La dépression et les champignons

Depression and mushrooms

Depression is a mental disorder that affects more than 350 million people worldwide and it is estimated that 10% of the general population is affected at least once during their life. Mushrooms, for their part, have shown their therapeutic potential in recent years to combat this pathology.

What is depression? 

As said previously, depression is a common mental disorder. This disease can affect a child as well as an adult, but we note that the female sex is the most affected by this mental disorder which can be explained in particular by post-natal depression (after the birth of a child) .

There are different types of depression:

  • Major depression, which we deal with in this article, is present for at least two weeks and significantly affects a person's functioning.
  • Seasonal depression, depressive symptoms occur at the same time each year, usually in winter.
  • Postnatal depression, which usually occurs during the first months after giving birth.

Often, a confusion is made between depression and “depressed”, a word in everyday language. Depression is a shallow, temporary malaise of relatively short duration. On the other hand, depression is a mental illness, which causes a lot of suffering and whose consequences can be dramatic.

How is depression characterized?

Depression can be characterized by many symptoms specific to depression: great sadness, despair, mood disturbance (lower “morale”), the feeling of not being good enough, loss of motivation, etc.

However, other symptoms are more difficult to detect, which can slow down and delay the patient's diagnosis.

The most common physical symptoms:

  • Anxiety
  • Sleep disturbance: sleeping too much or not enough
  • Great fatigue
  • Lack of energy or restlessness
  • Reduction or increase in appetite
  • Headaches, back pain, stomach pain, discomfort

The most common psychological symptoms:

  • Withdrawal into oneself, little contact with the outside world (professional, social, family)
  • Suicidal thinking, with strategic elaboration
  • Memory and concentration problems
  • Great sadness
  • Feeling of guilt or failure
  • Difficulty making decisions

What are the causes of depression?

The causes of depression are generally unique to each individual. Even if the causes are not yet clearly identified, it seems that certain factors are conducive to the appearance of depression:

  • Individual factors: such as heredity, having previously had depression or suffering from an acute or chronic illness.
  • Social factors: stress, trauma, loss of a loved one, loss of a job, precarious economic conditions, etc.
  • Environmental factors: consumption of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, etc.

How Do Mushrooms Help Treat Depression?

In the search for solutions, mushrooms have attracted attention for their potentially therapeutic properties.

Multiple studies have found the presence of bioactive compounds in mushrooms, such as vitamin B12, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory agents, which may help reduce anxiety.

But then, what are these mushrooms?

  • Hedgehog Hydne: This mushroom contains neurotrophic as well as anti-inflammatory agents.
  • Reishi : This medicinal mushroom is today studied for its potential role on mental and emotional health, in particular its benefits on the quality of sleep, fatigue, mood and stress management.
  • The Button Mushroom: Button mushrooms are the most consumed in the United States, they are very rich in potassium.

As for hallucinogenic mushrooms?

Hallucinogenic mushrooms have also been proven to help combat depression. Often called “Magic Mushrooms”, these psychotropic drugs have shown their effectiveness thanks to hallucinogenic compounds such as psilocybin and psilocin strongly present in these organisms.

Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound , is attracting more and more interest in the medical field. Numerous studies with many volunteers prove that the use of psilocybin can help some patients. Even better, revolutionize modern medicine...

Depression is often trivialized or looked down upon, but should in no way be taken lightly. It can have serious consequences on an individual's life. If you recognize yourself in this article, we advise you to consult your doctor who will be able to refer you to a psychotherapist who will offer you a treatment plan adapted to your needs.

Some useful numbers:

  • SOS Depression: 0892 70 12 38
  • SOS Friendship: 0 820 066 066
  • SOS Suicide: 01 40 44 46 45



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