TBIs and Magic Mushrooms: An Unlikely Pair

By Rocky McElhaney | June 23, 2021

Psychedelics such as mushrooms, LSD, MDMA, and more used to be all the rage amongst young partygoers before fading into the relative background with the new millennium. Now, though, they seem to be returning — and not just in the obvious way. Scientists around the world are studying their properties for medicinal therapy. The idea of recreational drugs having a positive healing effect on its user isn’t new - everyone’s heard of medical marijuana – but this is the first time a subset of “harder” drugs has been considered for such a purpose.

Traumatic Brain Injuries - Psychedelics

This is good news for a lot of reason. Alongside its possible ability to treat PTSD, depression, and alcoholism, it also might be able to restore cognition in patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. This means if you or a loved one were in an accident that left either of you with a TBI, you have even more treatment options available to you — and that can change your life.

How can psilocybin and other psychoactive drugs help TBI victims?

Mushrooms (also known as psilocybin) get all the press, but they aren’t the only substance being studied right now. From Johns Hopkins to NYU to therapeutic companies, psychoactives across the board are being considered for their possible healing properties, specifically in cases of TBIs and other mental disruptions. It turns out these substances have not only the ability to promote healing in some patients, but also the ability to actively restore damaged neurons and tissue.

Ibogaine, a psychedelic from West Africa, is an excellent example. It is especially successful at stimulating dopamine growth and resetting the brain’s reward system, which can be crucial for both pain relief and actual brain healing. Psilocybin itself may also have the ability to restore and increase brain function, as recent studies show it can actually increase complexity and awareness in humans and animals alike.

Now, this is not something that is going to hit the markets in the near future. There is an abundance of research on how psychoactive drugs may help TBIs and mental disorders, but not an abundance of actual, concrete conclusions. Simply put, there’s a lot we still don’t know, and a lot of factors still being considered. After all, these substances are illegal for a reason. Doctors don't want to just replace one problem with another.

But the recent strides made by science show promise, and with shown promise comes hope for victims and their families everywhere who have suffered one of these afflictions. In the meantime, there are other therapies and treatments available, and those are nothing to brush off.

Why do the effects of TBI last so long?

The human body is incredibly resilient, and very adept at healing itself. Many of the injuries people face in their lives won’t be permanent. Even if it takes months — or even years — to heal, it usually does. However, that doesn’t apply to everything, and the more severe the injury, the likelier it is to have permanent, life-long consequences. Just because the wound is no longer visible does not mean it’s actually gone.

Traumatic brain injuries are, unfortunately, a perfect example of this. Whether caused by a car accident, slip and fall, or some other collision, the tragic aftermath can still affect you for the rest of your days in some way or another. Of course, everyone is different. The symptoms and duration of the trauma depends on the person afflicted by it, the severity of the injury, and the location of the damaged brain tissue. There are plenty of people who suffer TBIs and do make full recoveries, even if it still takes years.

The most common long-term traumatic brain injury consequences include:

  • Chronic nerve pain
  • Insomnia (sleep problems)
  • Personality shifts
  • Migraines and severe headaches
  • Inability to regulate body temperature
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Irritability
  • Seizures
  • Mobility loss
  • Loss of language/speech
  • Bladder/bowel control issues
  • Memory loss

This is not a comprehensive list. The brain is incredibly complex and, therefore, capable of incredibly complex injuries. Some people who suffer TBIs are never the same, suffering from delusions and an inability to trust, simply because of where their injury happened to be. Therefore, it’s so important to study each and every possible avenue of treatment, no matter how controversial or unorthodox it may seem. Even if studies find it to be unviable, at least they checked.

If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury, those treatments and therapies should be all you have to be concerned about, especially in the case of a car accident or other collision. Trust the Nashville personal injury attorneys at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm to handle the rest. For more information on how we can help, call us today at 615-425-2500 or fill out our contact form. We have offices in Nashville, Hendersonville, and Clarksville for your convenience.

Posted in Brain Injury