Perimenopause (pre-menopause) is a phase of life when women can experience many changes in their bodies and minds. This phase, which can last for years before menstruation finally stops, is often accompanied by various symptoms such as mood swings, anxiety, sleep problems and even depression. A possible and much-discussed solution to this is the use …
Perimenopause (pre-menopause) is a phase of life when women can experience many changes in their bodies and minds. This phase, which can last for years before menstruation finally stops, is often accompanied by various symptoms such as mood swings, anxiety, sleep problems and even depression. A possible and much-discussed solution to this is the use of psilocybin, a natural substance found in some mushrooms. Recently, scientists have started looking at psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, as a possible help for women during this time.
In this article, we explain what psilocybin is, how it can help with perimenopause symptoms and what you need to know before considering it.
What is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the time before menopause when a woman’s body starts to change. Common perimenopause symptoms include:
- Mood swings
- Irregular periods
- Sleep problems
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Sexual dysfunction
- Brain fog.
What is Psilocybin?
Psilocybin is a psychedelic substance found in mushrooms often called ‘magic mushrooms’. When you ingest psilocybin, your body converts it into psilocin, a substance that affects the action of serotonin in the brain. This can lead to changes in mood, perception and emotions.
Although psilocybin is mainly known for its recreational use, it is increasingly being researched for its potential therapeutic benefits. It is proven to be effective in addressing pressing health challenges such as depression, anxiety, dementia, PTSD, fibromyalgia, eating disorders, burnout, ADHD, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and substance use disorders (addictions). Psilocybin is also proven effective for tapering off medication, easing chronic pain, and slowing down Alzheimer’s disease.
Also read: Psilocybin Offers New Options for Mental Health Treatments.
How Can Psilocybin Help With Perimenopause?
Psilocybin is showing great promise during perimenopause in several ways:
1. Improving Mood Symptoms
Many pre-menopausal women experience mood swings or even depressive feelings due to hormonal fluctuations. Psilocybin can help reduce these symptoms by activating serotonin receptors in the brain. This often leads to a sense of calm, well-being and emotional balance. One scientific study found that women who took small amounts of psilocybin (microdosing) reported feeling better overall.
Read also: Psilocybin: As Effective Against Depression As Antidepressants.
2. Reducing Anxiety
Anxiety is a common complaint during pre-menopause. Research has shown that psilocybin can help reduce anxiety, especially when related to life changes or existential concerns.
Read also: Psilocybin and Anxiety: An Evidence-Based Approach to Healing.
3. Support for Spiritual and Emotional Growth
Pre-menopause is a time of reflection and change for many women. Psilocybin can help process deep-seated emotions and develop a new outlook on life. Women who have used psilocybin often report feeling more connected with themselves and others.
4. Better Coping With Sleep Problems
Insomnia and restless nights are common in pre-menopause. Although there is still limited research on psilocybin and sleep, many users report that it helps them relax better and sleep more restfully.
5. Reducing Physical Symptoms
Although psilocybin does not directly affect physical symptoms such as hot flushes, the stress relief and emotional balance it provides can help indirectly make these symptoms more bearable. Psilocybin might help reduce stress by affecting the body’s stress response system.
6. Improved Cognitive Function
Some women experience “brain fog” during pre-menopause. Psilocybin might help improve thinking and memory. Psilocybin is also proven to help increase mental focus, clearity and creativity.
7. Hormone Balance
Some scientific researchers think psilocybin might also help regulate hormones. This could potentially help with irregular periods and other hormone-related symptoms.
8. Menopausal-related Sexual Dysfunction
Many women who have reached the perimenopause phase experience some type of sexual dysfunction, which may involve a lack of libido, inability to climax, pain with intercourse, and more. This is caused by the decline in estogen hormones. While SSRIs can further reduce libido, the use of psilocybin does not. Existing scientific literature suggests that psilocybin can improve intimate communication and body image, two important factors when navigating sexual dysfunction.
Scientific Research on Psilocybin
Psilocybin has been investigated in multiple clinical studies for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research shows that one or two supervised sessions with psilocybin can produce long-term improvements in mood and well-being. Although specific research on psilocybin and pre-menopause is limited, results in related complaints are promising.
Read also: The Science and Benefits of Psychedelics: Exploring Their Potential for Mental Health and Beyond.
How is Psilocybin Used by the Conscious Pharmacist?
Microdosing
Microdosing involves taking very small amounts of psilocybin (e.g. 0.1 to 0.3 grams) to experience subtle effects without hallucinations. This can help with everyday complaints such as stress and mood swings.
Read also: Microdosing Coaching
Therapeutic sessions
A larger dose of psilocybin is often used in a controlled setting with one of our certified therapists. These sessions focus on deep emotional processing and insight.
Read also: Individual Psychedelic Therapy Program
Retreat sessions
At our retreats (2-6 days) small groups of people or individuals (private retreat) will experience various larger doses of psilocybin (often 2 – 3 times macrodosing during a retreat) in our controlled exclusive retreat setting with one of our certified therapists in the sunny Algarve (Portugal); surrounded by beautiful nature, relaxing facilities and healthy therapies to help you heal and connect with yourself . Our successful retreats focus on healing, deep emotional processing and insight, and self development.
Read also: Conscious Pharmacist Retreats
Is Psilocybin Safe?
Yes, psilocybin is generally considered very safe, especially when used in a controlled environment that our Conscious Pharmacist programs and retreats provide. Nevertheless, there are some concerns:
- Minor possible side effects: Nausea, dizziness and temporary confusion may rarely occur.
- Not suitable for everyone: Psilocybin is not recommended for people with a history of psychosis or severe mental disorders. Hence, why we always schedule a medical intake interview in which we discuss a person’s medical history and medication use.
- Legal status: The use of Psilocybin is illegal in many countries. It is important to know the local laws before using psilocybin. In Portugal we – as Conscious Pharmacist, with medically trained and certified therapists – are allowed to use psilocybin for our psychedelic therapy programs and for our psychedelic retreats.
Read also: Why It Is Allowed and Safe for the Conscious Pharmacist to Host Psychedelic Retreats in Portugal.
What Should You Look Out For?
- Professional guidance: Work with a qualified therapist at Conscious Therapist if you want to try psilocybin.
- Start with a low dose: Start with our microdosing therapy to see how your body and mind will react.
- Provide a safe environment: Use psilocybin in a comfortable and familiar environment. At Conscious Pharmacist we provide a safe and controlled environment for individual threatment and small group treatments (retreats).
More Information
Psilocybin offers promising possibilities for pre-menopausal women dealing with emotional and psychological symptoms. It can be proven to help with mood swings, anxiety and personal growth, and offers an alternative to traditional treatments and medication.
Still, it is important to exercise caution and seek professional advice first. Psilocybin is not a panacea, but with the right professional guidance from the Conscious Pharmacist team, it can be a valuable tool in this challenging phase of life.
Do you have any questions, would you like book a psilocybin based Microdosing Coaching treatment, a Psychotropic Medication Tapering program, Individual Psychedelic Therapy or a Group Retreat or Individual Retreat? Please book a FREE consult HERE, or contact us via our contactform.
Read also: What is the Positive Impact of Conscious Pharmacist?
Author: Patrick W. Driessen
Sources: Pharmacy Times, Journal of Neuroinflammation, ResearchGate, Psychedelic Passage, Neuropharmacology, BMC Women’s Health, Frontiers in Pharmacology, Springer Nature Link, Verywell Health
