Mind
Psychedelic drugs like MDMA and psilocybin may help treat depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions by reducing the number of inflammatory cells around the brain
By Grace Wade
Psilocybin, a psychedelic drug found in some mushrooms, may reduce inflammation
Shutterstock / Kyrylo Vasyliev
Psychedelic drugs may improve mental health in part by reducing inflammation. In mice, psychedelics reversed signs of anxiety and an accumulation of inflammatory immune cells around the brain, potentially explaining why these drugs have shown promise in treating mental health conditions.
It was once widely believed that there was little to no communication between the immune system and the brain, yet a burgeoning body of evidence now indicates that isn’t the case.…
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