Sarah Brown
Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic fungi that contain the psychedelic drug psilocybin, which can trigger hallucinations, a sense of euphoria, and changes in perception of space and time. Psilocybin is known to cause nausea, panic attacks, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. While the effects of magic mushrooms are usually short-term, lasting from six to eight hours, some researchers have found that they may also cause long-term changes in personality, specifically in the trait of openness, which includes characteristics such as imagination, strong emotions, and an appreciation for art and new experiences. These personality changes were observed to last at least 14 months in a study, and researchers believe they may be permanent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Permanent Personality Change | A single strong dose of hallucinogenic mushrooms can alter a person's personality for more than a year and perhaps permanently. |
| Factors of Personality Change | The personality trait of "openness" was found to have increased in 60% of volunteers in a study. |
| Other Factors | Psilocybin may also cause nausea, panic attacks, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. |
| Mystical Experience | The root of the change seems to be the mystical experiences that psilocybin triggers. |
| Therapeutic Benefits | Psilocybin may have therapeutic benefits, including helping people break out of negative thought patterns. |
| Addiction | It is currently unknown if psilocybin is addictive. |
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What You'll Learn
- Magic mushrooms may permanently alter your personality
- The active ingredient, psilocybin, can trigger hallucinations
- There are potential risks, including psychosis and extreme terror
- Mushrooms have been used in spiritual practices for thousands of years
- Psilocybin may have therapeutic benefits, such as treating depression
Magic mushrooms may permanently alter your personality
Magic mushrooms, or hallucinogenic fungi, have long been used by some cultures as a spiritual aid and have grown in popularity as a recreational drug. They contain a compound called psilocybin, which is a psychedelic drug that can trigger hallucinations, a sense of euphoria, and changes in perception of space and time.
Taking magic mushrooms can have a lasting impact on an individual's personality, making them more open about their feelings and the way they perceive things. A study involving 51 volunteers who took a single high dose of psilocybin found that 60% scored higher on psychological tests measuring the fundamental personality trait of "openness" for at least a year later. Openness is a psychological term referring to an appreciation for new experiences, including traits such as having a strong imagination, a sense of aesthetics, and a tendency to have a lot of feelings.
The root of this personality change seems to be the mystical experiences that psilocybin often triggers. These profound, transcendent feelings feel no less real to people for being chemically induced. Many people report that their experience with psilocybin was one of the most profound experiences of their life, and it is in this context that it is not surprising that it might have a permanent effect.
It is important to note that the use of psychedelic drugs can also trigger psychosis, particularly in those with a family history of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. Additionally, the most commonly reported negative side effect of taking magic mushrooms is having a "bad trip," which can involve unpleasant physical symptoms such as nausea, chills, vomiting, or headaches, as well as negative psychological effects such as paranoia, anxiety, or extreme terror.
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The active ingredient, psilocybin, can trigger hallucinations
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is a hallucinogenic compound that has been known and used by our ancestors for thousands of years. It is a Schedule I substance, meaning that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) believes it has a high potential for abuse and serves no legitimate medical purpose. However, psilocybin does not appear to be physically addictive, and there is no significant evidence of withdrawal effects.
When ingested, psilocybin is converted in the body to psilocin, a chemical with psychoactive properties. Psilocybin works by binding to and activating serotonin receptors in parts of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. This activation can lead to hallucinations, sensory distortion, and altered perception of time and space. The effects of psilocybin vary between individuals and can be influenced by factors such as dosage, past experiences, and expectations.
The hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin typically occur within 30 minutes of ingestion and can last between four to six hours. During this time, individuals may experience visual and auditory hallucinations, seeing or hearing things that do not exist or are distorted. In some cases, psilocybin can cause persistent and distressing alterations in perception, such as visual flashbacks, which can last from weeks to years after ingestion. This condition is known as hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder and is considered rare.
While the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin in mental health treatment have gained attention, it is important to acknowledge the potential side effects, including hallucinations and feelings of disconnection from reality. Psilocybin therapy should be approached with caution and conducted in a controlled clinical setting under the supervision of trained therapists.
In summary, the active ingredient psilocybin is responsible for the hallucinogenic effects of magic mushrooms. While it has shown potential in therapeutic applications, particularly in mental health, it can also trigger hallucinations and other perceptual changes that may be disturbing or persistent in some individuals. Therefore, it is crucial to approach psilocybin use with caution and to prioritize safe and guided settings when exploring its therapeutic potential.
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There are potential risks, including psychosis and extreme terror
While psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, may have therapeutic potential for treating depression, anxiety, and end-stage cancer, there are also potential risks associated with its use. These risks include psychological distress, extreme anxiety, paranoia, panic, and short-term psychosis. Factors such as mental health, setting, quantity, and expectations may affect the experience someone has after using psilocybin. For example, a case study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry described a patient who experienced a profound negative reaction after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms. Within hours of her first ingestion, she began experiencing symptoms of mania. Hours after the second ingestion, she developed paranoid delusions that persisted for months, along with a marked reduction in sleep, intrusive racing thoughts, and impulsive behaviour.
Another potential risk of psilocybin use is the possibility of flashbacks, which can range from mild experiences such as changing lights or colours to more intense experiences involving panic, dissociation, and hallucinations. These flashbacks can be very disruptive, even though they typically last only a minute or two. Additionally, there is a risk of misidentifying mushrooms and accidentally consuming a toxic variety. Certain commercial products marketed as containing psilocybin have also been found to contain toxic chemicals, leading to severe illness.
While the risk of mental health problems such as psychosis or suicidality in supervised clinical settings is low, poor mental health outcomes may be more likely with unsupervised usage. Furthermore, although current research suggests that psilocybin is not addictive, people who use illicit drugs often use other substances as well, some of which have a high potential for addiction. It is also important to note that psilocybin can cause physical side effects such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, which may be dangerous for individuals with certain medical conditions.
Overall, while psilocybin may have potential therapeutic benefits, it is essential to approach its use with caution and be aware of the potential risks involved, including the possibility of extreme terror and psychosis. More research is needed to fully understand the effects of psilocybin and to develop safe and effective therapeutic applications.
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Mushrooms have been used in spiritual practices for thousands of years
Mushrooms, specifically those of the genus Psilocybe, have been used in spiritual practices for thousands of years. The oldest known petroglyph depicting the use of psychoactive mushrooms comes from the rock shelters at Tassili n'Ajjer on the southern edge of the Sahara desert in Algeria, dating back to the Neolithic period. Similar rock paintings and carvings have been found in other parts of the world, including Siberia and Mesoamerica, suggesting that the use of mushrooms in spiritual practices was widespread in ancient times.
In Mesoamerica, for example, ancient mushroom-shaped sculptures and figurines have been discovered, indicating the importance of mushrooms in the region's spiritual practices. These artifacts, along with depictions of mushrooms in iconography and manuscripts, suggest that psilocybin mushrooms played a central role in shamanistic rituals and healing ceremonies. The Mixtec and Nahua cultures, including the Aztecs, are known to have used psilocybin mushrooms in their spiritual practices. The Nahuatl word "teonanacatl", or "flesh of the gods", was used to describe these sacred mushrooms.
The use of psilocybin mushrooms in spiritual practices was not limited to Mesoamerica but was also prevalent in other parts of the world. In India, for instance, Sanskrit texts refer to the legendary food of the gods, known as "Soma", which is believed by scholars to contain the hallucinogenic fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria). The ancient Greeks who practiced the Eleusinian Mystery Rites also likely consumed a wheat-based beverage infected with the ergot fungus, which has psychoactive properties.
The integration of mushrooms into spiritual practices is believed to be due to their psychoactive effects, which can induce feelings of transcendence and hallucinations. These effects can lead to profound, mystical experiences that can have a lasting impact on individuals, potentially resulting in a more ""open"" personality that values new experiences, emotion, art, and curiosity. However, it is important to note that mushrooms are hallucinogens and can have dangerous side effects, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, flashbacks, and symptoms of psychosis.
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Psilocybin may have therapeutic benefits, such as treating depression
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has been the subject of growing research interest over the last two decades. Psilocybin has been found to produce perceptual changes, altering a person's awareness of their surroundings, thoughts, and feelings.
Psilocybin has shown promise in treating a range of mental health disorders, particularly major depressive disorder. In a study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers, psilocybin-assisted therapy, when combined with supportive psychotherapy, produced substantial antidepressant effects that lasted at least a year for some patients. The treatment resulted in large decreases in depression severity, with participants showing stable rates of response and remission throughout the follow-up period. This suggests that psilocybin may be a uniquely useful treatment for depression, offering enduring relief from symptoms with just one or two treatments.
The potential antidepressant efficacy of psilocybin was initially suggested by preliminary studies involving patients with life-threatening cancer. Subsequent studies have focused on its use in treatment-resistant depression, with promising results. In a phase 2 double-blind trial, adults with treatment-resistant depression were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of psilocybin along with psychological support. The goal of the integration sessions was to support participants in deriving their own insights and solutions from their experience with psilocybin.
The root of psilocybin's therapeutic effects may lie in the mystical and transcendent experiences it often triggers. These profound feelings can lead to a more \"open\" personality, characterized by an appreciation for new experiences, broad imaginations, and a valuing of emotion, art, and curiosity. This increased openness may have therapeutic benefits, helping individuals break out of negative thought patterns.
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Frequently asked questions
Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic fungi that contain the psychedelic drug psilocybin. This drug can trigger hallucinations, a sense of euphoria, and changes in your perception of space and time.
When ingested, psilocybin becomes psilocin, a chemical that activates serotonin receptors in your brain.
The effects of magic mushrooms include hallucinations, a sense of euphoria, and changes in your perception of space and time. Some people also experience negative side effects such as nausea, chills, vomiting, headaches, paranoia, anxiety, and extreme terror.
According to some studies, magic mushrooms may permanently alter your personality, making you more open to new experiences, feelings, and creativity. However, the results are not conclusive, and more research is needed.
Magic mushrooms may have dangerous effects, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, symptoms of psychosis, and flashbacks. They can also be addictive and cause permanent brain damage if taken in large amounts or frequently.
