Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science are exploring the use of psychedelic drugs, as potential treatments for depression.

The Weizmann team’s groundbreaking research delves into the mind-altering effects of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms, and it’s fascinating relationship with serotonin, the brain’s mood-regulating chemical.

“I have been studying how serotonin works in the brain for 14 years,” lead researcher Dr. Kawashima tells NoCamels. “The psychedelic boom came, and we understood psilocybin works as a serotonin mimic in the brain.”

“No one said that it’s going to be the first line of treatment for everything,” he said. “A better understanding of their mechanism of action and a mapping of their influence on the brain may lead to more efficient drugs, with fewer side effects.”

Currently in the animal testing phase, the hope is that regulated psilocybin could offer an alternative to the well-known SSRIs, like Prozac and Cipralex, that have become the go-to solution for millions battling depression. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, only about 30% of people with depression achieve remission after taking an SSRI antidepressant.