Emily Johnson
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. Psilocybin mushrooms are distributed among various genera, including Psilocybe, Gymnopilus, and Panaeolus, and they occur on all continents, with the majority found in subtropical humid forests. These mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in religious rituals and recreationally to induce hallucinations and altered states of consciousness. While there is ongoing research into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin for treating mental health disorders, it is important to note that the use of magic mushrooms can lead to short-term mental and physical effects, and there are associated health risks, particularly when consumed in unsupervised settings or in combination with other substances.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Magic mushrooms, shrooms, mushies, blue meanies, golden tops, liberty caps |
| Active ingredients | Psilocybin, psilocin, norpsilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, aeruginascin |
| Effects | Hallucinations, heightened emotions and senses, anxiety, fear, nausea, muscle twitches, increased heart rate and blood pressure, perceptual changes, mystical experiences, shifts in reality |
| Duration of effects | 4-6 hours |
| Onset of effects | 5-45 minutes |
| Forms | Fresh or cooked mushrooms, mushroom tea, powder, tablets, capsules |
| Legality | Illegal in some jurisdictions, including Canada and Australia |
| Addiction potential | Low |
| Withdrawal effects | Mild psychological effects, tiredness |
| Therapeutic uses | Potential to treat mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance use disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, pain, and neurodegenerative disorders |
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What You'll Learn
- Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic and contain psilocybin and psilocin
- They are often consumed fresh, cooked, or brewed into tea
- Magic mushrooms are illegal in many places, including Canada and Australia
- They can cause hallucinations, heightened senses, and an altered state of consciousness
- There is ongoing research into psilocybin's potential to treat mental health disorders
Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic and contain psilocybin and psilocin
Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic found in certain types of mushrooms. The most potent species are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens. However, psilocybin has also been isolated from several other genera, including Panaeolus (Copelandia), Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina.
Magic mushrooms have been used for thousands of years, including in religious rituals. Today, some people use them in hopes of having a unique, interesting, enlightening, and/or spiritual experience. They are commonly consumed fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea, and the effects usually begin within 30 minutes when eaten or 5-10 minutes when taken as tea. The effects typically last for four to six hours and include hallucinations, an altered state of consciousness, and perceptual changes such as visual and auditory distortions.
In addition to psilocybin and psilocin, other compounds such as norpsilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, and aeruginascin may be present in magic mushrooms, potentially modifying their effects. The dosage of psilocybin-containing mushrooms depends on the psilocybin and psilocin content, which can vary significantly between and within the same species. While psilocybin content typically ranges from 0.5% to 1% of the dried weight of the mushroom, psilocin content can vary from 0% to 0.59%.
There is a growing interest in the therapeutic potential of magic mushrooms and psilocybin. Clinical trials have shown promising results in treating various mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and problematic substance use. However, it is important to note that the use of any drug carries risks, and magic mushrooms are subject to legal restrictions in many places, such as Canada, where their production, sale, and possession are illegal.
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They are often consumed fresh, cooked, or brewed into tea
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin. This is converted into the psychedelic compound psilocin upon ingestion. The effects of psilocybin mushrooms can vary from person to person, but common themes include heightened emotions, shifts in perception, and a distortion of one's sense of time. Many people who consume psilocybin mushrooms report feeling more connected to their feelings and emotions, and some even report having mystical experiences.
Psilocybin mushrooms are often consumed fresh, cooked, or brewed into tea. Consuming psilocybin mushrooms in their fresh form involves eating the mushrooms directly. This method allows the active compounds, psilocybin and psilocin, to be absorbed and take effect. However, some people may find the taste of fresh mushrooms unpleasant, so they may opt for cooking the mushrooms before consumption. Cooking psilocybin mushrooms involves preparing them as part of a meal or dish, which can help mask their strong flavour. This method can also be a way for people to consume the mushrooms in a social setting, such as during a meal with friends.
Brewing psilocybin mushrooms into tea is another popular method of consumption. Preparing a mushroom tea involves infusing hot water with the mushrooms, allowing the active compounds to be extracted into the water. This method can be appealing to those who find the taste of fresh or cooked mushrooms unpleasant, as the tea can be flavoured with other ingredients such as lemon or honey. Brewing psilocybin mushrooms into tea can also be a more gentle way to consume them, as the effects may be felt more gradually compared to other methods.
It is important to note that the consumption of psilocybin mushrooms can carry risks and may not be suitable for everyone. While they have been used for thousands of years by indigenous people worldwide for medicinal and ceremonial purposes, they are still considered a recreational drug in many places. It is always advisable to conduct thorough research and consult with a medical professional before consuming psilocybin mushrooms. Additionally, it is important to be aware of the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms in your region, as their possession, production, and sale may be regulated or prohibited.
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Magic mushrooms are illegal in many places, including Canada and Australia
Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They have been used by Indigenous communities for over a thousand years and are also used as recreational drugs. In addition to their hallucinogenic effects, magic mushrooms can cause heightened emotions and senses, as well as anxiety, fear, nausea, and muscle twitches.
Despite their long history of use and presence on all continents, magic mushrooms are illegal in many places, including Canada and Australia. In Canada, the production, sale, and possession of magic mushrooms are prohibited under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). However, there has been increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, one of the active ingredients in magic mushrooms, and some magic mushroom stores have started to appear across the country.
In Australia, the cultivation, manufacture, possession, use, selling, or supply of psilocybin or magic mushrooms is generally illegal under the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985. However, as of July 1, 2023, psilocybin has been legal in Australia for medical use when prescribed by authorised psychiatrists for specific conditions, such as treatment-resistant depression. While magic mushroom spores and grow kits are legal to possess in Australia because they do not contain psilocybin, cultivating magic mushrooms from these spores is illegal.
The laws regarding magic mushrooms in Canada and Australia carry severe penalties for those who violate them, including imprisonment and criminal records. However, there is ongoing discussion and research regarding the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin, and advocacy groups are pushing for reclassification and easier access for medical use.
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They can cause hallucinations, heightened senses, and an altered state of consciousness
Psilocybin, the psychedelic in mushrooms, can cause hallucinations, heightened senses, and an altered state of consciousness. Also known as shrooms or magic mushrooms, these mushrooms can cause people to experience distorted sights and sounds and lose their sense of time and space. The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin within 30 minutes when eaten and can last approximately four to six hours. The duration is shorter when taken as a soup or tea—about 5 to 10 minutes.
Magic mushrooms are typically consumed dried, powdered, fresh, cooked, or brewed into a tea. Psilocybin is a chemical in certain types of mushrooms that grow on nearly every continent. The mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional ceremonies, with evidence of their use by indigenous people in Central America for healing and spiritual rituals as far back as 3000 B.C.
The effects of magic mushrooms can vary from person to person and are influenced by factors such as the amount and potency, as well as individual characteristics like age, biology, sex, personality, and history of drug use. People may experience visual and auditory hallucinations, seeing or hearing things that aren't real or are distorted. They may also lose their sense of time and space, entering a dreamlike, euphoric state with visions or reliving memories.
Psilocybin creates an "altered state of consciousness" by disrupting the normal synchronization of brain systems. According to Matthew Johnson, a professor of psychedelics and consciousness, psilocybin increases connectivity between brain areas that don't usually communicate while decreasing communication between local networks that typically interact frequently. This results in a "disorganized brain," breaking down boundaries between the auditory, visual, executive, and sense-of-self sections of the mind.
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There is ongoing research into psilocybin's potential to treat mental health disorders
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic found in certain types of mushrooms. Magic mushrooms, or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom and a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin within 20 to 60 minutes of ingestion and can last for four to six hours.
Some people take psilocybin in "microdoses," or very small amounts, because they believe it will improve mental health symptoms such as depression and stress, increase productivity, or reduce pain. However, it is not clear if microdosing is safe or effective. A study involving 19 participants found that COMP360 psilocybin therapy was generally well-tolerated when administered alongside SSRIs, showing a significant reduction in depression severity without serious adverse events. These findings indicate that psilocybin therapy could potentially serve as an adjunctive treatment to SSRI antidepressants, challenging the previously held belief that SSRIs may interfere with the therapeutic effects of psilocybin.
Psilocybin has been studied for its potential in treating anxiety symptoms in patients with cancer. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in 12 patients for the treatment of psychological distress associated with the existential crisis of terminal disease. The inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of acute stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, anxiety disorder due to cancer, or adjustment disorder with anxiety, along with a diagnosis of advanced-stage cancer.
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Frequently asked questions
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion.
The effects of psilocybin mushrooms vary depending on factors such as dosage, potency, and individual factors like age, biology, and personality. Common effects include hallucinations, heightened emotions and senses, and a distorted sense of reality.
While psilocybin mushrooms have a low toxicity level, there are still health risks associated with their consumption. Side effects may include nausea, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and confusion. It is important to be cautious when taking any type of drug, including magic mushrooms.
Psilocybin mushrooms can be consumed in various forms, including fresh or dried mushrooms, extracts, edibles, or brewed into a tea. They should not be injected intravenously as this can lead to serious health complications.
The legal status of psilocybin mushrooms varies by jurisdiction. In some places, such as Canada and Australia, activities related to magic mushrooms, such as sale, possession, and production, are illegal unless authorized by the appropriate regulatory body. It is important to check the laws in your specific location.
