Exploring the effects of alcohol, THC, and mushrooms

Humans have a long history of using naturally occurring substances like alcohol, THC (from cannabis), and psilocybin mushrooms, often for spiritual, medicinal, and recreational purposes. Alcohol is one of the oldest known psychoactive substances, with evidence of fermented beverages dating back to 7,000 BCE in China, where early humans consumed alcohol as part of social and religious rituals. Cannabis use dates back nearly as far, with its first recorded use around 2,700 BCE in ancient China, where it was used both medicinally and recreationally. 

Psilocybin mushrooms have a similarly ancient history. Evidence suggests that Mesoamerican cultures have used these mushrooms in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, as depicted in mushroom-shaped stone statues found in Guatemala dating to 1,000 BCE. The use of these mushrooms was - and still is - intertwined with spiritual experiences and healing practices.

While modern society is revisiting these substances in new contexts, their historical use underscores a long-standing human interest in substances that alter consciousness, whether for ritualistic, therapeutic, or recreational purposes. Not surprisingly, many people ask which of these is safest? What are different people using these substances for?

Alcohol

The main benefit of alcohol is likely social. People enjoy meeting with friends and family for a drink. But there are real risks. Frequent, heavy drinking is clearly linked to liver disease, weight gain, cognitive decline, and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. It also negatively impacts sleep and hormonal balance by lowering testosterone levels in men and increasing cortisol.

One main concern with alcohol is that research has now proven that alcohol raises a person’s lifetime cancer risk. But a key question is how much does it raise your risk? While it’s difficult to pinpoint a precise figure for all cancers, research suggests that light drinking increases overall cancer risk during your lifetime by 1-2 percentage points. To put that in perspective, a 1-2% overall increase in cancer risk would change the current average 40% lifetime risk of any cancer in men to 41-42% for light drinkers, and it would increase the current average 33% lifetime risk of any cancer in women to 34-35%.

Dose: The optimal dose for alcohol is zero, as no consumption is the best choice for your health. However, consuming less than 7 standard drinks per week, along with several alcohol-free days, is generally considered to be quite safe. Risks rise quickly as the number of drinks increases.

THC (Cannabis)

THC can have mixed effects on health. For some, it can alleviate anxiety and depression, but for others, especially those with predispositions to psychiatric disorders, THC can exacerbate anxiety, depression, and can cause psychosis and even irreversible schizophrenia in heavy users, especially if they are under 30 years old. THCs impact on metabolism is also complex. THC is a mitochondrial toxin, so it disrupts your cells ability to make and use energy. Hormonal effects are subtle but include reduced testosterone in men and a rise in cortisol levels. Sleep is often reported to improve with short-term cannabis use, but long-term users may experience disturbances in sleep architecture, particularly in REM sleep. THC’s impact on longevity remains unclear, but heavy use is associated with lung issues (if smoked) and potential cardiovascular risks.

There may be benefits to some THC use, though. THC has potential therapeutic benefits for conditions like chronic pain and anxiety, and some research suggests it can improve sleep in the short term, especially for those with insomnia.

Dose: For sleep improvement, most people use 2-3 mg of indica or hybrid THC, usually combined with an equal amount of CBD. This low dose minimizes the psychoactive effects of THC while leveraging its sedative properties.

Psilocybin Mushrooms

Psilocybin has shown potential in improving mental health through long-lasting reductions in anxiety and depression, according to studies published in JAMA Psychiatry. A recent study presented at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology found that psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, provides comparable antidepressant effects to the standard selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) escitalopram. The key findings were that psilocybin matched the effectiveness of escitalopram in reducing depressive symptoms but offered additional benefits. Patients treated with psilocybin reported enhanced psychosocial functioning, including a greater sense of meaning in life, better social connectedness, and improved overall well-being. In contrast, patients on escitalopram did not show these same psychosocial improvements. Notably, psilocybin was also found to improve sexual drive, which is the opposite effect of SSRI medications, which often reduce libido.

Dose: The dose of psilocybin used in the study above was 25 mg of purified psilocybin, which would equate to around 2-2.5 grams of dried mushrooms. In this study, the subjects received 2 separate doses of this size during the course of the treatment.

In summary, alcohol, THC, and psilocybin all have potential risks and benefits. Moderation and awareness of individual health conditions are key to safe use, particularly in the context of long-term health and well-being. I recommend you discuss any use of these with your doctor before using them and make sure you are not increasing any of your own specific risks. If you would like my recommendations, please reach out. I would love to work with you!