Altering the Mind, Altering the Gut: Could Psilocybin Relieve IBS Symptoms?
Psychedelic Pursuits: Probing IBS with Psilocybin
Strap in, folks, we're venturing into strange yet promising territory.
For years, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) has been a frustrating mystery, a condition that affects a staggering number of people yet remains elusive to traditional treatments. Enter the realm of psychedelics and the intrepid scientist, Erin Mauney, MD.
Mauney's groundbreaking study seeks to unravel the gastrointestinal enigma through the use of psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms.
Before we dive deeper, let's set the scene with some brain-gut basics.
Mind Your Gut
Historically, the mind and body were thought to be distinct entities, connected only through a tenuous thread of mysticism. Thankfully, science has progressed, revealing the inextricable link between our thoughts and our insides.
The gut—or, our "second brain"—is no exception.
The enteric nervous system, the gut's nervous system, is, by some accounts, the second-largest in our bodies after the brain. In the wild, where sustenance was hard-earned, the gut needed to communicate with the brain to ensure timely refueling. This relationship is evident even today, with feelings of hunger and satiation rooted in the tight dance between brain and gut.
IBS: Brain Connections and Beyond
Trauma, particularly early-life trauma, has been linked to IBS. In her recent interview in Psychedelics, Mauney laments the lack of meaningful understanding and attention given to this issue in both gastroenterology and obesity medicine.
The gut-brain connection also extends to mental health, with around half of people with IBS experiencing anxiety or depression.
Mauney's interest in the psychological aspect of gut issues was piqued by the significant role she noticed trauma played in her patients' lives. This fascination led her to explore the potential benefits of psychedelics, like psilocybin, in the treatment of IBS.
Psilocybin: The Gut-Brain Fixer?
In her interview with the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology (JCG), Mauney explains how psilocybin's transdiagnostic nature—the ability to alter various psychological domains common across mental health conditions—could be a game-changer.
By addressing rigidity, rumination, and excessive self-focus, psilocybin could help some IBS sufferers shift ingrained thought patterns and thus alleviate their symptoms.
Beyond its psychological effects, psilocybin may also have physical benefits.
Gut Reactions
In animals, psilocybin has been shown to act on visceral hypersensitivity, a condition where routine gut movements cause discomfort or pain in people with IBS.
This is significant because psilocybin primarily works by activating 5HT2a receptors—receptors that we now suspect play a role in visceral hypersensitivity. Could this be the key to reducing IBS symptoms?
Research also suggests that psilocybin may have anti-inflammatory effects, another crucial factor in the development and persistence of IBS.
The Study: Psilocybin, Therapy, and IBS
In her ongoing study, Mauney is investigating the potential of psilocybin, in conjunction with talking therapy, to alleviate IBS symptoms in participants.
For this study, participants are paired with medical professionals with backgrounds in psychotherapy or psychiatry. These sessions, where participants take psilocybin and engage in discussions, can last up to 8 hours.
Mauney sees psilocybin as an amplifier of therapeutic processes, potentially enhancing the effectiveness of conventional talking therapies.
While not a cure-all, the preliminary results are promising, with some participants experiencing significant reductions in IBS symptoms.
"For some, it's encouraged them to engage deeply with difficult parts of their lives, make meaningful changes that they couldn't manage before, or influence close relationships in ways that have led to reduced symptoms," explains Mauney.
RB Wijetilaka, MD, a board-certified Internal Medicine Physician, also expressed enthusiasm about the study, stating that it "represents a significant step forward in understanding and treating people with IBS" and offers "a promising alternative for targeting the neurological pathways involved" when traditional treatments fail.
The road ahead is long, but the potential benefits of psilocybin in the treatment of IBS are undeniable.
This bold venture into psychedelics may be just the beginning of a revolution in gastroenterology, providing new hope for the millions suffering from IBS and other gut disorders.
References:
- https://www.psychreg.org/psychedelics-speak-erin-mauney-drives-ire-ibs-research/
- https://www.jcgi.com/article/S2352-9742(21)00177-7/fulltext
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8321184/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6367799/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3003799/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6131633/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3640448/
- The psychological component of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) has been neglected in both gastroenterology and obesity medicine, as pointed out by Erin Mauney, MD.
- Erin Mauney's recent study aims to explore the potential benefits of psychedelics, like psilocybin, in the treatment of IBS.
- Mauney's interest in the psychological aspect of gastrointestinal issues was sparked by the significant role trauma played in her patients' lives.
- Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, could help some IBS sufferers shift ingrained thought patterns and alleviate their symptoms.
- Psilocybin's transdiagnostic nature, the ability to affect various psychological domains common across mental health conditions, could be a game-changer in IBS treatment.
- In animals, psilocybin has shown potential in addressing visceral hypersensitivity, a condition common in people with IBS.
- Psilocybin may have anti-inflammatory effects, another crucial factor in the development and persistence of IBS.
- In Mauney's ongoing study, participants are paired with medical professionals with backgrounds in psychotherapy or psychiatry.
- These sessions, where participants take psilocybin and engage in discussions, can last up to 8 hours.
- Psilocybin is seen as an amplifier of therapeutic processes, potentially enhancing the effectiveness of conventional talking therapies.
- Some participants in the study have experienced significant reductions in IBS symptoms.
- RB Wijetilaka, MD, expresses enthusiasm about the study, stating that it offers a promising alternative for targeting the neurological pathways involved when traditional treatments fail.
- Psilocybin may pave the way for a revolution in gastroenterology, providing new hope for millions suffering from IBS and other gut disorders.
- Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis, is being explored as another potential treatment for IBS due to its anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective properties.
- Neurological disorders, like chronic pain or anxiety, often co-occur with IBS and may benefit from psychedelic-assisted therapy.
- Understanding the link between the gut and the brain is essential for treating not only IBS but also other chronic diseases, like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's syndrome.
- Mental health, health and wellness, fitness and exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle are all interconnected aspects that must be considered in managing IBS symptoms.
- Stress management, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques have been shown to help alleviate IBS symptoms, making them valuable components of an overall treatment plan.
- Managing finances effectively, such as budgeting and making smart personal finance decisions, is crucial for ensuring that patients can afford therapeutic interventions like psilocybin-assisted therapy or CBD treatments.
