Just Breathe, Annie’s Advanced Apothecary, Mindfulness Matters

I certainly hope it isn’t all in a name. Or even a few. Because the number of companies called either “Just Breathe” or “Annie’s” or “Annie’s Apothecary” or “Mindful Breathing” or some other combination is pretty alarming. What can I say? There is clearly potential there.

I brooded for a bit. But then I had work to do. I had spent the summer training and saw firsthand the need in our community. However, if building a business is challenging, building a business that has any component of support for mushrooms is damn near impossible. Why is that? Are we so ingrained with the idea that psilocybin is a dark and dangerous drug, potentially a gateway to other drugs, that we can’t even talk about them? The FDA is sure talking about them, quite a bit, in fact.

In 2018 psilocybin was granted “Breakthrough Therapy” Status for Treatment Resistant Depression. In both 2019 and 2024 it was granted for Major Depressive Disorder (NIH). This is significant. According to the FDA, “Breakthrough therapy designation is intended to expedite the development and review of drugs for serious or life-threatening conditions. The criteria for breakthrough therapy designation require preliminary clinical evidence that demonstrates the drug may have substantial improvement on at least one clinically significant endpoint over available therapy (FDA)”. Essentially, there is strong evidence that psilocybin could potentially treat devastating illnesses we have yet been unable to treat. Illnesses that not only cause pain for the sufferer, but also for those who love them.

If this is the case, we need to get over ourselves. There is too much at stake, too many broken hearts and wounded souls to prohibit a substance that could potentially save lives. A 2021 study in JAMA Psychiatry concluded that "This randomized clinical trial found that psilocybin-assisted therapy was efficacious in producing large, rapid, and sustained antidepressant effects in patients with major depressive disorder." This three-year-old study only underscores what we’ve known for decades, if not longer. It’s time we start acting like it and allow psilocybin therapy for those who may benefit from it.

Thank you for your interest in Annie’s blog. Stay tuned for some upcoming guest posts from some very exciting people!