First European country to allow use of 'magic' mushrooms to treat depression

Psilocybin therapy extracted from 'magic' mushrooms is considered to have low toxicity and almost zero risk of addiction.

A species of mushroom belonging to the 'magic' mushroom genus - Photo: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post

From 2026, patients in the Czech Republic suffering from depression and other mental disorders will have a promising new treatment option: psilocybin therapy extracted from "magic" mushrooms.

When rolled out, the Czech Republic will become the first country in Europe to allow the prescription of this psychoactive substance to help treat depression and certain mental disorders that are difficult to respond to conventional medication.

According to tvpworld , an English-language news channel covering Central Europe, the Czech government recently issued strict regulations allowing doctors to prescribe psilocybin therapy to treat patients. Studies show that psilocybin, a natural active ingredient in the mushroom, has a direct impact on the user's cognition and emotions.

Guidelines for psilocybin therapy have been developed by the Psychiatric Society of the Czech Medical Association, which clearly define the patient groups for whom it is prescribed and the requirements for health professionals to prescribe and administer it.

Accordingly, this therapy will be used in treatment sessions lasting about 6 hours, closely monitored by 2 medical professionals. The dosage will be adjusted based on the patient's weight, with a maximum of 75mg per month. Currently, only a few dozen experts are qualified to implement this therapy, mainly in the capital Prague and the city of Brno.

Current studies show that conventional antidepressants are effective for about 70% of patients. However, psilocybin therapy may be an effective alternative for the remaining 30% of patients who do not respond to medication. With low toxicity and a very low or no risk of addiction, psilocybin is considered to have a high safety profile.

The director of the Czech National Institute of Mental Health, Jiří Horáček, said the rollout of psilocybin prescriptions will depend on insurance companies. He also stressed that psilocybin could help treat mental disorders that have no effective treatments, such as depression after a cancer diagnosis.

According to statistics, about 1/3 of adults in this Central European country currently suffer from mental illness, of which about 700,000 people are facing depression or anxiety.

Previously, in 2015, the Czech Republic legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Accordingly, medical cannabis is mainly used to treat chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and support in cancer treatment.

VNA

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nuoc-chau-au-dau-tien-cho-phep-dung-nam-ma-thuat-chua-tram-cam-20251209114556578.htm