Michael Davis
Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as magic mushrooms, are a species of psilocybin mushroom whose principal active compounds are psilocybin and psilocin. They are one of the most widely recognised and cultivated psilocybin mushrooms in the world, owing to their ease of cultivation and wide distribution. They have been used by humans since ancient times, with archaeological evidence pointing to their use in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, where 'mushroom stones' carved to represent hallucinogenic mushrooms have been found. They have also been consumed in spiritual rituals by the Maya, Aztecs, Huastec, Totonac, Mazatec, and Mixtec peoples.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Magic mushroom, Shroom, Golden Halo, Golden Teacher, Cube, Gold Cap, Liberty Caps |
| Genus | Psilocybe |
| Species | Cubensis |
| Active compounds | Psilocybin, Psilocin, Baeocystin, Aeruginascin |
| Height | 2.5-10 cm |
| Cap width | 16-80 mm |
| Cap colour | White to ochraceous-brown |
| Gills colour | Pale grey, deepening to sepia |
| Stem height | 20-80 mm |
| Stem colour | Yellowish, darkening centrally |
| Spore shape | Elliptic |
| Spore size | 8.8-10.5 microns wide |
| Spore colour | Yellow-brown tint in KOH solution |
| Habitat | Subtropical regions, river valleys |
| Occurrence | Gulf Coast states, southeastern US, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Southeast Asia, Australia, Fiji, Nepal, Hawaii |
| Cultivation | Easy, indoors |
| Therapeutic benefits | Treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction |
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What You'll Learn
History and Traditional Use
Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as magic mushrooms, shrooms, golden halo, golden teacher, cube, or gold cap, is a species of psilocybin mushroom of moderate potency. The principal active compounds of Psilocybe cubensis are psilocybin and psilocin. It belongs to the fungus family Hymenogastraceae and was previously known as Stropharia cubensis. It is the best-known psilocybin mushroom due to its wide distribution and ease of cultivation.
The species was first described in 1906 as Stropharia cubensis by American mycologist Franklin Sumner Earle in Cuba. In 1907, it was identified as Naematoloma caerulescens in Tonkin (now Vietnam) by French pharmacist and mycologist Narcisse Théophile Patouillard. In 1941, it was called Stropharia cyanescens by William Alphonso Murrill near Gainesville in Florida. German-born mycologist Rolf Singer moved the species into the genus Psilocybe in 1949, giving it the binomial name Psilocybe cubensis.
Psilocybe cubensis is a pan-tropical species, occurring in the Gulf Coast states and southeastern United States, Mexico, in the Central American countries of Belize, Costa Rica, Panamá, El Salvador and Guatemala, the Caribbean countries Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Guadalupe, Martinique, and Trinidad, in the South American countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Paraguay, Uruguay and Peru, Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia, India, Australia, Fiji, and possibly Nepal and Hawaii.
Psilocybe cubensis has been used by humans since ancient times, owing to the fact that it grows easily. The psychotropic effects are given by the most important active principles, psilocybin and psilocin. The consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms in ritual ceremonies was widespread among Mesoamerican cultures. Religious practices with sacred mushrooms extended from the Valley of Mexico to the rest of Central America, and they are thought to be at least 3500 years old. The Maya consumed k’aizalaj Okox (Psilocybe cubensis), known to the Aztecs as teonanácatl or "god's flesh". These mushrooms were also consumed by the Huastec, Totonac, Mazatec, and Mixtec peoples.
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Cultivation and Preservation
Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as magic mushrooms, are a species of psilocybin mushroom known for their moderate potency. They are relatively easy to cultivate indoors and are widely distributed.
Cultivation
The cultivation of Psilocybe cubensis involves several steps, including strain selection, substrate preparation, inoculation, incubation, initiation, fruiting, and harvest. Here are the detailed instructions for cultivating Psilocybe cubensis:
- Strain Selection: Choose the desired strain of Psilocybe cubensis, considering factors such as potency and ease of cultivation.
- Substrate Preparation: Prepare the substrate, which is the food source for mushroom mycelium. Common substrates include rye grain, brown rice flour, vermiculite, and coco coir. Mix the chosen materials in the correct proportions, ensuring optimal moisture content and cleanliness.
- Inoculation: In a sterile environment, introduce spores into the sterilized substrate using a syringe. This step ensures the even distribution of spores and prevents contamination.
- Incubation: Store the inoculated substrate in a dark, stable environment, allowing the mycelium to colonize it fully. This process usually takes about a month.
- Initiation: Once colonization is complete, plant the mycelium into a bulk substrate, such as a coconut husk fiber and vermiculite mixture.
- Fruiting: Provide proper humidity, temperature, and fresh air exchange to promote the growth of Psilocybe cubensis fruiting bodies. Mushrooms thrive in specific environmental conditions, so control these factors carefully.
- Harvest: After a month of planting, harvest the fully grown Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms.
Preservation
Proper preservation techniques are crucial to maintain the potency and quality of Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms. Here are the recommended steps for preserving them:
- Drying: Dry the mushrooms in a moderately warm space, with temperatures between 60-70°F and humidity between 55-65%. Air drying on a wire rack or a clean cloth is recommended. Dehydrators can also be used, but at low temperatures.
- Storage: Store dried mushrooms in airtight containers, such as glass jars or vacuum-sealed plastic bags. Keep them in a cool, dark, and dry place, such as a pantry, to prevent mould growth and ensure freshness. Avoid exposure to moisture, heat, light, and high humidity.
- Long-Term Storage: For extended preservation, consider drying the mushrooms thoroughly and using vacuum-sealed bags or desiccant-packed jars. Freezing dried mushrooms can also preserve their potency, but avoid freezing psilocybin directly as it can damage the integrity of the compounds.
- Regular Inspection: Regularly inspect the stored mushrooms for any signs of mould or degradation. If contamination is detected, discard the affected mushrooms and do not mix them with other fungi.
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Scientific Classification
Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as magic mushrooms, is a species of psilocybin mushroom of moderate potency. It belongs to the fungus family Hymenogastraceae and was previously known as Stropharia cubensis. The species was first described in 1906 as Stropharia cubensis by American mycologist Franklin Sumner Earle in Cuba. In 1907, it was identified as Naematoloma caerulescens in Tonkin (now Vietnam) by French pharmacist and mycologist Narcisse Théophile Patouillard. In 1941, it was called Stropharia cyanescens by William Alphonso Murrill near Gainesville in Florida. German-born mycologist Rolf Singer moved the species into the genus Psilocybe in 1949, giving it the binomial name Psilocybe cubensis.
Psilocybe cubensis is a pan-tropical species, occurring in the Gulf Coast states and southeastern United States, Mexico, Central American countries like Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Guatemala, the Caribbean countries Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, and Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia. It is also found in Australia, Fiji, and possibly Nepal and Hawaii.
The mushroom has no odour and has been described as tasting farinaceous, with an alkaline or metallic aftertaste. The spores are 11.5–17.3 x 8–11.5 μm, sub-ellipsoid, basidia 4-spored but sometimes 2- or 3-spored, and pleurocystidia and cheilocystidia are present. The cap is 1.6–8 cm, conic to convex with a central papilla when young, becoming broadly convex to plane with age, and the cap surface is smooth and sticky. The cap is brown, becoming paler to almost white at the margin and fades to more golden-brown or yellowish with age. The stem (stipe) measures 20–80 mm in height and is hollow and yellowish, darkening centrally.
Psilocybe cubensis is a coprophilous species, meaning it thrives on the dung of herbivorous animals such as cows and horses. It prefers humid environments, making subtropical regions, particularly river valleys, ideal for its growth. The transpiration and growth of the mushroom are heavily influenced by the humidity of the air, and misting enhances both the growth and transpiration rates in the growing process.
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Psychoactive Compounds
Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as magic mushrooms, are well-known for their synthesis of psychoactive compounds such as psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin, and aeruginascin. The mushrooms are also known as shrooms, golden halo, golden teacher, cube, or gold cap. The principal active compounds are psilocybin and psilocin, which are classified as prohibited drugs by the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Drugs. Psilocybin is an indolealkylamine, O-phosphoryl-4-hydroxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine, and psilocin is 4-hydroxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine. They are both indole alkaloids derived from tryptamine with potent agonist activity at 5-HT receptors.
Psilocybin is the psilocin precursor and is more stable. Psilocybin undergoes dephosphorylation after ingestion, transforming it into psilocin, which has stronger hallucinogenic properties. Psilocybin can be absorbed in the form of fresh, non-boiled mushrooms or as dried powdered mushroom. The mushrooms are often dehydrated and stored in airtight containers in cool, dark environments to preserve potency. Mushrooms grown in the dark have higher levels of psilocybin and psilocin.
Psilocybin interacts with the brain's serotonin receptors, leading to a range of effects such as altered perception, changes in mood, and hallucinations. Psilocybin mushrooms have been used for centuries in various cultural and spiritual contexts and are currently being studied for their potential therapeutic benefits. Modern research suggests that psychoactive compounds such as psilocybin and psilocin have the potential to catalyze therapeutic transformations in treating psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and addiction.
Psilocybe cubensis is one of the most widely recognized and cultivated psilocybin mushrooms in the world. It is relatively easy to cultivate, contributing to its popularity. The species was first described in 1906 in Cuba, from which it derives its name. It is a coprophilous species, thriving on the dung of herbivorous animals such as cows and horses, and preferring humid environments, making subtropical regions ideal for its growth.
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Safety and Research
Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as magic mushrooms, shrooms, golden halo, golden teacher, cube, or gold cap, is a species of psilocybin mushroom of moderate potency. The principal active compounds in these mushrooms are psilocybin and psilocin, which are controlled psychoactive substances under Schedule I of the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971). Psilocybin is a prodrug that turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion.
From a toxicological perspective, it is challenging to overdose on psilocybin mushrooms due to their primary toxin compounds. Consuming extremely high amounts of psilocybin would require ingesting more than 1.2 kg of dried Psilocybe cubensis, given that 1-2% of the dried mushroom contains psilocybin. However, significantly elevated levels of psilocin can overstimulate the 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, causing acute serotonin syndrome. A 2015 study observed that a dose of 200 mg/kg psilocin induced symptoms of acute serotonin poisoning in mice. While neurotoxicity-induced fatal events are uncommon with psilocybin mushroom overdose, fatal events related to emotional distress and trip-induced psychosis can occur due to over-consumption.
Psilocybe cubensis is relatively easy to cultivate indoors. First, spores are inoculated within sterilized jars or bags containing a carbohydrate nutrient like rye grains. After a month, the spores fully colonize the grain spawn, forming dense mycelium, which is then planted within a bulk substrate such as a coconut husk fiber and vermiculite mixture. With proper humidity, temperature, and fresh air exchange, the substrate will produce fruiting Psilocybe cubensis bodies within a month. To preserve potency, growers often dehydrate the fruit and store them in airtight containers in cool environments. Interestingly, a 2009 study found that mushrooms grown in the dark had higher levels of psilocybin and psilocin compared to those grown in bright, indirect light.
Psilocybe cubensis has been used by humans since ancient times, with archaeological evidence of its use in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. It is one of the most widely recognized and cultivated psilocybin mushrooms globally, known for its widespread natural occurrence and ease of cultivation. Modern research suggests that psilocybin mushrooms have therapeutic potential in treating resistant psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and addiction. However, there is limited scientific research on the effects of growth conditions on the psychoactive compound content, and more studies are needed to advance our understanding of this species.
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Frequently asked questions
Psilocybe cubensis, commonly known as magic mushrooms, are a species of psilocybin mushroom that induce hallucinogenic effects.
Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms contain the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin, which are classified as prohibited drugs by the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Drugs.
The effects of consuming cubensis mushrooms can vary widely but often include visual and auditory hallucinations, altered perception of time and space, euphoria, introspection, pupil dilation, nausea, and increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms are generally not considered toxic, and fatal intoxications due to exposure to these mushrooms are rare. However, they can induce a temporary increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which may present a risk to individuals with cardiovascular illnesses. Therefore, the safety of consuming these mushrooms in heart failure conditions needs further investigation.
Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms are relatively easy to cultivate indoors. First, spores are inoculated within sterilized jars or bags containing a carbohydrate nutrient such as rye grains. After a month, the spores fully colonize the grain spawn, forming dense mycelium, which is then planted within a bulk substrate such as a coconut husk fiber and vermiculite mixture. Given proper humidity, temperature, and fresh air exchange, the substrate will produce fruiting Psilocybe cubensis bodies within a month of planting.
