The Vine

We live in an age where there is an unattainable standard of beauty. Many of us find ourselves counting calories, testing out fad diets or master cleanses, and some become slaves to the scale. Striving to reach the ultimate thinness is very risky for both our physical and mental health. 

Recently, I’ve found myself immersed in conversations with friends who are currently enduring eating disorders, or who have children suffering. Many outside of the psychedelic space are unaware of the great work being done by some of America’s finest educational institutions on this topic. 

One such institution located in my backyard is the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. Their anorexia nervosa research study is looking at the effects of psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychoactive substance found in certain species of mushrooms. The study will investigate psychological effects of psilocybin, including whether or not it can help with anorexia. Interested participants can click HERE to apply. 

The use of psilocybin to help with depression and PTSD have been making headlines. Even a Disney Princess, actor Kristen Bell, opened up about her recent use of psilocybin to battle her depression. Insider reported that Bell said, "In my head, I had separated this body that had done so much good in my life, that has taken me through happiness and pain and workouts and laziness that I was just like, couldn't stop touching my legs going, 'You're so strong. You're so elegant.'"

Could psychedelics be a tool to help us reconsider our standards of beauty? Can the use of psilocybin get us more in touch with our bodies? At PMP, our mission is to spread the word about alternative medicines and modalities of healing so that people can find what is best for them. We’ll continue to follow the research around psilocybin and anorexia, so stay tuned.