The world is living through a psychedelic renaissance. Psychedelic substances, among them psilocybin mushrooms, were categorized in many countries as dangerous and illegal as part of the war on drugs of the last few decades; today, however, they are the object of great scientific curiosity and the object of abundant research. The results are so promising that the Food and Drug Administration in the United States (FDA) has declared MDMA to be a breakthrough therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
From the perspective of people suffering from dystonia or other neurological disorders, some of the most exciting aspects of psychedelic research relate to the ability of psychedelic substances to increase neuroplasticity, thereby allowing people to escape deeply entrenched dysfunctional patterns and create new, functional ones. This study from 2018 details the remarkable ability of psychedelics allow neurons to sprout out new connections and create new functional patterns.
Hyperconnected: your brain on psilocybin mushrooms. Credit: Petri et al./Proceedings of the Royal Society Interface.
Research on dystonia specifically is still lacking (researchers out there, please give Hope for Dystonia a shout!), but the direction is very promising. I have, myself, greatly benefitted from psilocybin mushrooms' ability to help the brain learn new patterns.
In the MAPS method, we use a variety of tools to induce neuroplasticity and help the brain learn. Psilocybin mushrooms are unfortunately not yet legal in much of the world today. As research advances, the hope is that legal frameworks in North America and Europe will catch up and allow legal access to these substances to the millions who could benefit from them.
Already now, a few countries do allow the use of psilocybin mushrooms, and retreat centers exist where experienced guides administer them in a safe and controlled manner. Would you be interested in a psilocybin retreat specifically designed for dystonia recovery? Let me know at hello@hopefordystonia.com.
Federico has taken the North Star Ethics Pledge. Learn more here.
Nothing in this post should be construed as an invitation to engage in illegal behavior. Check the laws in your jurisdiction if you are interested in learning more.
