Emily Johnson
Psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms, is a hallucinogenic drug that has been used for thousands of years by indigenous cultures for spiritual and religious rituals. In recent times, it has gained popularity as a potential treatment for mental health disorders, including depression. While the use of any drug carries risks, magic mushrooms are being studied for their therapeutic benefits, particularly as an alternative treatment for medication-resistant depression. This has sparked interest in understanding the effects of psilocybin on the brain and its potential to treat various conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of drug | Hallucinogen, psychedelic |
| Common names | Magic mushrooms, psilocybin |
| Effects | Visual and auditory hallucinations, stomach discomfort and nausea, headaches, fast or irregular heartbeat, increased body temperature, breathing quickly, vomiting, facial flushing, sweating, chills, agitation, diarrhoea, muscle weakness, panic, paranoia, psychosis, seizures, coma, anxiety, paranoia, panic, fear, exhaustion, depression |
| Side effects | Headache, nausea, anxiety, dizziness, elevated blood pressure |
| Treatment | Promising alternative treatment for people with medication-resistant depression and anxiety |
| History | Used by indigenous cultures in religious or spiritual rituals for generations, research on its medical applications began in the 1950s and 1960s |
| Legality | Some states have begun decriminalizing the drug to allow for more research |
| Toxicity | Low level of toxicity, low potential for causing fatal events like breathing problems or heart attacks |
| Use | Eaten fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea |
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What You'll Learn
Magic mushrooms are hallucinogens
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, are classified as hallucinogens. They are naturally occurring psychedelic drugs that can induce hallucinations and distort a person's perception of reality. When ingested, psilocybin is converted by the body into psilocin, a psychoactive chemical that affects the brain's serotonin receptors. This alteration in brain chemistry results in profound changes in consciousness, including visual and auditory hallucinations.
Magic mushrooms have been used for thousands of years by indigenous cultures in spiritual and religious rituals. More recently, they have gained attention for their potential therapeutic benefits, particularly in treating mental health disorders. Some people also take small, regular doses, or "microdoses," in an attempt to enhance their mental state and productivity.
The effects of magic mushrooms typically begin within 30 minutes when eaten fresh, or within 5-10 minutes when consumed as a tea or soup. The duration of these effects can last approximately four to six hours. In addition to hallucinations, other common side effects include nausea, headaches, increased body temperature, and changes in heart rate and breathing.
While the use of magic mushrooms rarely results in life-threatening symptoms, consuming large amounts or particularly potent batches can lead to more severe consequences, including agitation, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle weakness, panic, paranoia, psychosis, seizures, and even coma. It is important to note that magic mushrooms can affect individuals differently, and negative experiences, often referred to as ""bad trips," can occur. These experiences may involve unpleasant hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, panic, or fear.
Despite the potential risks, magic mushrooms are being explored as a promising alternative treatment for individuals with medication-resistant depression and anxiety. Studies suggest that when administered as a therapeutic single dose, the side effects of psilocybin are comparable to those of traditional antidepressant medications and are generally well-tolerated. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential long-term complications and efficacy of psilocybin as a treatment option.
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Psilocybin is converted to psilocin in the body
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, are hallucinogens that can distort a person's perceptions of reality. They are naturally occurring and are consumed for their hallucinogenic effects. They are psychedelic drugs, which means they can affect all the senses, altering a person's thinking, sense of time, and emotions.
Psilocybin is the key ingredient in magic mushrooms. When psilocybin is ingested, it is converted in the body to psilocin, which is the chemical with psychoactive properties. Psilocybin is a prodrug, which means the compound itself is biologically inactive but is quickly converted by the body to psilocin. Psilocybin is metabolized in the intestines, liver, kidneys, blood, and other tissues and bodily fluids. It is also said to be converted 90% to 97% into psilocin.
Psilocybin is dephosphorylated into its active form, psilocin, in the body. This process occurs via the acidic environment of the stomach or the actions of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and non-specific esterases in tissues and fluids. The influence of sex on psilocybin's pharmacokinetics has not been tested, but age and body weight do not appear to affect its pharmacokinetics.
Psilocybin has been used for generations by indigenous cultures in religious or spiritual rituals. It has also been studied for its possible medical applications in treating substance use disorders and mental illnesses. Psilocybin has been found to have positive effects for patients with medication-resistant depression and anxiety. However, it is important to note that the use of any drug carries risks, and magic mushrooms can affect everyone differently.
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Short-term side effects of magic mushrooms
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, are naturally occurring and are consumed for their hallucinogenic effects. They are classified as psychedelic drugs, which can affect all the senses, altering a person's thinking, sense of time, and emotions.
The short-term side effects of magic mushrooms include:
- Perceptual changes, such as visual and auditory hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there or are distorted).
- Stomach discomfort and nausea.
- Headaches.
- Fast or irregular heartbeat.
- Increased body temperature.
- Quickened breathing.
- Facial flushing, sweating, and chills.
- Agitation.
- Diarrhea.
- Muscle weakness.
- Panic or paranoia.
- Psychosis.
- Seizures.
- Coma.
The use of magic mushrooms rarely results in life-threatening symptoms. However, if a large amount or a strong batch of mushrooms is consumed, the risk of negative side effects increases.
It is important to note that magic mushrooms can affect everyone differently. Factors such as the user's mental state, mood, personality, and immediate environment may influence their response to the drug. Additionally, tolerance to magic mushrooms develops rapidly, and discontinuing use for a week or so is usually enough to return to normal tolerance levels.
Combining magic mushrooms with other drugs, including over-the-counter or prescription medications, can be unpredictable and dangerous. The main risk of taking magic mushrooms is that they can look very similar to certain types of poisonous mushrooms, which can cause severe illness or even death.
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Long-term use of magic mushrooms
While magic mushrooms have been used for thousands of years by indigenous cultures in religious or spiritual rituals, their production, sale, and possession are currently illegal in some places, such as Canada. Magic mushrooms are considered a hallucinogen, and their key ingredient, psilocybin, is a Schedule I substance according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), indicating a belief in its high potential for abuse and lack of legitimate medical purpose.
However, there is increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of magic mushrooms, particularly in treating medication-resistant depression and anxiety. Clinical trials have shown promising results, and a meta-analysis from the University of Georgia suggests that when given as a therapeutic single dose, psilocybin has similar side effects to traditional antidepressants, including headache, nausea, anxiety, dizziness, and elevated blood pressure. These side effects were generally well tolerated and faded within 24 to 48 hours.
While magic mushrooms have a low risk of addiction, there are potential risks associated with their use. The effects of magic mushrooms are highly variable and depend on factors such as mental health, setting, quantity, and expectations. Adverse effects may include perceptual changes, such as visual and auditory hallucinations, stomach discomfort, nausea, headaches, increased vital signs, vomiting, and psychological symptoms like anxiety, paranoia, and panic.
It is important to note that the use of any drug carries risks, and combining drugs, or "polydrug use," can be extremely dangerous and increase the risk of overdose. Additionally, it can be challenging to distinguish between different species of mushrooms, and consuming the wrong type can result in poisoning or accidental ingestion of poisonous mushrooms, leading to severe gastrointestinal illness or even death. Therefore, it is crucial to exercise caution and seek information about the potential risks and side effects before considering the use of magic mushrooms.
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Magic mushrooms for treating depression
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, are a promising alternative treatment for people with medication-resistant depression and anxiety. They are classified as hallucinogens, which distort perceptions of reality and alter a person's thinking, sense of time, and emotions.
Psilocybin has been used for generations by indigenous cultures in religious or spiritual rituals, and researchers have been examining its possible medical applications since the 1950s and 1960s. In 2019, some states began decriminalizing psilocybin, allowing for more research into its medicinal value.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that psilocybin treatment produced large decreases in depression, with severity remaining low one, three, six, and twelve months after treatment. The researchers emphasized that the results were achieved in a controlled research setting with structured support from trained clinicians and therapists.
Another meta-analysis from the University of Georgia found that when given as a therapeutic single dose, psilocybin has similar side effects to traditional antidepressants, including headache, nausea, anxiety, dizziness, and elevated blood pressure. These side effects were generally well-tolerated by participants and faded within 24 to 48 hours.
While magic mushrooms show potential in treating depression, it is important to note that they can also have negative effects, such as "bad trips," flashbacks, and other physical and psychological symptoms. Therefore, professional supervision and caution are necessary when considering their use.
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