A compound found in a psychedelic mushroom can induce spiritual sensations that lead to long-lasting positive effects.
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| Psychedelic mushrooms (Photo: pravda) |
The compound known as psilocybin enhances feelings of wellness and life satisfaction for up to two months after consumption, according to scientists at Johns Hopkins University in the United States.
Psilocybin is a substance that affects serotonin receptors in the brain, particularly the 5-HT2A receptor.
“Under certain conditions, with careful preparation, you can have a safe and reliable opportunity to experience a mystical feeling that may lead to positive changes in a person,” said lead researcher Roland Griffiths.
Professor Ian McGregor at the University of Sydney, Australia, stated that he was not surprised by the study confirming psilocybin’s ability to induce a spiritual state.
“Psilocybin and related hallucinogens have been used since ancient times in religious rituals, and this research merely reaffirms what people have long known.”
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| Psilocybin enhances feelings of wellness and life satisfaction (Photo: pravda) |
However, he also acknowledged that “the effects lasting for two months is indeed impressive.”
Nonetheless, the study also indicated that about one-third of the volunteers experienced feelings of anxiety and fear after taking psilocybin, and McGregor suggested that individuals with psychotic disorders or schizophrenia should avoid this substance.
In what has been described as a unique study in the scientific community, 36 volunteers were given either psilocybin or a synthetic drug. Participants were then asked to describe their experiences after taking the drug and were monitored for two months.
The results showed that 22 participants described the effects of psilocybin as meeting the criteria for a mystical spiritual experience, compared to only four participants after taking the synthetic drug.
One-third rated this experience as the top spiritual event in their lives, and two-thirds placed it in the top five. Two months later, 79% of them reported a significant increase in their overall well-being.
Professor David Nichols at Purdue University in the U.S. suggested that psilocybin might enhance neurological activity that produces spiritual experiences similar to those found in meditation, vegetarianism, or near-death moments.
M.T
