unlocking wellness
The transformative potential of psilocybin
Words by Rob Dalton
Harmony Hill has provided transformational healing at its rustic retreat center in Union, Washington, for more than 30 years. Combining proven integrative modalities with innovative clinical research, it serves those suffering from loss, grief and other forms of physical and emotional pain, including cancer patients, healthcare workers and their loved ones.
Last year, Harmony Hill added a new mode of healing for a select few trial participants—psychotherapy assisted by psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms.
“I’ve not seen anything like it in cancer care,” said Dr. Tony Back, who leads the innovative study at Harmony Hill as co-director of the Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at the University of Washington. “It’s simply transformative.”
Washington State has become a focal point in the evolving national narrative around psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic that has shown significant promise for treating depression, PTSD and end-of-life anxiety, among other mental-health conditions. The data paint a clear picture: some mushrooms have a powerful medicinal potential.
Traditional cultures have known this for centuries, using mind-altering organic substances for rituals and healing. The ongoing clinical study at Harmony Hill could help further reshape public attitudes and national policy related to these remarkable fungi species.
As our state and the nation embrace the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin, a new era of acceptance is dawning.
On May 9, 2023, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed the Washington Psilocybin Services Act (“SB 5263”), which created a psilocybin task force and clinical pilot program through UW. This makes Washington the latest state to investigate the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted it “breakthrough therapy” status for major depressive disorder in 2018, launching a wave of influential clinical trials.
Oregon legalized supervised adult use with Measure 109, creating “psilocybin service centers,” where anyone over 21 can consume magic mushrooms with a certified facilitator. The New York Times called the measure “nothing short of revolutionary, a seismic policy shift” that could “persuade federal authorities to ease longstanding prohibitions.” Colorado followed suit with a similar measure in 2022.
At the federal level, psilocybin is still illegal. And while Washington’s SB 5263 does not legalize wide usage of mushrooms as Colorado and Oregon have done, it does clear the way for clinical study, such as the landmark trial underway in our own backyard.
The study, being led by Dr. Back, is a partnership between the UW and Harmony Hill that hopes to demonstrate psilocybin can help address existential distress in patients facing life-threatening illnesses.
“This is the first clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy to be done in a beautiful natural setting and the first to be done in a group,” said Dr. Back. “The research is still in progress, but I’m very encouraged by what participants have shared.”
Study participants are learning to cope with incurable cancer. “This process can take months or years, and sometimes people never come to terms with their mortality,” Dr. Back explained. “We’re seeing rapid progress over a period of weeks—patients are making astounding leaps.”
Psilocybin has been proven to provide new perspectives. In fact, one participant reported he felt connected to everything in the universe and even had a conversation with his cancer.
“He wanted to yell and scream at the cancer in his body but realized that’s absurd,” Dr. Back said. “Instead, he laughed and forgave his cancer. You just don’t see that in regular palliative care—something profound happened to him. The research will tell us how lasting those effects are but in the short term, it’s clearly transformative.”
Psilocybin and other psychedelics are thought to promote neuroplasticity, expanding the brain’s ability to form new neural pathways, which can result in fresh perspectives on formerly intractable problems.
As Dr. Back explained, this kind of mental and emotional evolution is important because it determines how an individual will spend what remains of their life.
“Anger tends to get on everything,” he said. “Anger at the hospital, anger at the receptionist, the grocery store clerk, your partner—that rage only creates distance.”
Instead, proponents of psilocybin therapy hope that study participants will spend their remaining days connecting with the people they love, nurturing positive relationships, and appreciating what time they have left.
“This is the kind of study the FDA needs to be convinced that these medicines have a therapeutic use,” Dr. Back said. “The scientific evidence can make this medicine available to more people, providing a new way for people to adapt to having an illness and being mortal. That’s a huge culture shift.”
Another goal for the study is determining the ideal setting for psilocybin-based healing.
“In a group, they’re bearing witness to each other, which could be more powerful than individual sessions,” Dr. Back said. “And groups make the practice more accessible to more people.”
Hosting the study at Harmony Hill’s bucolic retreat center overlooking Hood Canal might also prove beneficial.
“Setting can make such a difference,” Dr. Back explained. “Imagine you have a life-limiting cancer, and instead of being in a spare room at an oncology clinic, you’re surrounded by the natural beauty of forest and sea. I hope this trial will pave the way for more research and the legal use of psilocybin to improve lives.”
The growing acceptance of psilocybin as a therapeutic tool is underpinned by a robust body of scientific research. Studies conducted over the past decade have consistently demonstrated the potential of psilocybin to facilitate profound therapeutic experiences, and recent clinical trials have proven that psilocybin can lead to significant, enduring improvements in mental health.
A study on using mushrooms to treat alcoholism discovered that just two “sessions” of psilocybin, paired with psychotherapy, led to an 83% reduction in heavy drinking. In fact, nearly half of participants stopped drinking entirely by the end of the eight-month trial.
The psilocybin renaissance is not just about decriminalization; it’s about ushering in a new era of mental-health care that embraces the healing potential of these ancient fungi.
The latest study, appearing in the August 2023 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, indicates that a single dose of psilocybin resulted in a “clinically significant sustained reduction” in symptoms associated with major depressive disorder. This confirms prior investigations, including a study published in 2022 in the Journal of Psychopharmacology by Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists, which suggested using psilocybin as a healing modality is a “novel way of approaching mental-health treatment that may benefit many people ... and will open new windows of understanding regarding neuronal plasticity and brain functioning.”
The implications of this research are profound— especially considering nearly one in five U.S. adults has been diagnosed with depression, according to a recent report by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The fact that renowned institutions like Johns Hopkins and UW have established dedicated centers for psychedelic research underscores the growing legitimacy of the field.
As Washington pioneers psilocybin-assisted therapy, the nation will watch with keen interest. The evolving legal landscape reflects a growing frustration with the status quo in healthcare, and an acknowledgment of the potential for these substances to provide a more compassionate, science-driven approach to well-being.
The acceptance of mushrooms as a legitimate treatment offers hope in the midst of a growing mental-health crisis. With careful stewardship and scientific rigor, psilocybin therapy promises to be transformative, providing new pathways to mental wellness. Washington State— with its pioneering spirit—is leading the way, reminding us that progress often emerges from unlikely places.
medicinal mushrooms
While psilocybin have powerful effects on the mind, these non-hallucinogenic mushrooms have medicinal properties that bolster the body’s defenses, enhance brain function, and improve energy levels. Plus, they’re widely available in supplement form.
Reishi: Revered in Chinese medicine for more than 2000 years, Reishi is a powerful adaptogen some call “herbal yoga.” It reduces anxiety, calms the mind and strengthens the cardiovascular system. Reishi was once known as the “mushroom of immortality” and reserved for royalty!
Lion’s Mane: Known as the “smart mushroom,” Lion’s Mane is a powerhouse for mood, concentration, and memory. Think of it as a remedy for disconnected thoughts, unproductive days and lost keys.
Chaga: Used for centuries in traditional medicine, Chaga prevents cell damage and contains 50 times more antioxidants than blueberries! It’s an anti- aging agent that modulates the immune system and promotes healthy digestion.
By Stephanie Dalton, a certified functional medicine & nutrition practitioner.