What’s the Deal With Functional Mushrooms, and How Do They Work for Anxiety Relief? Here’s What the Research Say

magic mushroom for anxiety. Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States, so if you’re dealing with it, know that you’re not alone. While if you’re experiencing high levels of anxiety you should always seek out the support of a mental health expert, a growing body of research suggests that functional mushrooms can be complementary to other forms of treatment for anxiety.

Specifically, varieties like reishi and lion’s mane are proving their ability to foster mindset shifts that spark clarity and decision-making during worry-filled moments. magic mushroom for anxiety

According to Daniel Sanders, Chief Scientific Officer at Gwella, mushrooms considered functional or medicinal have an above-average impact on the human body. 

“Mushrooms, like nutrient-rich diets, work to support the underlying functions of the body that support us in our health and wellbeing. They address underlying issues of structural damage, imbalances, stressors and malfunctions,” he explains. 

Functional mushrooms don’t eliminate instances of anxiety outright, rather, they help us better adapt to stressful environments (hence why they’re referred to as adaptogens). For example, recent research suggests that reishi mushroom has anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects because it can reduce over-activation of the central nervous system (CNS). 

Since our CNS gets flooded with adrenaline and cortisol during anxious moments—resulting in physical symptoms like shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat—reishi’s de-escalating properties may be able to reintroduce a state of calm.

Lion’s mane is another variety that may bolster brain function, according to research. “The compounds and actions of this mushroom actually incite the production of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which is involved in the growth, as well as maintenance, proliferation, and survival of nerve cells (neurons),” Sanders adds.

The growth and maintenance of brain cells in our emotional regulation centers can support our stress response by making it easier to separate worries from reality, so we can make choices from a more grounded place. The case for taking functional mushrooms consistently is that they bolster our stress response cumulatively, making us more resilient against life’s challenges.

What about psychedelic mushrooms?

We’re mostly talking about functional mushrooms here. But the scientific community is actively studying the effect of psilocybin— the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms—on anxiety and related mental health challenges, too.  magic mushroom for anxiety

At Johns Hopkins, for example, researchers have already found that psilocybin therapy can reduce existential anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer, and that along with psychotherapy, just two doses of psilocybin can reduce the symptoms of depression (which often manifests in tandem with anxiety). magic mushroom for anxiety.

Another study led by the Pacific Neuroscience Institute explores how controlled psilocybin-assisted therapy can support healing from alcohol use disorder, a mental health condition strongly linked to anxiety and depression. Housed at St. John’s Health Center, participants in thisstudy view a video by filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg, whose 2019 Netflix film, Fantastic Fungi, employs high-end time-lapse cinematography to show how the interconnected, regenerative power of mushrooms can support human transformation. 

Take mycelium, for instance. This multicellular network connects mushrooms to one another (often underground), but also supports the decomposition of plant material in the environment while making soil more nutrient-rich for other organisms. The function of mycelium makes it vital to nature’s cycles, yet early research shows it can also have powerful anti-anxiety effects in humans. magic mushroom for anxiety