John Miller
Magic mushrooms and LSD (acid) are two of the most well-known psychedelic substances. While they can produce similar effects, such as hallucinations, there are also many differences. Mushrooms are typically dried and eaten or brewed into tea, while LSD is usually dropped onto squares of paper or sugar cubes, or directly into the mouth. Mushrooms produce a more whole-body experience, while LSD is largely a cerebral trip. Mushrooms are also less potent than LSD, meaning it takes less acid to get high and become dependent. This results in a higher risk of LSD overdose. However, it's nearly impossible to predict how someone will react to either of these drugs, and whether the experience will be positive or negative.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Mushrooms, shrooms, magic mushrooms, caps, boomers |
| Active chemical | Psilocybin |
| Natural/synthetic | Natural |
| Form | Fresh or dried mushrooms |
| Consumption | Eaten raw, brewed into tea, mixed with food or drinks |
| Effects | Hallucinations, heightened sensory awareness, impaired judgment, altered perception of time, inability to distinguish fantasy from reality, mystical experiences, visions, blending of senses, paranoia, anxiety, fear |
| Overdose | Possible |
| Duration | 6 hours |
| Addiction | No |
| Side effects | Nausea, sickness, diarrhoea |
| Risks | Poisoning, stomach problems, flashbacks of past trips (hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder) |
| Legal status | Schedule I drug in the US, no accepted medical use |
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What You'll Learn
- Magic mushrooms are wild mushrooms that contain psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychoactive compound
- Psilocybin mushrooms have low toxicity, but it is possible to overdose on the drug after consuming large amounts
- Mushrooms produce more of a whole-body experience, whereas an LSD trip is largely cerebral
- Mushrooms are usually dried and eaten or brewed into a tea, while LSD is taken from a dropper or dissolved in the mouth
- Mushrooms and LSD present various risks, including paranoia, anxiety, fear, and an increased risk for those with cardiac or vascular problems
Magic mushrooms are wild mushrooms that contain psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychoactive compound
Magic mushrooms, also known as "shrooms", are wild mushrooms that contain psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychoactive compound. They are commonly found in the tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Mexico, and the United States. Psilocybin mushrooms have long, slender stems topped with caps that have dark gills on the underside. They are available fresh or dried and are typically ingested orally, either alone or mixed with food or drinks. They may also be brewed into tea to mask their bitter flavor.
Psilocybin is classified as a Schedule I drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), indicating a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in the United States. However, psilocybin mushrooms have been used for centuries by various cultures for their hallucinogenic properties. The mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional ceremonies, with evidence of indigenous people in Central America using them for healing and spiritual rituals as early as 3000 B.C.
When psilocybin is ingested, it is converted by the body into psilocin, which interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain. This interaction leads to a profound change in consciousness, altering patterns of brain activity and resulting in distorted sights and sounds, hallucinations, an altered perception of time, and an inability to distinguish fantasy from reality. The effects of magic mushrooms typically last about 6 hours, with users experiencing a range of physical and mental side effects, including increased heart rate, nausea, paranoia, anxiety, and fear.
While magic mushrooms are naturally occurring, LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), another well-known psychedelic, is a synthetic chemical. LSD is derived from a substance found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye, and is typically ingested orally in the form of drops, gelatin sheets, blotting paper, or sugar cubes. The effects of LSD can last up to 10 hours and are perceived to proceed more rapidly than those of magic mushrooms. Despite their similarities, magic mushrooms and LSD can produce very different experiences, with mushrooms offering a more whole-body experience and LSD providing a largely cerebral trip.
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Psilocybin mushrooms have low toxicity, but it is possible to overdose on the drug after consuming large amounts
Psilocybin, the active chemical in hallucinogenic mushrooms, has low toxicity. However, it is possible to overdose on the drug after consuming large amounts. 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. People who take psilocybin may also feel intense emotions ranging from bliss to terror and may have physical side effects such as increased heart rate, nausea, and diarrhoea.
The mushrooms have a long history of use, with evidence that indigenous people in Central America used them for healing and spiritual rituals as far back as 3000 BC. Today, they are used recreationally and by those seeking to improve their mental health. While certain cultures have used some mushrooms for their hallucinogenic properties for centuries, it wasn't until 1938 that psilocybin was isolated by Dr Albert Hofmann, who also discovered LSD.
Psilocybin mushrooms are produced naturally, while LSD is synthetically created. Due to their different compositions, LSD and shrooms differ greatly in their side effects and overall influence on the body. The side effects of LSD are unpredictable and can vary depending on the person's experience with the drug and their mental state. In many instances, these side effects consist of various mental and emotional changes.
While it is rare, LSD can also affect your central nervous system and lead to an increase in monosynaptic reflexes, muscle tension, and muscular incoordination. The odds of these issues occurring can increase with repeated use. Similarly, psilocybin can cause serious side effects, and excessive consumption of psilocybin mushrooms can lead to behavioural issues such as aggression, violence, and risky behaviour.
Both mushrooms and LSD present various risks, including increased risk for those with cardiac or vascular problems. Psychologically, there is always the added risk of an unpleasant trip marked by paranoia, anxiety, and fear. While these symptoms usually wear off in a day, some people may experience flashbacks of past trips, a condition known as hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD). Although this condition is rare, chronic users of either substance are more likely to experience HPPD if they have any underlying mental illnesses.
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Mushrooms produce more of a whole-body experience, whereas an LSD trip is largely cerebral
"Magic" mushrooms and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) are two of the most well-known psychedelic substances. While they share similarities, they also produce very different experiences.
Mushrooms are usually dried and eaten or brewed into a tea. They can also be mixed with food or drinks to mask their bitter flavour. The active chemical in hallucinogenic mushrooms is psilocybin, which is broken down into psilocin when digested. Psilocin interacts with serotonin receptors in the brain, altering patterns of brain activity and contributing to a profound change in consciousness. This can result in a distorted sense of time and space, as well as intense emotions ranging from bliss to terror. Mushrooms are known to provide a calming high and produce a more whole-body experience.
On the other hand, LSD is a man-made chemical compound known for its hallucinogenic effects. It is commonly sold in the form of drops on gelatin sheets, pieces of blotting paper, sugar cubes, or liquid formulations, tablets, and capsules, which are all ingested orally. LSD affects the central nervous system and can lead to increased reflexes, muscle tension, and muscular incoordination. It produces a largely cerebral experience, with users reporting more extreme experiences on either end of the spectrum.
Both mushrooms and LSD can induce a "trip", but the nature of this experience differs. A mushroom trip usually lasts about 6 hours, while an LSD trip can continue for up to 10 hours. Despite the longer duration of LSD trips, they are often perceived as proceeding more rapidly than mushroom trips. Additionally, due to the lower potency of mushrooms, it is easier to develop a tolerance and ingest larger amounts of LSD, increasing the risk of intoxication and overdose.
While both substances have their own unique effects, it is important to approach them with caution. They can induce "bad trips" marked by paranoia, anxiety, fear, and flashbacks, especially for individuals with underlying mental illnesses.
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Mushrooms are usually dried and eaten or brewed into a tea, while LSD is taken from a dropper or dissolved in the mouth
Mushrooms that contain psilocybin are available fresh or dried and are typically taken by mouth. They may be brewed as a tea or added to other foods to mask their bitter flavour. The effects of mushrooms generally begin after about 30 to 45 minutes and can last as long as 6 hours. Early effects typically include nausea and excessive yawning. After these initial effects, the "
Mushrooms are classified as Schedule I drugs by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), meaning they have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in the United States. In very rare cases, if someone takes a huge amount of mushrooms, the side effects can be severe enough to cause death. Some mushroom users also experience flashbacks, or hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD), where they relive some part of a drug trip when they're no longer high.
LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, is a synthetic chemical that is used recreationally. It is available in powder, liquid, tablet, or capsule form and is usually taken by mouth. It can also be inhaled through the nose or injected into a vein. LSD is commonly sold in the form of drops dried onto gelatin sheets, pieces of blotting paper, and sugar cubes, which are all ingested orally.
The effects of LSD usually begin within 20 to 30 minutes of ingestion and peak in about 2 to 4 hours, lasting up to 12 hours. The danger of LSD is that its effects are unpredictable. Depending on how much you take and how your brain responds, a trip may be "good" or "bad". While a "good" trip may be stimulating and pleasurable, a "bad" trip can be very unpleasant and frightening. LSD can also harm the body in different ways, leading to increased heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and body temperature, as well as sleeplessness, loss of appetite, tremors, sweating, and mental problems such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.
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Mushrooms and LSD present various risks, including paranoia, anxiety, fear, and an increased risk for those with cardiac or vascular problems
Mushrooms and LSD are two of the most well-known psychedelics. While they have certain similarities, they can also produce very different experiences. Both substances are hallucinogenic, and users of both may experience feelings of euphoria and sensory distortion. However, the effects of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic chemical found in magic mushrooms, vary widely. Users may experience disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, and panic. In addition, there is a risk of accidental poisoning from misidentifying and consuming the wrong types of mushrooms. The symptoms of mushroom poisoning include muscle spasms, confusion, and delirium.
LSD is a mind-altering drug that affects the brain chemical serotonin, which controls behaviour, mood, the senses, and thinking. The danger of LSD is that its effects are unpredictable. Users may feel joy, a sense of clarity, and reduced fear. However, they may also experience terrifying thoughts, paranoia, and fear, as normally controlled fears may become out of control. The unpredictability of LSD means that users may not know whether they will have a ""good" or "bad" trip. In addition, LSD can lead to health problems, including increased heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and body temperature. It may also cause sleeplessness, loss of appetite, tremors, sweating, and mental problems such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. Some users experience flashbacks, where parts of the trip return even without using the drug again.
Combining mushrooms and LSD increases the intensity of each, which can be dangerous. It can also increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. In addition, both substances can lead to psychological dependence. While neither substance is considered physically addictive, users may develop a tolerance over time, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effects.
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Frequently asked questions
Magic mushrooms are wild mushrooms that contain psilocybin, a naturally-occurring psychoactive and hallucinogenic compound. They are typically dried and eaten or brewed into tea.
LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, is a synthetic chemical that is derived from ergot, a fungus found in grains like rye. It is commonly sold in the form of drops dried onto gelatin sheets, pieces of blotting paper, and sugar cubes, all of which are ingested orally.
Magic mushrooms produce hallucinogenic-type effects similar to LSD, including giggling, relaxation, and hallucinations. They can also cause stomach problems such as nausea, sickness, and diarrhoea. A ""bad trip"" on magic mushrooms can last between 6-8 hours.
When taken in small doses, LSD can produce mild changes in perception, thought, and mood. Larger doses can lead to more intense side effects such as visual hallucinations and distortions in the perception of space and time. An LSD trip usually lasts about 10 hours and occurs mostly in the cerebral region of the brain.
