Psilocybin and TBI Recovery

Posted on September 11, 2026September 26, 2026 by Benjamin Hawes

When someone arrives at an emergency room with a deep physical cut, the doctor can wash the wound, stitch the torn edges close together, and keep infection at bay. But the doctor does not actually do the healing. The body, utilizing a remarkably complex and ancient intelligence, initiates its own sophisticated healing process and spontaneously moves toward wholeness. The psyche, too, possesses this same innate healing capacity. In my role as a psychedelic facilitator and healthcare professional, I have spent decades witnessing how mind, body, and spirit converge when we create the right conditions for this inner intelligence to step forward.

Yet, when the brain itself is the organ that is injured, bruised, for example, by a concussion on the athletic field, or traumatically injured through accidents or violence, or shaken by an explosive blast in military service, this innate capacity for healing can become impaired, inhibited and disorganized. Medicine has long treated traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-concussion syndrome as chronic, static conditions of deficit, offering management strategies rather than actual restoration.^{1, 2}

But on the horizon of modern neurobiology, a profound shift is occurring. We are discovering that psilocybin, the classic psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, is not merely a subjective "mind-revealing" substance, but a potent neuroplastogen capable of physically rewiring, cleansing, and reconstructing the injured brain.

The Physical Storm: Quelling the Swelling

A traumatic brain injury is never a simple, isolated bump on the head. Even a mild impact triggers a cascading secondary storm of metabolic and molecular distress that evolves over minutes, weeks, and months. At the heart of this storm lies a physical breach of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the delicate microvascular membrane that shields our central nervous system.

When the blood-brain barrier is damaged, fluid leaks into the brain’s extracellular spaces, resulting in a dangerous, localized swelling known as vasogenic edema. This cellular swelling acts like a heavy, suffocating blanket, choking off normal circulation, impairing the brain’s blood flow, and triggering persistent neuroinflammation.

“I was absolutely stunned,” Ferris said. “It actually improves these neuroradiological measures associated with head injury.”

A recent landmark preclinical study conducted at Northeastern University has dramatically validated psilocybin's ability to quell this storm.³ Testing animal subjects awake under a model that replicates repetitive head injuries (such as those sustained by athletes and military members), researchers found that psilocybin treatment significantly reduced brain swelling (edema) and strengthened the structural integrity of the blood-brain barrier. “I was absolutely stunned,” researcher Craig Ferris said. “It actually improves these neuroradiological measures associated with head injury.”⁵

These findings are strongly supported by a rigorous systematic review from the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute published in the journal Brain Sciences, which analyzed 29 published studies and concluded that psilocybin promotes rapid recovery by curbing pro-inflammatory markers, protecting the vascular boundary of the brain, and encouraging neuroregeneration.^{1, 2}

Lifting the Fog: From Fractured Networks to Hyperconnectivity

Those who survive concussions and head trauma often describe living in a perpetual "brain fog", a heavy, disorienting haze where simple memories are elusive, focus is impossible, and emotional regulation feels like a crumbling ledge. In the language of cognitive neuroscience, this fog is a state of network hypoconnectivity. The physical trauma stretches and shears delicate axonal connections, leaving different regions of the brain isolated and unable to communicate with one another.

“You give the psilocybin and not only does it return to normal, but the brain becomes hyperconnected.”

Psilocybin addresses this network silence by acting as a master reorganizer. While head injuries fracture brain communication, psilocybin promotes a state of hyperconnectivity, temporarily dissolving rigid boundaries and forging a vast web of new functional connections. As Professor Ferris observed in the 2025 Northeastern study, "What we found was that with head injuries, functional connections go down across the brain. You give the psilocybin and not only does it return to normal, but the brain becomes hyperconnected."5

By temporarily quieting the Default Mode Network (DMN), the brain’s central "ego" hub that regulates our self-referential narratives and rigid thought loops, psilocybin "shakes the mental snow globe." It temporarily suspends the overactive default networks that keep a TBI survivor locked in cognitive rigidity, allowing new, flexible, and healthy functional networks to sprout across the cerebrum.^{1, 3}

Sweeping the Forest Floor: BDNF and the Cleansing of Toxic Tau

Perhaps the most insidious consequence of repetitive head impacts is the long-term shadow they cast over the future. We know that repeated concussions are a primary risk factor for developing neurodegenerative conditions later in life, including dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. This progressive decline is driven by the chronic buildup of phosphorylated tau, a toxic, tangled protein that destabilizes the cellular skeleton of our neurons and leads to brain cell death.

Think of the healthy brain as a vibrant forest. After a traumatic injury, toxic tau tangles build up like dead, dry brush on the forest floor, choking off new growth.

Remarkably, molecular research shows that psilocybin treatment successfully reduces the accumulation of these toxic, pre-tangle proteins back to near-normal levels.³ Simultaneously, psilocybin acts as a powerful "brain fertilizer" by dramatically elevating levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. BDNF is the essential neurotrophin that stimulates neurogenesis and synaptogenesis, literally encouraging damaged brain cells to sprout new branches and forge new synapses to repair broken pathways.^{1, 3}

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The Clinical Proof: Real-World Recovery

While these microscopic mechanisms are fascinating, their true value is measured in the lives of the people who find healing through them.

The clinical evidence is expanding rapidly, driving unprecedented bipartisan momentum in federal agencies. Officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have recently emphasized that exploring psilocybin and other plant-based therapies for TBI and PTSD is a top medical priority.¹

The scientific basis for this support is clear. A landmark clinical study conducted by researchers at Imperial College London's Centre for Psychedelic Research followed U.S. military veterans with histories of traumatic brain injury and severe psychological distress who participated in psilocybin retreats. The results were nothing short of life-changing: depression symptoms dropped by an average of 65%, PTSD scores were cut in half, and anxiety fell by nearly 30%, accompanied by significant improvements in sleep and overall quality of life.⁴

Using advanced EEG brain mapping, the researchers discovered that the psilocybin ceremonies actually normalized the veterans' brainwave patterns, which had been severely disrupted by their brain injuries, restoring balanced activity to regions governing emotional processing and cognitive control.⁴ By activating serotonin 5-HT2A receptors and stabilizing both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) stress axis and mood-related dopamine pathways, psilocybin safely alleviates the severe psychological distress that typically follows head trauma.^{1, 2}

On a final note, psilocybin therapy seems to have a very high safety profile for TBI sufferers. Notably, the Hackensack Meridian Brain Sciences review highlighted that classic psychedelics show no association with an increased risk of seizures, a paramount concern for TBI patients who already carry a heightened baseline seizure risk.^{1, 2}

Beyond the Quick Fix: The Path of Integration

It is easy, in our fast-paced culture, to look at these scientific breakthroughs and view psilocybin as a pharmacological magic bullet or a biological "reset button." But a genuine turning point is not a destination, but the beginning of a path. Psilocybin does not simply "fix" the brain in isolation; rather, it opens a temporary, precious neuroplastic window where our neural pathways are highly adaptable and ready to be reshaped.

To truly step through that open door and solidify these neurological changes, we must actively engage in our own somatic and mental integration:

Mindfulness and Meditation: Committing to even 10 to 15 minutes of daily mindfulness or sitting meditation in the weeks following a journey helps to quiet the mind's overactive Default Mode Network. This practice provides a stable somatic container that anchors the cognitive and emotional breakthroughs of the journey into permanent, lasting habits.

Somatic Grounding & Breathwork: Traumatic brain injuries often leave the nervous system locked in a hyper-reactive state. Practicing slow, diaphragmatic breathing and conscious body-scan exercises helps to ground the nervous system, lower cortisol levels, and safely release physical tension stored in the body.

Nature Contact: Reconnecting with nature, whether through walking in the woods or resting under a tree, promotes a state of calm awareness that beautifully complements psilocybin-induced neuroplasticity, helping to ease the transition back into daily life.

Healing is a process of communion, with ourselves, with our bodies, and with the world around us. If you have been living in the silent, disorienting haze of a brain injury, know that your brain’s capacity to heal has not been lost; it is simply waiting for the right conditions to remember how to mend itself.

If you are curious about how the clinical science of psilocybin therapy relates to your own recovery, we invite you to connect with us at Numia to explore a personalized, supportive path. You can read how the full protocol works in our guide to psilocybin therapy in Denver.

Start your journey

References & Footnotes

Palmer, C., et al. (2025). Psilocybin and Traumatic Brain Injury: A Narrative Review. Brain Sciences, 15(6), 572. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15060572
Concussion Alliance. (2025). Psilocybin may support recovery after traumatic brain injury. Concussion Alliance Blog. https://www.concussionalliance.org/blog/psilocybin-may-support-recovery-after-traumatic-brain-injury
Ferris, C. F., et al. (2025). Psilocybin as a Treatment for Repetitive Mild Head Injury: Evidence from Neuroradiology and Molecular Biology. Preprint posted on bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.03.636248
Imperial College London. (2025). Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat. Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London.
Kayata, E. (2025, February 25). Can psilocybin, the key ingredient in magic mushrooms, be the key to treating head injuries? Northeastern Global News. https://news.northeastern.edu/2025/02/25/head-injury-treatment-psilocybin/

Why Do You Need to Prepare for Psilocybin Sessions?

Posted on June 17, 2026October 2, 2026 by Benjamin Hawes

By Benjamin Hawes, Director of Wellness Practices

Reviewed by Carolina Correa, Founder and Clinical Director. Last updated September 2026.

One of the most common questions we hear is how much you really need to prepare for psilocybin sessions, and whether preparation matters at all. One misconception that participants sometimes carry into psilocybin therapy is that the journey is equivalent to a passive medical treatment that requires no conscious preparation or participation, such as an outpatient procedure, a therapy like dialysis, or even ketamine IV therapy (which tends to have at least a limited effect regardless of the subjective experience).

Though this is more common in clients who come for medical reasons such as chronic pain or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), others may have the impression, from all the positive media coverage of psychedelics, that this medicine is the equivalent of a miraculous brain pill: you just drink the mushrooms, get a mystical experience, and five to eight hours later go home a changed person.

Psilocybin Is a Consciousness Medicine

But psilocybin is really a consciousness medicine. This means it works in a very individual way with your particular mind and all its idiosyncrasies, and it requires the full participation and permission of your conscious will, intention, and consent in order to “drop in” to the experience completely and get the maximum benefit.

Though the neuroplastic effects may not be dependent on the content of the journey (hence the research into non-hallucinatory neuroplastogens by the pharmaceutical industry), there will still most likely be physical, sensory, and psychological content to reckon with regardless. Some find the initial physical sensations, including increased heart rate and gut sensations, very challenging.

This is why preparation by a facilitator is so essential. We prepare each participant in techniques such as breathing, mindfulness, repeated phrases or mantras, and prepared intentions to return to. Carolina writes about the grounding breath and steadying phrase we teach, and how it carries through the journey and into integration, in A Grounding Breath and a Phrase, and the two integration sessions that follow every journey are laid out in Psilocybin integration therapy in Denver. Really, we are like your coach, helping you stay focused and keep your head in the game.

How to Prepare for Psilocybin Sessions: Navigating the Rapids With Your Guide

Another way of thinking about psilocybin sessions is like taking a raft down a river. Sometimes you float along, relaxed. Sometimes you have to paddle hard to stay upright in the rapids.

We are there to give clients the skills and confidence beforehand to hold their own, and we are there during the journey to tell them when to paddle and when to rest, and to make sure they have everything they need so they do not end up jumping off the boat too early or swirling in eddies and missing the sights they came to explore.

A client who does not take preparation seriously, or who is hoping to just “get through” the psilocybin experience, is more likely to have a rougher go of it or miss out on the full benefit. So we work hard to educate our clients on what to realistically expect and on the well-trodden techniques that help make this one of the most singular experiences of their lives.

We believe this therapy is a choice. We want our participants to walk out of their journey empowered, with the knowledge that they, not merely the medicine, have the power to take control of and change their lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much preparation does one do?

Though the regulations in Colorado require one hour of preparation, at Numia we schedule two sessions of 60+ minutes each, plus resources such as our own preparation guide and videos, and “homework” such as mindfulness or breathwork and intention-setting. We want you to feel ready.

If you have done psychedelics before, do you still need to prepare?

Yes. No matter how many times you have done psilocybin or other classic psychedelics, each journey may bring new surprises, challenges, and opportunities. Preparation is also how you and your facilitator get to know each other and build trust. And finally, people have done psychedelics in many settings and styles, so we like to offer the fruits of our own training and experience in case there is something valuable you have not yet tried.

Ready to explore whether psilocybin-assisted therapy is right for you? Book a free consultation with the Numia team.

CRPS and Psilocybin: Evidence for A Promising Therapeutic Pathway

Posted on March 27, 2026September 27, 2026 by Benjamin Hawes

By Benjamin Hawes, DAcCHM, L.Ac, NMF

Reviewed by Carolina Correa, Founder and Clinical Director. Last updated September 2026.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a severe, often debilitating chronic pain condition most commonly affecting an arm or a leg after trauma, surgery, or even minor injury. CRPS typically features intense, disproportionate pain plus sensory changes (allodynia, hyperalgesia), autonomic signs (swelling, skin color/temperature changes), and motor and trophic changes that together drive major functional loss and suffering. The condition is notoriously difficult to treat; conventional approaches range from medication and physical/occupational therapy to sympathetic nerve blocks and spinal cord stimulation, but outcomes are mixed and many patients remain refractory to existing care. PMC

CRPS and PTSD Overlap

CRPS does not occur in a psychological vacuum. Chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly co-occur, and their relationship appears to be mutually maintaining: pain can increase hypervigilance and trauma-related arousal, while PTSD symptoms (intrusive memories, hyperarousal, avoidance) can amplify pain perception, catastrophizing, and disability. Models of mutual maintenance describe how symptoms feed one another through shared mechanisms — heightened central nervous system arousal, attentional biases toward threat, sleep disruption, and maladaptive coping strategies — producing a vicious circle that makes both conditions harder to treat when they occur together. In fact, a 2017 study found 38% of CRPS patients met PTSD criteria (versus 4% of healthy), and in 86% of those CRPS patients the PTSD symptoms began before CRPS onset – and PTSD severity strongly predicted CRPS. PMC. Similarly, a 2024 review notes that patients who later develop CRPS report more prior life stressors, and that lifetime PTSD is far more common in CRPS patients than in non-CRPS or healthy groups. FiPR.

Why psilocybin? Mechanisms that could matter for CRPS + PTSD

Psilocybin (the psychoactive compound in psychedelic mushrooms) is currently the subject of a resurgence in clinical research. While most high-profile trials have focused on depression, anxiety, and end-of-life distress, growing preclinical and early clinical evidence suggests psychedelics may also affect pain pathways and the psychological processes that sustain both PTSD (PMC) and chronic pain disorders (PubMed).

Mechanistically, psilocybin primarily acts as an agonist at the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor, a target that can alter large-scale brain network dynamics, reduce rigid patterns of self-referential cognition, and temporarily loosen maladaptive habitual responses. In parallel, psilocybin appears to promote neuroplasticity — increasing synaptogenesis and facilitating the formation of new functional connections — in circuits relevant to mood, cognition, and learning. These neuroplastic effects may allow patients to reprocess traumatic memories, reduce fear-conditioning and hypervigilance (important in PTSD), and break entrenched pain-related cognitions and behaviors (important in CRPS). Preclinical models and reviews summarizing this literature suggest a plausible biological basis for psilocybin’s anti-nociceptive and behavioral effects.

What the clinical evidence shows so far

It’s important to emphasize: evidence for psilocybin in chronic pain — and specifically CRPS — is preliminary. Notably, a 2024 case report described a patient with refractory CRPS who experienced marked pain reduction and functional gains after psilocybin treatment. Case reports like this are compelling at the individual level and useful for pointing toward new research directions, though future studies will be needed to definitively establish the degree of psilocybin’s efficacy. PMC

At a broader level, reviewers and investigators are actively exploring psilocybin’s potential in neuropathic and chronic pain settings. Systematic reviews and theoretical articles summarize preclinical anti-nociceptive findings and propose mechanisms — from serotonin receptor–mediated modulation of nociception to downstream neuroplastic and psychological effects that may reduce suffering and pain-related disability. Concurrently, several early-phase clinical trials have been registered to formally test psilocybin in chronic low-back pain, neuropathic pain, and other persistent pain syndromes, reflecting growing scientific interest and recognition of the unmet need in pain medicine. PubMed+1

Bottom line

CRPS is a complex, often treatment-resistant pain disorder that frequently coexists with PTSD in a mutually reinforcing relationship. Psilocybin offers a biologically plausible and clinically intriguing avenue for working with CRPS because of its combined neuroplastic, psychological, and neuromodulatory effects, supported by emerging case reports and theoretical work suggesting potential benefits.

The Synergy of Psilocybin, Mindfulness and Acupuncture

Posted on March 27, 2026September 29, 2026 by Benjamin Hawes

Mindfulness meditation, acupuncture, and psilocybin therapy each tap into neuroplasticity—the brain’s capacity to rewire itself—and when used together, they create a supportive framework before, during, and after a psychedelic session. Meditation gently trains your mind to stay present, so you’re better equipped to sit with whatever arises in your journey; acupuncture harmonizes body and mind, grounding you and calming the nervous system; and psilocybin serves as a powerful catalyst, loosening rigid thought patterns and opening new pathways. By preparing your mind and body through regular meditation practice and acupuncture treatments, you arrive at your session centered and resilient. During the trip, mindfulness anchors you through challenging moments, while acupuncture (either before or after) soothes nervous-system arousal and helps integrate somatic insights. Afterward, continued meditation reinforces the new neural connections sparked by psilocybin, and follow-up acupuncture sessions help your body embody the shifts you’ve experienced. The synergy of these modalities deepens introspection, strengthens emotional regulation, and accelerates both psychological and physiological healing—offering a holistic container for transformation.

Here’s how I, as an acupuncturist, Zen meditator, and psilocybin facilitator, weave these three paths into a cohesive journey that amplifies healing, insight, and integration for everyone who walks through our doors.

Setting the Stage: Preparing with Meditation and Acupuncture

Meditation as Mental Conditioning

I’m a meditation teacher who has practiced Zen meditation for over three decades, and one truth keeps showing up: the more familiar you are with your own mind, the less daunting a psychedelic journey becomes. Mindfulness meditation strengthens your capacity to observe thoughts and emotions without getting swept away by them (PMC). In the weeks leading up to your psilocybin session, I recommend incorporating daily sittings—starting with just 10 minutes—to cultivate that witnessing presence. This isn’t about “clearing your mind” but rather about training your attention so that when psilocybin loosens habitual ruts, you can stay curious rather than reactive (Integrative Psychiatry Institute).

Acupuncture as Energetic Grounding

Simultaneously, acupuncture primes your body’s physiological terrain. By stimulating specific acupoints, treatments help regulate the autonomic nervous system, reducing sympathetic “fight-or-flight” arousal and boosting parasympathetic “rest-and-digest” tone (Acupuncture Today). In practice, I often see lowered cortisol levels and a calmer baseline after a series of three weekly sessions. This grounded calm offers a solid foundation: you arrive for your psilocybin experience less tangled in stress and more anchored in your soma (body-awareness), ready to meet whatever arises.

The Journey Unfolds: Mindfulness in the Psychedelic Space

Staying Present Amid Intensity

During a psilocybin session, profound emotions and visual landscapes can emerge. Here, mindfulness techniques—like returning to the breath or noticing sensations without judgment—act as a compass when the terrain shifts unexpectedly. Mantras can also be quite helpful during highly intense periods where difficult emotional and physical sensations can appear; repeating a meaningful phrase can act like a guidewire to continue the momentum of the journey through sticky patches. Similarly, those who pray can recite prayer rhythmically to much the same effect. Practicing these techniques prior to journey day can provide the participant a fallback strategy to prevent overwhelm, allowing insights to surface without triggering panic.

The Role of Acupuncture During Integration

Although we don’t needle mid-trip, acupuncture shortly after—within 24–48 hours—can accelerate the integration of somatic or emotional material that surfaced under psilocybin. Research indicates acupuncture enhances neural connectivity in areas involved in emotional regulation and pain processing, such as the anterior cingulate cortex and insula, which also happen to be part of the Default Mode Network (DMN) that is deactivated in psilocybin journeys leading to softening of the solidity of the self or ego.

When you return for follow-up treatments, I tailor point selection to support nervous-system recalibration and the specific themes you mention from your journey. As I wrote in a recently published article, acupuncture has its own neuroplastic effects and can be a synergistic catalyst to lengthening and/or deepening the window of neuroplasticity opened by psilocybin.

Beyond the Session: Deepening Integration

Reinforcing Neuroplasticity with Continued Meditation

After your psilocybin session, your brain is in a heightened plastic state, meaning new connections formed during the trip are more malleable. To cement these changes, maintain a meditation practice—even brief daily check-ins of 5–10 minutes. Over months, this sustained mindfulness practice solidifies the novel perspectives and emotional insights you gained under psilocybin into lasting neural pathways, reducing the chances of relapse into old patterns.

Acupuncture for Somatic Alignment

Meanwhile, periodic acupuncture sessions help your body integrate psychological shifts on a somatic level. In Traditional Chinese Medicine we say that “emotions reside in the body.” Needling corresponding meridians facilitates qi (energy) flow, which in clinical studies correlates with reductions in inflammatory markers and improved heart-rate variability–both indicators of stress resilience. By addressing the physiological imprint of past trauma or habitual tension, acupuncture supports the embodiment of newfound mental and emotional freedom.

Practical Steps for Your Journey

Begin Meditating Today: Even 5 minutes each morning helps. Apps like Insight Timer are great starting points.
Schedule Pre-Journey Acupuncture: Aim for 2–4 sessions in the month before your psilocybin experience to calm your nervous system and clear energetic blocks.
Mindful Support During Your Session: Bring whatever might remind you to return to mindfulness during your journey, such as a favorite small keepsake, stone, or crystal, a mala or rosary to help with mantras or prayer, or a religious object (such as a small cross).
Plan Post-Session Integration: Book a follow-up acupuncture treatment within 48 hours, and commit to at least 30 days of daily meditation to harness your brain’s plastic window.

Embracing a Holistic Path

Healing is a path, not a destination. Psilocybin can open the door, but meditation and acupuncture help you step fully through it and hang onto what you find inside. In my dual roles as acupuncturist and Zen instructor, I’ve witnessed how mind, body, and spirit converge when these practices are combined. They honor different aspects of who you are–mental habits, physical tensions, and the ineffable spaces of consciousness. By building a bridge between ancient modalities and modern psychedelic therapy, we offer you a comprehensive container for transformation that respects the whole person.

If you’re curious how these practices might support your own healing journey, I’d love to chat. Feel free to reach out and we’ll explore a personalized plan—one that weaves together the wisdom of acupuncture, the clarity of mindfulness, and the catalyst of psilocybin into an integrated path just for you. So, welcome! Your journey awaits.

To see how integration is built into every Numia protocol, with two sessions led by the same therapist and acupuncture alongside, read Psilocybin integration therapy in Denver.