Health
Some moms are microdosing on mushrooms, touting the benefits – but risks exist, say doctors
Motherhood is a tough job — and now some moms are getting help from an unlikely source.
Thousands of mothers are taking microdoses of psychedelic or “magic” mushrooms — officially called psilocybin — to ease their stress and anxiety, according to some reports.
On an Instagram account called “Moms On Mushrooms,” which has over 30,000 followers, users claim mushrooms are improving their mental health.
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Others, however, are concerned about the possible health risks and legal issues associated with these psychedelic substances.
Read on for both sides of the issue, including a doctor’s warning.
Potential benefits
Peggy Van de Plassche, a Canada-based former business and finance executive, quit her job to focus her time and energy on the psychedelic industry.
Peggy Van de Plassche (left), a Canada-based former business and finance executive, quit her job to focus her time and energy on the psychedelic industry. (Peggy Van de Plassche / iStock)
Van De Plassche is a mom and founder of The Microdose Diet, a holistic program that includes alternative medicines such as psilocybin to “rewire the brain, calm the body, master emotions and raise energy to reach more success.”
She calls microdosing the new “biohack” for mothers to navigate their stress and anxiety around parenting, aging and work.
“Microdosing can help moms find calm and clarity in parenting, improve their emotional resilience, and even help manage postpartum depression,” Van de Plassche said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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There are three potential benefits of microdosing mushrooms, according to Van de Plassche, who is also the author of the book “MORE! The Microdose Diet – The 90-Day Plan for More Success, Passion, and Happiness.”
1. Enhanced emotional and mental well-being
Many women report significant improvements in their emotional and mental health when they begin microdosing psychedelics, according to Van de Plassche.
“These small, sub-hallucinogenic doses can stabilize mood and improve emotional responsiveness,” she told Fox News Digital via email.
Thousands of mothers are apparently taking microdoses of psychedelic or “magic” mushrooms — officially called psilocybin — to ease their stress and anxiety, according to some reports. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)
“Research and anecdotal evidence suggest that microdosing may help diminish symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD, which disproportionately affect women.”
In theory, these substances can balance women’s emotions and make everyday challenges more manageable, claimed Van de Plassche.
One supporter calls microdosing the new “biohack” for mothers to navigate stress and anxiety.
One mother posted on Reddit last year about her positive experience with microdosing.
“No exaggeration, microdosing saved my life. I had terrible reactions to everything commonly prescribed to treat PTSD, and as a last resort I started microdosing,” she wrote.
“There was no high or buzz, I just stopped wanting to kill myself,” the individual wrote. “It’s been two years and my kids have a fully functional mom and my world has color.”
2. Increased creativity and problem-solving
“Women in creative fields, as well as those in more traditional sectors, find that microdosing enhances their problem-solving capabilities and creative thinking,” Van de Plassche said.
“This isn’t about generating a ‘high,’ but rather sparking a slight uplift in cognitive flexibility.”
“Microdosing can help moms find calm and clarity in parenting, improve their emotional resilience, even help manage postpartum depression,” claimed an advocate of mushrooms. (iStock)
In her view, microdosing helps women “think outside the box,” forge new connections and arrive at better solutions.
“Whether at work or at home, women can benefit from more creativity with the help of microdosing,” she said.
3. Menopause relief and hormonal balance
Van de Plassche said she believes that microdosing can help women navigate the psychological and physiological symptoms of menopause, such as mood swings, insomnia and fatigue.
“By modulating the serotonin system in the brain, microdoses of psychedelics might offer a new kind of equilibrium without the side effects associated with traditional hormone replacement therapies,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“Microdosing holds particular appeal for women seeking gentle yet effective transformations,” she also said.
Beyond helping to manage symptoms of aging, microdosing can help women “reclaim a sense of agency” over their minds and spirits, according to Van de Plassche.
What is a microdose?
Microdosing psilocybin involves “regularly taking very small, sub-perceptual doses of LSD or psilocybin,” which is the psychoactive compound found in certain mushrooms, according to Van de Plassche.
The ideal dose, frequency and type of mushroom can vary from one person to the next, she said.
Though some moms are swearing by this today, microdosing psychedelics can cause a psychotic or manic episode, especially in those with a personal or family history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, an expert warned. (iStock)
“I have found that 100 milligrams of psilocybin once every three days in the morning on an empty stomach is a great rule of thumb for most,” said Van de Plassche.
Potential risks of microdosing on mushrooms
Some medical professionals warn about a lack of research and safety concerns associated with mushrooms.
“There is not a lot of peer-reviewed research or safety data available for microdosing psychedelics, because these substances are not as well-studied as more traditional interventions,” Dr. Adam D. Scioli, chief medical officer of Caron Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania, told Fox News Digital.
“However, some of what we do know is concerning.”
“There is not a lot of peer-reviewed research or safety data available for microdosing psychedelics.”
Microdosing psychedelics can cause a psychotic or manic episode, especially in those with a personal or family history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, Scioli warned.
Other potential risks include paranoia, worsened depression or anxiety, and enhancement of emotions like worry, fear and guilt.
“Individuals microdose to manage emotions or feel better, but they should be aware that you can’t control which emotions you may experience,” Scioli added.
There is a risk that mushrooms may interact with other depression medications, which could be dangerous, even life-threatening, an expert warned. (iStock)
There is also the risk that mushrooms may interact with other depression medications, which could be dangerous or even life-threatening, the expert warned.
For some, the substance could lead to elevated blood pressure or heart rate, or an increased risk of stroke or sudden cardiac arrest.
“Individuals may also experience migraines, vomiting, nausea, loss of consciousness, body temperature dysregulation (too hot or too cold), loss of focus and/or brain fog,” Scioli added.
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Until there is more conclusive research, Scioli believes that adults should avoid microdosing with mind-altering substances outside a clinical setting and under the supervision of a board-certified physician.
Some also warn of the psychological impact the practice could have on kids.
One Reddit user wrote, “I think parents shouldn’t be on any kind of drug (alcohol, vapes, grass, shrooms, tobacco, hard drugs…) when taking care of a child, because of how it will damage the health of the child. Kids can also tell when adults aren’t sober. It makes kids feel unsafe.”
Until there is more conclusive research, one addiction expert believes that adults should avoid microdosing with mind-altering substances outside a clinical setting under the supervision of a board-certified physician. (iStock)
Van de Plassche acknowledged that taking mushrooms too often or in excessive amounts can be risky — as can consuming “low-quality” varieties.
Women who are pregnant and breastfeeding should not microdose, she also advised.
“Men and women with dissociative mental health challenges, such as schizophrenia, should also refrain from using psychedelics,” Van de Plassche added.
Are mushrooms legal?
Psilocybin is classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
That classification means the substance “has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision,” as stated on the DEA’s website.
“Most microdosers have to opt for ‘civil disobedience’ in order to benefit from the practice.”
“Some states offer psychedelic-assisted therapy, which consists of large doses of psychedelics administered in a medical environment and combined with therapy,” Van de Plassche said.
“Patients usually have to jump through many hoops to access it, and it is very expensive — and mostly not covered by health insurance,” she added.
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Availability of the substance varies by state, city and county.
Except for some “open-minded” doctors, Van de Plassche said most health practitioners will redirect patients toward more traditional therapies.
Psilocybin is classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). (iStock)
“Microdosing is not a practice embraced by health professionals — yet,” she said.
“Most microdosers have to opt for ‘civil disobedience’ in order to benefit from the practice.”
In most cases, the substances people use are not standardized or regulated, Scioli reiterated.
“That means you really don’t know what you’re taking — and what you’re taking may be contaminated with other substances that can be extremely dangerous,” he said.
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“There is also no way to tell if you’re taking too much of a substance. What may have little to no effect on one person may be extremely harmful to another person.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the DEA requesting additional comment.
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Health
Dr Oz warns Medicare scammers are stealing billions — and your personal information could be next
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Washington, D.C. – Medicare fraud is a multibillion-dollar problem that government officials say threatens both taxpayer dollars and Americans’ personal identities.
In a July 6 interview with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., Dr. Mehmet Oz warned that every dollar stolen through Medicare fraud is a dollar taxpayers lose – a problem that has worsened since the COVID pandemic.
“If I had to just pick one thing to focus on to make healthcare more affordable in America, I’d go to health fraud and all the waste and abuse that accompanies it,” said Oz, who is the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “And just to put this in perspective, we think it’s about $100 billion a year.”
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Medicare fraud can include billing for services that were never provided, overcharging for medical equipment, using stolen patient or doctor information, or performing unnecessary procedures, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
CMS administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz is pictured on stage at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., on July 6, 2026. (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)
As the Trump administration ramped up efforts to combat fraud, CMS reported $41.9 billion in Medicare program integrity savings in 2025, up 59% from $26.3 billion in 2024.
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Medicare fraud not only harms the federal budget and steals from taxpayers, but exposes seniors to identity theft, unnecessary care, higher premiums and reduced access, Oz cautioned.
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Removing corruption from the healthcare system will have the greatest impact among seniors, since “so much of the fraud is perpetrated against them,” the administrator said.
“I’m talking about people tricking seniors to give up their Medicare beneficiary numbers, which is like a credit card basically,” he said. “These scammers can take those numbers and use them for all kinds of illegitimate purposes.”
“If I had to just pick one thing to focus on to make healthcare more affordable in America, I’d go to health fraud and all the waste and abuse that accompanies it,” said Oz. (Fox News Digital)
“People are stealing from you by pretending to send you drugs you don’t want, wheelchairs you don’t need, [and] services you never asked for or don’t benefit from,” Oz added.
To prevent this, he shared his top advice for seniors: Do not give your Medicare beneficiary number to anybody, do not answer questions on a phone call from an unknown person and do not give away personal information.
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“These scammers are calling seniors, tricking them, and once they have key information, they can steal it,” he said. “And I won’t know it and you won’t know it.”
“We want to protect people who need these programs the most,” Oz went on. “You do that by making sure scoundrels don’t corrupt the systems and steal money out of the till that is designed to help folks in dire straits when they’re vulnerable and in need of services.”
Seniors should never share their Medicare information with unknown people, the administrator advised. (iStock)
Removing fraud could “double the life expectancy of the trust fund that makes all this possible,” Oz predicted.
“If you’re worried about Medicare being there when you’re ready to retire in a couple decades, depending on how old you are, and you’re concerned that it might not last because of all the fraud that’s hitting it … you’ve got a good [reason to] worry,” he said.
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“If we take the fraud out, we could double the life expectancy, which means you, your kids, your kids’ kids … they could all benefit from this beautiful safety net program.”
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Creatine, the common muscle-building supplement, may help improve depression symptoms, new research suggests.
A systematic review, published in Genomic Press’ Brain Medicine, found that creatine monohydrate may be beneficial as an add-on treatment for major depressive disorder, although the evidence remains preliminary.
The Canada-based researchers analyzed data from five randomized controlled trials, evaluating the impact of creatine monohydrate intake on mental health.
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Four of the trials studied major depressive disorder, and another looked at bipolar disorder with a current depressive episode.
In one trial of women with depression who took 5 grams of creatine per day, plus the antidepressant escitalopram, there was greater improvement after eight weeks. Another study revealed benefit when creatine was added to cognitive behavioral therapy.
One study saw benefit when creatine was added to cognitive behavioral therapy. (iStock)
Other studies involving teen girls found no benefit from a variety of creatine dosages after eight weeks. The bipolar depression study also found no significant improvements when 6 grams of creatine was added to medication after six weeks.
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In a press release, the researchers said previous studies have found that people with mood disorders process creatine differently in the brain. Because creatine helps produce energy, some scientists believe disruptions in this process may contribute to depression.
Although creatine has also been associated with boosting dopamine and serotonin, which most antidepressants target, the authors stressed that the link between brain creatine and mood “remains correlational,” as depression has “many moving parts.”
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Lead study author Bassam Jeryous Fares, a student in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa, commented in a statement that the signal is “interesting, but not a verdict.”
“Two trials pointed one way and three pointed another,” he said. “That is not the kind of evidence on which you change clinical practice. It is the kind that tells you the question is worth further exploration.”
Although creatine has also been associated with boosting dopamine and serotonin, which most antidepressants target, the authors stressed that the link between brain creatine and mood “remains correlational.” (iStock)
Nicholas Fabiano, corresponding author and a psychiatry resident at the University of Ottawa, added in the same press release that creatine “appears to be a safe intervention,” noting that side effects were limited to mild stomach pain.
“We cannot yet reliably say that creatine helps with depressive symptoms or if the findings are generalizable to everyone,” he added as a caveat.
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Dr. Thea Gallagher, psychologist and director of wellness programs at NYU Langone, said that although creatine is best known for supporting muscle performance, it also helps the brain produce and use energy.
“Researchers believe that some people with depression may have alterations in brain energy metabolism, and creatine could help support these energy-producing pathways,” Gallagher, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “There is also emerging evidence that it may influence neurotransmitters and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, although these mechanisms are still being investigated.”
Creatine should be considered a “promising addition” to depression treatments, a doctor said. (iStock)
The research suggests that creatine may be most helpful when combined with established depression treatments rather than as a replacement, Gallagher emphasized.
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“This research is encouraging because it adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that supporting brain energy metabolism may be another pathway for improving depression symptoms,” she said.
“It’s exciting whenever we identify another potential tool that could complement existing treatments, particularly one that is relatively inexpensive and widely available.”
Limitations and caveats
The new study is a review of prior research rather than a new clinical trial, which can pose a limitation, the researchers acknowledged, adding that “larger, well-controlled trials are still needed.”
Gallagher noted that creatine should be considered as a potentially promising addition to treatment, rather than a substitute for psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, regular exercise or healthy sleep habits.
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“While creatine has a strong safety profile for most healthy adults, it’s still important to talk with your healthcare provider before starting any supplement — particularly if you have kidney disease, are pregnant or have other medical conditions,” she advised.
For those experiencing signs of depression, Gallagher recommends seeking evidence-based mental healthcare.
“While creatine has a strong safety profile for most healthy adults, it’s still important to talk with your healthcare provider before starting any supplement – particularly if you have kidney disease, are pregnant or have other medical conditions,” a doctor advised. (iStock)
The doctor noted that depression is a “highly heterogeneous condition, so we still don’t know which patients are most likely to benefit or what the optimal treatment approach looks like.”
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Gallagher also cautioned that supplements have been known to generate “early enthusiasm” before larger studies have revealed “more modest effects.”
“Right now, I’d describe creatine as promising but not definitive,” she concluded. “It’s an area that deserves continued research, but it’s not something people should view as a standalone treatment for depression.”
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