depression

Both MDMA and psilocybin are categorized as Schedule 1 substances.

I always say – and I’ve written it many times – that gardening is a great antidepressant. As beautiful as nature is to look at, there is something deeply healing about engaging with it.
But if you’re not into getting dirt under your fingernails or dealing with spiders, you can still reap the benefits Mother Nature has to offer. There are so many studies that point to this, I hardly know where to begin.

Antidepressants are supposed to ease symptoms of depression, but yet another study shows the drugs may actually increase suicidal feelings in users. According to Danish researchers, the new study wrecks “potentially lethal misconceptions” about the safety of antidepressants. [1]
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On October 12, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said in a notice to be published in the Federal Register that it has formally withdrawn plans to ban kratom, an herb used by many as a natural medicine.
In August, the DEA outlined plans to classify mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, two active compounds in kratom, as Schedule I substances, alongside heroin, LSD, and (inexplicably) marijuana.

In just over a week, the herbal supplement kratom will be listed as a Schedule I as seen on the U.S. Controlled Substances Act. This is due to the fact that the capsules contain mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, 2 substances which although are naturally occurring in the plant, are now classified as harmful by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Hippie drums circles can help cure depression? Making jokes might be making you more creative? And just seeing pretty stuff feels good? Seriously.

Hippie drums circles can help cure depression? Making jokes might be making you more creative? And just seeing pretty stuff feels good? Seriously.

If you’re battling depression, your Instagram account might show it. Researchers from Harvard and the University of Vermont have discovered a way to ‘correctly identify’ which users might have depression, using their photos’ attributes, including brightness and color. [1]

New research suggests that those who have grandparents with major depressive disorder (MDD) have a threefold risk of developing the disorder themselves.
Researchers have long believed that if parents have depression, children are more prone to developing it. Now, we are seeing that grandchildren of those with MDD are at a much higher risk than previously thought. Researchers say that this helps with early intervention and helps psychiatrists understand what signs and symptoms to look for in those who have a predisposition to depression. [1]

Gene-testing company 23andMe, known for giving customers insight into their heritage, has made a major breakthrough in the study of depression. With data linked to 450,000 volunteers, they have pinpointed 15 regions of the human genome that link to a risk of the mental health issue. [1]
The study was done in conjunction with the drug company Pfizer, which allowed them to access one of the largest pools of participants in a genetic study. Getting this number of people to participate is often extremely difficult, especially when factoring in travel and other efforts and costs.