Psychedelics have been widely used for recreational and spiritual purposes for centuries. Nowadays, scientists investigate hallucinogenic substances as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions thanks to their mind-altering properties. Considering the effects of psilocybin mushrooms on our brains, can we discuss their similarity to other spiritual practices, like meditation? And can people replace meditation with taking psychedelic substances and vice versa? In this article, we’ll try to compare psychedelics and meditation.
The effects of meditation on our brain
Meditating is an efficient way to smooth the furious state of mind associated with multiple modern lifestyles. The benefits of this practice for our brains are pretty promising. For instance, meditation tends to strengthen neural connections and change their configuration.
Regular meditating can also promote better focus and a sense of well-being, help maintain brain health over time, and reduce mental stress. In addition, one study demonstrated that mindfulness-based therapy conducted for 56 weeks has significantly reduced the relapse of bad mood. These results are essential to confirm meditation’s influence on our mood and sensation of improved quality of life.
Mind-altering effects of psychedelics
Scientists concluded that psychedelics could alter users’ perception mainly because they influenced neural circuits in the brain, especially in the prefrontal cortex. This brain area is in charge of world perception, cognition, and mood. In addition, hallucinogens affect the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is also known as the hormone of happiness. This substance regulates memory, cognition, vasoconstriction, and other functions in the human body.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse research, psychedelic substances are likely to affect certain brain areas, so physiological and arousal responses to stress and panic triggers change in people.
Meditation vs. psychedelics: what is better?
Specialists from Johns Hopkins University believe that meditation has the potential to become considered a powerful and established approach to alter a person’s consciousness. The interventions of this practice are found efficient in relieving anxiety and stress in humans.
Furthermore, psilocybin was also investigated in terms of its potential to heal depression and anxiety in people. Once this chemical is ingested under supervision and in the correct dosage, psilocybin might improve emotional well-being. According to the study at Imperial College London, people who feature symptoms of anxiety and depression reported lessening of their states up to three months following the administering of two controlled doses of psilocybin.
Researchers suggest that psilocybin might be a second-line treatment for patients who don’t find meditating efficient enough for meditation and psychedelics. Meditation appears as a slightly complicated task for beginners, and it might not work for everyone. Thus, psilocybin therapy can become the alternative solution for people with mood and other mental disorders for whom meditation practices are not helpful.