A unique study conducted in the Netherlands sheds new light on the effects of magic truffles on war veterans. Participants reported significant improvements in their mental health up to eight weeks after a supervised session. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression fell in measurable ways, and this after just one experience.
The study
These research findings come from a collaboration between Psychedelic Insights and Maastricht University. Remarkably, the study was conducted entirely with natural, legal magic truffles, as they are freely available in the Netherlands. Participants were administered the substance in a controlled setting, under intensive supervision. The combination of natural truffles and professional support proved to be crucial for the therapeutic effect.
The study focused exclusively on war veterans, a group that often struggles with deep-seated trauma for years. Relapses, irritability, panic attacks and social isolation cause many of them to become alienated from their surroundings. Medication often helps only partially and frequently comes with side effects that undermine quality of life.
For this group in particular, the search for alternatives is urgent. The Dutch context offers a special perspective for this: where psilocybin is banned in many countries, in the Netherlands the truffle form known as sclerotia are legally available. This allows studies to take place using natural means in a people-friendly environment.
Before and after
Prior to the session, extensive work was done on proper mental preparation. This included discussions with facilitators, setting intentions and learning to recognise inner resistance or fear. During the session itself, participants received guidance from experienced therapists and facilitators, in a warm and safe setting. The session was not clinical in nature, but rather homely and respectful with attention to silence, music and inner processes.
Even after the event, participants were not let go. Integration interviews took place in the days and weeks after the experience, in which feelings, insights and memories were discussed and processed. This aftercare process proved essential: it gave participants space to let what they had experienced land meaningfully.
The results were convincing. Measured over an eight-week period after the session, participants showed significant decreases in psychological symptoms:
- Symptoms of PTSD decreased on average by 60%
- Anxiety symptoms dropped by 57%
- Depressive feelings reduced with 59%
These figures are extra remarkable because they came from just one magic truffle session, with no additional doses. They illustrate the power of a one-off well-guided experience that, when properly integrated, can have lasting impact.
Coming home
Reports from participants make it clear that it was not about superficial enlightenment. Many spoke of a sense of coming home, of emotional release and of breaking persistent patterns. One participant summed it up as follows: "For the first time in years, I felt space. As if my mind was allowed to catch its breath."
For some participants, the experience even took on spiritual forms. They described it as a journey to the core of their being, in which old fears, guilt and hardenings were released. Such experiences can be transformative, not through magical thinking, but through a new relationship to one's own suffering.
It was also noteworthy that many participants started microdosing voluntarily in the weeks following their session. They took a very small dose of magic-truffle every few days, just below the perceptual threshold. This approach helped them retain the insights from the session and stabilise their daily functioning. Microdosing thus acted as a soft bridge between the peak experience and everyday reality.
Although the original research did not focus on microdosing, practical experience points to a valuable follow-up path. At MicrodosingXP, we recognise this pattern with many users: deep healing often comes from one-off high-dose experiences, while long-term change is supported by microdosing and conscious integration.
Thanks to the unique legal status of magic truffles in the Netherlands, our country is one of the few places in the world where this kind of research is possible. While many countries cling to outdated legislation, the Netherlands provides a safe and legal space for innovation in mental healthcare.
Still, caution remains necessary. Not everyone is suitable for psychedelic therapy. Proper preparation, screening and professional counselling are prerequisites. But for those stuck in existing treatments, magic truffles open a door to hope.
Source: Psychedelic Insights - Magic Truffle Study targets war veterans exclusively, finds salient reductions in PTSD, anxiety & depression (29 April 2022) - https://psychedelicinsights.com/2022/04/29/magic-psilocybin-truffle-study-targets-war-veterans-exclusively-finds-salient-reductions-in-ptsd-anxiety-depression-up-to-8-weeks/