Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is one of the most challenging conditions in modern medicine. Millions of people live with the lasting effects of concussions, falls, car accidents, or combat injuries. For many, the aftermath includes memory problems, headaches, fatigue, seizures, and emotional struggles such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress. Traditional treatments can help, but recovery is often incomplete.
A new review published in the journal Brain Sciences in 2025 asks an intriguing question: could psilocybin—the active compound in certain mushrooms—play a role in helping the brain heal after injury? The authors, Palmer, Ferber, and Greenwald, carefully examined existing research and proposed ways that psilocybin might support recovery. Their paper, titled The Potential Role of Psilocybin in Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery: A Narrative Review, doesn’t claim to offer definitive answers. Instead, it highlights mechanisms and early evidence that suggest psilocybin deserves serious attention as a potential tool for healing the injured brain.
Anti-inflammatory effects
One of the most promising areas explored in the review is inflammation. After a brain injury, the immune system surges into action. This response is important, but if inflammation continues unchecked, it can damage healthy tissue and worsen outcomes. Psilocybin appears to influence immune signaling in ways that might reduce harmful inflammation while preserving the body’s ability to respond to injury. Researchers have found that psilocybin and related compounds can shift the balance of cytokines—the chemical messengers of the immune system—toward a calmer, less destructive profile. For people with TBI, this could mean less secondary injury and a greater chance for the brain to repair itself.
Neuroplasticity and regeneration
Another central theme in the review is neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to change and adapt. In animal studies, psilocybin has been shown to encourage the growth of new neurons and the sprouting of dendrites, the tiny branches that connect brain cells. These structural changes are paired with functional improvements, suggesting that psilocybin doesn’t just create new connections but helps the brain use them in meaningful ways. For someone recovering from a brain injury, enhanced neuroplasticity could make rehabilitation therapies more effective and help restore lost abilities.
Supporting mood and emotional health
The authors also point out that many people with TBI live with depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. These conditions are not just side effects—they can profoundly limit recovery by draining energy, reducing motivation, and worsening overall health. Psilocybin has already shown strong potential as a treatment for depression and anxiety in other clinical populations. If similar benefits hold true for TBI patients, psilocybin could improve not only mood but also the ability to engage in physical therapy, cognitive retraining, and everyday life.
Risks and unanswered questions
The review is careful to emphasize that psilocybin is not without risks. Some people have challenging or distressing experiences that require support, and a small percentage develop lasting psychological difficulties. Because TBI itself can increase the risk of seizures and autonomic dysfunction, researchers caution that psilocybin’s safety in this population must be studied carefully. While there is no evidence that psilocybin directly increases seizure risk in healthy individuals, it has not yet been tested in people with significant brain injuries.
There are also regulatory challenges. Psilocybin is still classified as a Schedule I substance at the federal level, which means it is considered to have “no medical use” and a high potential for abuse. This classification makes large, well-designed clinical trials difficult to conduct. Until research moves forward, psilocybin cannot be considered a proven or approved treatment for TBI.
Real-world glimpses
Even though randomized controlled trials are lacking, some early signals are encouraging. Animal studies show that psilocybin may reduce brain swelling and restore healthy patterns of connectivity after repeated head injuries. Naturalistic studies with veterans who participated in psilocybin retreats have reported dramatic improvements in depression, PTSD, and cognitive symptoms, with measurable changes in brainwave patterns. Case reports have also surfaced of athletes who self-treated with psilocybin and experienced relief from lingering concussion symptoms. These findings are not definitive, but they point to an urgent need for further research.
Where science goes next
The review concludes on a note of cautious optimism. Psilocybin may not be a cure, and it may not be ready to be used as a standard treatment for TBI. But the combination of anti-inflammatory action, promotion of neuroplasticity, and support for emotional health makes it a compelling candidate for future studies. The authors call for carefully designed trials that would determine safe dosing, appropriate patient selection, and integration with established rehabilitation practices.
A new frontier in brain healing
For families affected by traumatic brain injury, the possibility that psilocybin could help is both hopeful and sobering. Hopeful because it suggests that the brain may be more capable of repair than we once believed. Sobering because the evidence is still early, and the path forward will require patience, rigorous science, and careful attention to safety.
At Vital Reset, we watch this emerging field closely. Our work with psilocybin in Oregon focuses on mental health, emotional well-being, and personal growth. But as the research expands, we remain committed to supporting conversations about new therapeutic frontiers, including the possibility of psilocybin in brain injury recovery. We’ve seen several clients with TBI’s get substantial relief from symptoms. In Oregon, supported adult use of psilocybin is available to people struggling with TBIs, regardless of the state of the scientific research.
