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. The effects of psilocybin mushrooms include hallucinations, an inability to discern fantasy from reality, panic reactions, and psychosis. The length and intensity of each mushroom trip vary depending on the user's mood, personality, expectations, and environment. Magic mushrooms have been used in Mexican and Central American cultures for thousands of years in religious, divinatory, or spiritual contexts. Today, they are often used as recreational drugs and can be eaten, mixed with food, brewed into tea, or smoked. While some people report positive experiences with magic mushrooms, they can also cause negative reactions such as nausea, vomiting, anxiety, paranoia, and flashbacks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Magic mushrooms, shrooms |
| Scientific name | Psilocybin mushrooms |
| Key ingredient | Psilocybin |
| Chemical with psychoactive properties | Psilocin |
| Common types | Golden tops, blue meanies, liberty caps |
| Effects | Hallucinations, yawning, nausea, vomiting, euphoria, muscle weakness, relaxation, drowsiness, lack of coordination, inability to discern fantasy from reality, heightened anxiety, panic reactions, psychosis, flashbacks, increased tolerance |
| Use cases | Recreational, religious, spiritual, therapeutic |
| Availability | Smart shops, online |
| Forms | Whole, extracts, edibles, tea, capsules, crystalline powder, liquid |
| Dosage | Depends on psilocybin and psilocin content, typically around 0.5% to 1% of dried weight |
| Legality | Schedule 1 drug, decriminalized in Denver |
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What You'll Learn
- Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic and can cause you to see, hear and feel sensations that aren't real
- The key ingredient in magic mushrooms is psilocybin, which is converted to psychoactive psilocin in the body
- The effects of magic mushrooms are subjective and can vary considerably between users
- Magic mushrooms are used in Mexican and Central American cultures in spiritual contexts
- Magic mushrooms are being investigated for therapeutic use in treating addiction and anxiety
Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic and can cause you to see, hear and feel sensations that aren't real
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are a hallucinogenic and psychedelic drug. They contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychoactive chemical psilocin upon ingestion. This process is called dephosphorylation and occurs when psilocybin is broken down by the liver.
Magic mushrooms can cause users to see, hear, and feel sensations that seem real but are not. They alter a person's senses, thinking, sense of time, emotions, and perception. The effects of magic mushrooms are highly variable and influenced by factors such as dosage, age, weight, personality, emotional state, environment, and history of mental illness. For example, a comfortable and familiar environment can contribute to a pleasant experience, while a negative environment can lead to a bad trip.
The length and intensity of each mushroom trip can vary depending on the user's mood, personality, expectations, and the potency of the mushrooms. While some trips may be enjoyable, others may lead to terrifying thoughts, intense paranoia, panic attacks, and fears of death. It is challenging to predict the type of trip each user will have, and there is no way to end a bad trip until it has run its course, which could take hours.
In addition to their unpredictable effects, magic mushrooms can also be poisonous. Some species can cause violent illness or even death. Furthermore, magic mushrooms can interact with other drugs, including over-the-counter or prescribed medications, leading to unpredictable and dangerous consequences. Therefore, it is essential to approach magic mushrooms with caution and be aware of their potential risks and side effects.
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The key ingredient in magic mushrooms is psilocybin, which is converted to psychoactive psilocin in the body
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. Psilocybin is the key ingredient in magic mushrooms, and when ingested, it is broken down by the liver in a process called dephosphorylation, resulting in the compound psilocin. Psilocin is responsible for the psychoactive and psychedelic effects of magic mushrooms.
Psilocybin mushrooms have been used in Mexican and Central American cultures for thousands of years in religious, divinatory, or spiritual contexts. Rock art from Tassili, Algeria, dating back to around 9000–7000 BCE, is believed to depict psychedelic mushrooms and the transformation of the user under their influence. Prehistoric rock art near Villar del Humo in Spain suggests that Psilocybe hispanica was used in religious rituals 6,000 years ago.
The most potent species of psilocybin mushrooms belong to the genus Psilocybe, including P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens. However, psilocybin has also been found in several other genera, such as Panaeolus (including Copelandia), Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina. These mushrooms can be consumed in various forms, such as dried or fresh, or turned into extracts, edibles, or tea.
The effects of psilocybin mushrooms can vary significantly among individuals and are influenced by factors such as dosage, age, weight, personality, emotional state, environment, and history of mental illness. The psychedelic effects typically appear around 20 minutes after ingestion and can last up to 6 hours. Physical effects may include nausea, vomiting, euphoria, muscle weakness, relaxation, drowsiness, and lack of coordination. Psychological consequences can include hallucinations, panic reactions, and an inability to discern fantasy from reality. It is important to note that magic mushrooms can have unpredictable effects and may cause negative experiences or "bad trips."
While psilocybin is currently classified as a Schedule 1 drug, researchers are exploring its therapeutic potential in controlled research settings. Studies have shown that psilocybin-assisted therapy may be effective in treating depression, anxiety associated with terminal illness, and substance use disorders. In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted breakthrough-therapy status to psilocybin-assisted therapy, recognizing its potential in treating serious illnesses.
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The effects of magic mushrooms are subjective and can vary considerably between users
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 magic mushrooms are subjective and can vary considerably between users.
The variability of magic mushroom experiences is influenced by several factors, including dosage, age, weight, personality, emotional state, environment, and history of mental illness. The "set and setting" of the experience also play a crucial role in shaping the effects. "Set" refers to an individual's state of mind, previous encounters with psychedelic drugs, and expectations of the upcoming experience. For example, feelings of stress or anxiety before using magic mushrooms may result in a bad trip. The "setting" encompasses the environment in which the drug is taken, including factors such as the familiarity of the surroundings, the company of trusted friends, the indoor or outdoor location, lighting, and music. A calm, quiet, and relaxed environment can contribute to a positive experience, while a noisy and crowded place may lead to a negative trip.
The physical and psychological effects of magic mushrooms cover a wide range. Physically, users may experience nausea, vomiting, euphoria, muscle weakness or relaxation, drowsiness, and lack of coordination. Psychologically, magic mushrooms alter a person's senses, thinking, sense of time, emotions, and perception of reality. They can induce hallucinations, causing people to see, hear, or feel sensations that seem real but are not. The intensity of these hallucinations can vary, and some users may experience terrifying thoughts of losing control, intense paranoia, panic attacks, or fears of death.
The length and intensity of each mushroom trip can vary significantly, and it is challenging to predict the specific effects for each user. The variability in effects is due to the different concentrations of psilocybin and psilocin within and between mushroom species. Additionally, magic mushrooms create short-term increases in tolerance, making it difficult to misuse them as the effects weaken with repeated consumption within a short period. This characteristic also contributes to the variability of experiences, as subsequent doses may result in diminished effects compared to the initial experience.
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Magic mushrooms are used in Mexican and Central American cultures in spiritual contexts
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They are considered psychedelic drugs, which can affect all the senses, altering a person's thinking, sense of time, and emotions.
Magic mushrooms have been and continue to be used in Mexican and Central American cultures in spiritual contexts. In the Nahuatl language, the word "teonanacatl" means "the flesh of God". Before the Spanish colonisation of Mexico, certain mushrooms were considered sacred by the Mesoamerican peoples. However, with the colonisation, the ritual use of hallucinogenic mushrooms was condemned by evangelising monks who considered the mushrooms to be the work of the Devil. Despite this, the tradition survived, and in the 1950s, it was discovered that the rites were still being practised in some small villages in the central highlands of Mexico.
In the state of Oaxaca, there are three species of hallucinogenic mushrooms that grow during the rainy season. In the village of Huautla de Jímenez, the ritual use of magic mushrooms was kept alive by the shaman María Sabina. Today, several indigenous groups in Mexico continue to use magic mushrooms in traditional ceremonies, including the Nahuatls, the Matlazincs, the Totonacs, and the Mazatecs.
The use of magic mushrooms in Mexican and Central American cultures dates back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence, including pre-Columbian sculptures and glyphs, suggests that psilocybin mushrooms were used for religious, divinatory, and healing purposes. Mushroom stones and motifs have been found in Guatemala, and a statuette depicting a mushroom resembling Psilocybe mexicana was discovered in Colima, Mexico.
Psilocybe mexicana, also known as P. mexicanae, is a psychedelic mushroom species first used by the natives of North and Central America over 2,000 years ago. This species was studied by French botanist Roger Heim and later by Dr Albert Hofmann, who first isolated and named the active psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin.
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Magic mushrooms are being investigated for therapeutic use in treating addiction and anxiety
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are hallucinogenic and psychedelic. They contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychoactive chemical psilocin upon ingestion. Psilocybin is the active ingredient in over 100 species of mushrooms in the Psilocybe class, which have been used for hundreds of years in shamanic ceremonies and other rituals in South America.
Magic mushrooms are currently being investigated for their therapeutic potential in treating addiction and anxiety. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) supports clinical investigations into psilocybin as a therapeutic substance, including its effectiveness and safety as a treatment for substance use disorders and to help people quit smoking. Research has also shown that psilocybin-assisted therapy, given with supportive psychotherapy, may last at least a year for some patients.
Johns Hopkins Medicine was awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore the potential impacts of psilocybin on tobacco addiction. In a small double-blind study, Johns Hopkins researchers reported that a substantial majority of people suffering from cancer-related anxiety or depression found considerable relief for up to six months from a single large dose of psilocybin.
In addition to treating addiction and anxiety, psilocybin is also being investigated for its potential to treat other conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pain, and neurodegenerative disorders. Research to date suggests that the use of psilocybin does not typically lead to addiction, and it has not been known to cause physical or psychological dependence.
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Frequently asked questions
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 magic mushrooms vary from person to person and can be influenced by factors such as dosage, age, weight, personality, emotional state, environment, and history of mental illness. The "trip" can be positive, with feelings of euphoria, muscular relaxation, and dilated pupils. However, it can also lead to terrifying thoughts, intense paranoia, panic attacks, and fears of death.
No, magic mushrooms are not safe. They can be unpredictable and carry the risk of negative experiences or "bad trips". In addition, they may be poisonous and can interact dangerously with other drugs, including some psychiatric medications. In very rare cases, a high dosage of magic mushrooms can even cause death.
