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Classic psychedelics like Psilocybin work by activating serotonin (5-HT2A) receptors in the brain. Activation of the 5-HT2A receptors can lead to changes in mood and promote neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to change and adapt, which could be important to treating mental health disorders.
Serotonin is commonly associated with happiness and elevated mood, it is also involved in the modulation of pain from the brain to the spinal cord. While the mechanism is not fully understood, there is promising evidence that if you treat one of the domains of pain, anxiety, or depression, another may also improve.
The literature has also shown that female hormones, particularly estrogen, have intriguing interactions with the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. Research has demonstrated that estrogen increases the density of 5-HT2A binding sites in areas of the brain responsible for mood, mental state, emotion, cognition and behaviour.
The relationship between estrogen levels and 5-HT2A binding sites may also provide clues to gender differences in psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia and depression, which are more common in women than men. Furthermore, disruption of estrogen levels during menopause may lead to dysregulation of the 5-HT2A and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway, which could predispose the brain to depression.
Given that classical psychedelics, like psilocybin primarily elicit their effects via the 5-HT2A receptor, the presence, absence and combinations of female hormones could potentially enhance the effect of psychedelic compounds in women.
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PMS/PMDD Mood Symptoms
The most commonly reported psychological symptoms of PMS and PMDD include irritability, depression, anxiety, and fatigue suggesting a potential dysfunction or imbalance with serotonin production and/or metabolism.
Psilocybin mushrooms offer a wonderful alternative because they also interact with the serotonin system by binding to the serotonin receptors which produces a similar effect to a serotonin boost in the brain resulting in enhanced mood stability, improved stamina, better sleep, and an overall sense of well-being. The positive effects of psilocybin mushrooms can be experienced within 30 minutes of ingestion and require neither daily dosing nor a prolonged period of dosing before desired results are experienced as is common with antidepressants.
In the absence of research and investment in the microdosing space, women seeking to find safe and effective treatment options have been experimenting with microdosing mushrooms in different schedules and dosages to identify the “sweet spot” for their bodies. In many cases, women discovered that they had no PMS and PMDD symptoms or mild symptoms during or immediately following a microdose, leading many to actively pursue microdosing as a potential treatment option.
PMS/PMDD Pain
Anecdotal reports suggest that psilocybin appears to have anti-inflammatory qualities. Psilocybin in small doses causes a slight restriction of blood vessels and reduces blood flow to certain organs. This reduction in blood flow causes a reduction in inflammation which in turn relieves symptoms of cramps, soreness, and pain.
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There has been search on the effects of psychedelics on menstrual and reproductive function, though anecdotal evidence suggests that these compounds may have striking effects on menstrual function in at least a subset of users. Social media and word of mouth were used to seek out individuals who had a history of changes in menstrual function following psychedelic use like Psilocybin . Case histories were elicited from three respondents following informed consent.
A literature search on the effects of classic psychedelics and related compounds was completed. Three women ranging from 27 to 34 years of age were interviewed and reported three distinct phenomena following the use of classic psychedelics ( psilocybin ) :
- resumption of menses following amenorrhea
- Early onset of menses, in particular when psychedelics were used in the mid to late luteal period
- Improved menstrual regularity in a woman with irregular cycles who was eventually diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
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