Alcohol abuse is a dangerous addiction, which can cause irreparable loss to the liver and brain. An activity done for fun slowly turns into a bad habit and then it becomes a compulsion. Then comes a stage where you want to quit alcohol. But you can’t and the effects start showing in your body. Your liver starts deteriorating and your brain also stops developing, putting you in a difficult situation in life. Though there are modern ways to fix these medical complications, such methods are neither foolproof nor cheap. For all those who want to get out of the “alcohol abuse,” tag quit alcohol but can’t, CBD and psilocybin may offer solutions.
Cannabidiol or CBD is to “facilitate drinking reduction” and also provide protection to liver and brain damage. Though these observations are preliminary and call for bigger human trials to establish authenticity. But CBD may have a solution to alcohol use disorders or also known as AUD. Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic substance that comes from certain types of mushrooms, which is typically grown in certain parts of the US, Mexico, South America, and Europe. Mushrooms containing psilocybin or “magic mushrooms” possess certain qualities that may reduce alcohol dependence, and treat depression and anxiety. But how effective cannabidiol and psilocybin are when it comes to alcohol addiction? In this article, we shall discuss their properties and usage in detail.
Let’s dive in!
What Are Magic Mushrooms?
Magic mushrooms are mushrooms containing psilocybin. Though the US federal government has placed psilocybin under the schedule-1 category (controlled substances). It means it has a high potential for abuse, this chemical compound has several medical properties as a recreational drug. Medical science says psilocybin does not cause addiction, what it does cause is euphoria and sensory distortion. However, some users may also experience anxiety and panic reactions. It is effective against alcohol addiction. As its popularity grows and more people try it out, psilocybin is finding its place in key areas of psychiatry, medicine, and pre-clinical research. Many research institutes in the US these days are studying more on its impacts. For instance, reducing stress, addiction, and mental health issues.
Psilocybin triggers a strong response in serotonin receptors in the prefrontal cortex areas of the brain. It also causes hallucination a few minutes after consumption, which brings in changes in sensory perception and thought patterns. The most common way to consume psilocybin is in the form of brewed tea or prepare it with food items. Experts and manufacturers also dry them before crushing them into powder, which can be taken in capsule form. Some people also like to experiment by adding chocolates in powder, making it a more delectable experience.
What Exactly Are Cannabinoids?
It not only amazes people when they experience complete recovery from pain using CBD but has also become its most vocal proponents. It is a natural, non-psychoactive compound that’s extracted from seeds and stalks of hemp plants, a member of the cannabis family. CBD possesses properties that allow it to interact with the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) present in our body. The ECS is a complex signaling network that works as a regulator in the body to manage several functions like hunger, relaxation, sleep, metabolism, mood, and appetite.
By combining with the Endocannabinoid system, CBD works as a booster dose for the body. It keeps our body system in balance. Those experiencing stress in life or facing chronic pain issues or seizure problems have immensely benefited from the use of CBD products. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), CBD does not appreciably bind to the CB1 receptor, which mediates the behavioral activity of THC or causes ‘high’. CBD is being actively explored for a range of indications consistent with its potential neuroprotective, antiepileptic, anxiolytic, antipsychotic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, and antitumor properties.
CBD and Alcohol Abuse
Researchers in France and Belgium reviewed as many as 26 studies that were conducted between 1974 and 2018. Primarily, these studies were on a small-scale and focussed on animal subjects due to various restrictions around cannabis. Researchers found that CBD is known to reduce dependency on alcohol. They concluded that regular use of CBD under expert guidance could make people less motivated towards drinking alcohol. It was also found that consuming CBD may also result in less likely to relapse.
This behavior was shown in mice studies, and they continued to wean off from using alcohol even as they were stressed. The studies also point towards the fact that CBD could have an impact on alcohol-related liver inflammation. It gives added protection to specific brain areas that are prone to damage due to years of alcohol abuse. Those consuming CBD are found to be shedding fewer brain cells than others. The studies, however, conclude that though CBD has many potential benefits against addiction and brain damage due to alcohol abuse, it needs to be studied more, and only large-scale research could establish the authenticity of these claims.
Psilocybin and Alcohol Abuse
As per the US National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 8.5 percent of people reported using psilocybin between 2009 and 2015. It’s widely used in parties and clubs to get a hallucinogenic experience. Euphoria, spiritual emotions, out-of-the-world feeling, distortion in thinking, and even sight are some of the common effects of psilocybin. However, it also possesses many medical properties and can potentially treat mental health issues such as depression, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, data on its efficacy is preliminary and more research is required to accept its therapeutic effects fully.
Psilocybin also does not cause addiction. But its overuse can trigger addictive behavior. It has also been quite useful against alcohol abuse, and people consuming psilocybin in a medical setting may start experiencing psychological withdrawal within a few days. However, the research is still at a nascent stage, and governments must rope in more research institutes to understand its full impact.
