By – Tyler Brooks
America February 12, 2026
Arizona Authorities Escalate Search for Savannah Guthrie’s Mom to a Criminal Investigation

In Arizona, police are intensifying their investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie’s Mom. The 84-year-old mother of…

By – Jackie Allen
America February 10, 2026

As conversations around sexuality continue to expand, so does the language we use to describe it. Sexuality terms are gaining…

By – Jackie Allen

No posts found.

No posts found.

No comments No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

Signup for the USA Herald
exclusive Newsletter