Psilocybin

What Is It?

Psilocybin is the active ingredient in so-called magic mushrooms. At higher doses it changes perception and consciousness. In research it is mainly being studied as a treatment for depression.

Important: In Germany, psilocybin is prohibited under the Narcotics Act (Betäubungsmittelgesetz), and that includes possession. The situation differs in other countries. In the Netherlands, truffles containing psilocybin are sold legally. In Austria, using it is not explicitly a criminal offense in itself, but growing, passing it on and selling it are. Psilocybin can trigger mental health crises and is dangerous for people with a history of psychosis.

What Does the Research Say?

In 2025, the University of California, San Francisco, published a small study with twelve Parkinson's patients with depression or anxiety. They received 10 mg and, two weeks later, 25 mg of psilocybin, along with talk therapy. Mood and anxiety improved clearly, and the improvement lasted for three months. Surprisingly, the motor scores improved too. There was no placebo group, and a larger controlled study is planned.

In July 2025 a study was published according to which psilocin extended the lifespan of human cells in the lab, and aged mice given monthly psilocybin lived longer (80 versus 50 percent) (npj Aging). Whether this carries over to humans is completely open.

My Experience

Since May 2025 I have been taking psilocybin at irregular intervals, and only abroad, where it is allowed. I don't take it in Germany. At first I documented every dose: usually 0.3 to 1 gram of dried mushrooms, mostly in the evening. Once, in August 2025, I took a high dose of 5 grams. That was a very intense experience lasting for hours, but it didn't change anything about my motor skills.

These days, when I'm abroad, I take small amounts of 0.1 to 0.3 grams at irregular intervals, in the evening before going to bed. I tolerate it well, sleep about half an hour longer and dream more intensely. I feel more balanced and lighthearted, and life feels more intense to me. Psilocybin has shown no effect on my motor skills.

My neurologist knows about it. She recommends taking it only now and then and not daily, and she explicitly points out that psilocybin must not be taken together with 5-HTP, because otherwise there is a risk of a dangerous serotonin syndrome.

My Conclusion

As exciting as the research is, especially for mood: because of the legal situation and the risks, I can't recommend psilocybin to anyone. If you are interested in it, look for official studies.