UVic researchers find psychedelics may help heal traumatic brain injuries

A group of researchers at the University of Victoria says psychedelics could help treat millions of people with concussions and other traumatic brain injuries.

The Christie Lab at the School of Medical Sciences reviewed various studies on two psychedelic compounds: psilocybin — colloquially known as magic mushrooms — and 5-methoxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), which is found in toad venom and certain plants.

They determined psychedelics may help heal brain injuries by encouraging new neural pathways to form and by reducing inflammation in the brain.

“We still lack effective therapies. This work shows that there may be an untapped potential in psychedelics,” said Brian Christine, a neuroscience professor and one of the authors of the review.

The review adds to a growing pile of evidence in favour of using psychedelics to treat various ailments.

“The emerging evidence from other patient populations, such as (those) with depression or anxiety, are very promising,” said co-author and postdoctoral fellow Josh Allen.

“There are a lot of similar pathophysiological characteristics between these patients and those that have brain injuries.”

Catching up after the War on Drugs

The findings have yet to be tested in clinical trials, which the research team hopes to move forward with soon.

“This research was really shut down in the late 70s, early 80s with the War on Drugs, and it really took away a lot of opportunities for these to be used as safe, effective compounds,” Christie said.

Health policy is still catching up, according to TheraPsil, a non-profit that advocates for the legalization of psychedelics and training for medical professionals.

“There’s so much overwhelming evidence that I thought that by this point, we’d have a regulated system wherein prescribers can support their patients without the need for government approval,” TheraPsil spokesperson John Gilchrist told CTV News.

“But at the same time, when we have big, respected institutions, such as the University of Victoria putting out studies like this, it means something.”