Michael Davis
Magic mushrooms, also known as psilocybin mushrooms, are fungi consumed for their psychedelic effects. They have been consumed for thousands of years by indigenous people worldwide for medicinal and ceremonial use. When consumed, psilocybin is rapidly metabolized into psilocin, which is the molecule that induces the psychedelic mushroom experience, often referred to as a journey or trip. The effects of psilocybin mushrooms can range from extremely positive to incredibly challenging, with common experiences including shifts in perception, heightened emotions, and a distorted sense of time, reality, and self. The quantity of mushrooms consumed, the strength of the mushrooms, and individual factors such as metabolic rate, mood, personality, and expectations will influence the duration and intensity of the trip. This article will provide an introduction to consuming psilocybin mushrooms, covering topics such as preparation, dosage, and potential risks to help ensure a positive and safe experience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reasons to consume | Curiosity, excitement, medicinal use, ceremonial use, recreational use |
| Consumption methods | Consuming capsules, brewing tea, making edibles, injecting, snorting, swallowing tablets, consuming plain, consuming cooked, consuming dried, consuming fresh, soaking in tea, blending with cooked food items, blending with fruit juice |
| Factors influencing effects | Metabolic rate, quantity consumed, quantity of food consumed, presence of addictive substances in the body, weight of the person, mood, personality, expectations |
| Time to take effect | 30-120 minutes, 90 minutes, 2 hours (on an empty stomach) |
| Precautions | Avoid consuming large quantities, consuming on an empty stomach, consuming with prescription drugs, consuming with epilepsy, consuming while monitoring glucose, consuming while driving |
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What You'll Learn
Preparation and mindset
The psilocybin experience can range from being extremely positive to incredibly challenging. It can open your consciousness to the wonders of the universe, or it can send you sliding into a despair deeper than you've ever known. The difference between a good and bad trip can come down to knowing what you're doing and taking time to prepare.
First, it's important to conduct a clear-eyed risk assessment. Do you have epilepsy? Are you on any prescription medication? Do you need to monitor your glucose levels throughout the day? It's important to research how psilocybin might interact with any pre-existing conditions or other substances you are taking.
Next, you should consider your mindset and expectations going into the experience. Psilocybin doesn't necessarily make you happy, and a more positive mindset will likely result in a more positive experience. If you go into the experience feeling depressed, anxious, or unhappy, the drug may amplify your bad mood. Your expectations may also be wrong, but they will affect your trip. If you take psilocybin because you want to get high and party, you might instead have a deeply religious experience.
Finally, it's important to understand how long psilocybin will take to take effect so that you don't accidentally consume too much. The duration varies from 30 to 120 minutes, and some individuals think that psilocybin works better on an empty stomach. However, taking psilocybin on an empty stomach may lead to abdominal pain or nausea, so it's best to have a small, nutritious meal beforehand.
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Consumption methods
Consuming psilocybin mushrooms, often referred to as "shrooms", is a personal preference and can vary from person to person. Shrooms have been consumed for thousands of years by indigenous people worldwide for medicinal and ceremonial use.
It is important to note that psilocybin is a hallucinogenic substance that alters a person's sense of reality and affects judgment. Therefore, it is not recommended to drive or operate heavy machinery while under the influence of psilocybin mushrooms.
- Dried mushrooms: This is the standard method of preservation and consumption. Dried mushrooms can be eaten directly, but some people may find the taste unpleasant. It is recommended to let the mushrooms rehydrate before consuming them.
- Grinding and capsules: Due to their strong flavour, some people prefer to grind the dried mushrooms into a powder and then consume them in capsules. This can make it easier to control the dosage and avoid the unpleasant taste.
- Tea: Psilocybin mushrooms can be soaked in hot water to make a tea. This method may reduce the potency of the mushrooms, but it can be a gentler way to consume them.
- Edibles: Shrooms can be blended or cooked into various food items, such as pastries or sweets. However, this method can make it difficult to control the dosage, and applying heat may affect the potency of the mushrooms.
- Powdered form: Psilocybin powder can be mixed with fruit juice or blended with cooked food items. It can also be injected or snorted, but these methods are less common and may carry additional risks.
It is important to remember that the effects of psilocybin mushrooms can vary depending on individual factors such as metabolism, dosage, and personal expectations. It is recommended to start with a small dose and wait at least 90 minutes to assess the effects before consuming more. Additionally, consuming shrooms on an empty stomach may lead to a milder experience and help avoid abdominal pain or nausea. However, it is generally recommended to have a small, nutritious meal beforehand to reduce the risk of negative side effects.
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Effects and experiences
The effects of psilocybin mushrooms are often described as a journey or trip. The experience can range from being extremely positive to incredibly challenging. Many people who consume psilocybin mushrooms report feeling more connected to their feelings and emotions, with some even having mystical experiences. It is not uncommon to feel wonder, awe, immense gratitude, or a sense of calm.
Psilocybin is a hallucinogen that affects all the senses, altering a person's thinking, sense of time, and emotions. It can cause visual or auditory hallucinations, with users seeing or hearing things that do not exist or are distorted. Objects and people in the user's environment may also appear to be distorted. Visual distortions may include light halos, geometric patterns, amplified colours, and the movement of objects such as trees that appear to breathe.
The experience of consuming psilocybin mushrooms can also lead to heightened emotions and shifts in perception. Some people may feel euphoria, while others may experience anxiety, paranoia, or short-term psychosis. The sense of time is often distorted, with users reporting an altered perception of time and space.
The effects of psilocybin mushrooms can vary depending on individual factors such as mental health, setting, quantity consumed, and expectations. It is important to approach the experience with a sense of curiosity and excitement, avoiding media content that may evoke strong negative emotions. Having a facilitator or guide during the experience, as well as counselling sessions before and after, can also enhance the positive effects and reduce potential challenges.
In addition to the psychedelic effects, psilocybin mushrooms have been used medicinally for thousands of years by indigenous people worldwide. Modern research has explored the therapeutic potential of psilocybin in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and existential distress caused by life-threatening diseases. Clinical trials have demonstrated significant improvements in mental health, well-being, and psychological functioning, with participants reporting reduced anxiety, depression, and increased spiritual well-being.
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Safety and side effects
Consuming psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, carries certain risks and side effects. While the effects of psilocybin vary widely, adverse side effects may occur and, in some cases, require medical treatment.
Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic substance that can induce euphoria, hallucinations, and sensory distortion. The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin within 30 minutes when eaten, or within 5–10 minutes when taken as a soup or tea, and can last approximately four to six hours. The quantity consumed, past experiences, and expectations can influence an individual's reaction to psilocybin.
The potential side effects of psilocybin mushrooms include disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, and panic, and unpredictable behaviour, which may lead to injuries. Additionally, dried mushrooms may contain other substances that affect their safety profile. Magic mushrooms closely resemble poisonous mushrooms, which can cause severe illness and even death.
It is important to exercise caution when consuming psilocybin mushrooms, particularly for individuals with specific medical conditions or those taking prescription medications. Those with epilepsy, glucose monitoring requirements, or mental health concerns should carefully assess the potential risks. Furthermore, individuals taking prescription drugs for depression or anxiety should conduct thorough research, as certain medications can amplify or mute the effects of psilocybin.
While psilocybin is not considered poisonous to organs, it can leave individuals vulnerable to external dangers. It is crucial to be aware of the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms in your region, as possession and use may incur penalties.
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Legality and sourcing
The legality of psilocybin mushrooms varies across the world. Psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse or drugs that have no recognized medical use. However, the UN Convention does not specifically mention the mushrooms containing the drug, and psilocybin mushrooms have had numerous medicinal and religious uses in dozens of cultures throughout history.
In the United States, psilocybin is federally regulated and considered a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substance Act. This makes it illegal to possess, sell, or grow. However, some states have made exceptions, such as Colorado and Oregon, which have legalized certain uses for adults over 21. Oregon has also licensed "psilocybin service centers" where people can consume magic mushrooms in a supervised setting. A few cities in the US have also chosen to deprioritize the enforcement of drug laws prohibiting magic mushrooms.
Canada has allowed some access to psilocybin for frontline clinicians and their patients, and there is a bill pending in the California State Legislature that would legalize the "possession, obtaining, giving away, or transportation" of specified quantities of psilocybin. Germany, California, Georgia, and Idaho have specifically prohibited the sale and possession of psilocybin mushroom spores.
In the UK, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 prohibits psilocybin. In Australia, the drug is included in the Poisons Standard (October 2015). It is also listed under the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 1996 and the Japanese Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law of 2002.
Given the evolving legal status of psilocybin mushrooms, it is essential to research the current laws in your specific location and consult a legal professional if necessary.
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Frequently asked questions
Psilocybin mushrooms can be consumed in a variety of ways, including eating them raw, grinding them into capsules, brewing them into tea, or incorporating them into food or drinks. Some people also opt to consume the powdered form of psilocybin by injecting, snorting, or swallowing it in tablet form.
The time it takes for the effects of psilocybin mushrooms to be felt can vary from 30 minutes to 2 hours or more. Factors such as metabolic rate, the amount consumed, whether food was consumed beforehand, and the presence of other substances in the body can influence the onset and duration of the effects.
Yes, consuming psilocybin mushrooms carries risks and potential side effects. Psilocybin can distort one's sense of time, place, and reality, and taking too high of a dose can lead to psychosis or, in rare cases, death. Other side effects may include hallucinations, heightened emotions, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and flashbacks. It is important to conduct thorough research and consult reliable sources before consuming psilocybin mushrooms.
