This article originally appeared on Yoganonymous.com. 

Love, The Alchemist does not recommend, promote, or support the use of psychedelic drugs.

Are little blue pills the only thing you can pop to cure your anxiety and depression? Nope, and now meditation isn't the only natural option, either. 

According to this article, published by CNN.com, "Anxiety disorders, along with depression, are among the most common mental disorders in the world today. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and affects 350 million people globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)."

If you are part of that 350 million count (no shame here), and you're looking for plant-based options, you should know that scientists are now testing out the effectiveness of psychedelic mushrooms for curing anxiety and depression. 

What are they finding, you ask? They're finding that the active ingredient in those mushrooms, psilocybin, works to improve symptoms of depression, and completely alleviates anxiety. 

The researchers spearheading this movement emphasize the importance of working with psilocybin in a controlled environment with supervision. Dosage is just as important as the underlying intentions of taking the drug—and these researchers are even emphasizing the importance of building a meditation practice while working with psychedelic drugs. 

Meditation alone may not work to cure all levels of anxiety and depression, and that is why psychedelics are being explored—so that those who already meditate can get amplified levels of personal awareness and alleviate downer symptoms. And vice-versa as well: psychedelic users can enter into a new realm of self-exploration (without psychoactive drugs). 

"Psilocybin can be a gateway into meditation... to show you experiences, and to have insight into yourself," said Peter Addy from Yale University School of Medicine and founding member of the Yale Psychedelic Science Group." 

"Psychiatry desperately needs new approaches to treat people"—and as they eagerly test new approaches, we will eagerly await their results. 

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