Emily Johnson
Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom and a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They are mostly illegal in the US and internationally controlled under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin within 30 minutes and can last for up to six hours, causing hallucinations, nausea, and excessive yawning. The length and intensity of the trip vary depending on the user's mood, personality, and expectations, and in some cases, it may lead to a 'bad trip' with terrifying thoughts, paranoia, and panic attacks. While there is little evidence of physical or psychological dependence, regular use can lead to tolerance, and there are risks of poisoning due to the similarity in appearance to certain types of poisonous mushrooms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Magic Mushrooms, Shrooms, Mushies |
| Scientific Name | Psilocybin Mushrooms |
| Active Ingredients | Psilocybin, Psilocin, Baeocystin, Norbaeocystin, Aeruginascin, Norpsilocin |
| Effects | Euphoria, Heightened Emotions and Senses, Hallucinations, Anxiety, Paranoia, Nausea, Excessive Yawning, Distorted Sense of Time, Place and Reality |
| Duration of Effects | 4-6 hours |
| Onset of Effects | 15-45 minutes |
| Forms | Fresh, Cooked, Tea, Soup, Powder, Tablets, Capsules |
| Legality | Illegal in the US and Canada, with some exceptions |
| Risks | Poisoning, Bad Trips, Flashbacks, Death |
| Number of Species | Over 200 |
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What You'll Learn
Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic drugs
Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom and a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. The most potent species are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens. However, psilocybin has also been isolated from around a dozen other genera, including Panaeolus (including Copelandia), Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina. Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic drugs that can induce perceptual changes, such as visual and auditory hallucinations, and distort one's sense of reality. They can be consumed in various forms, including fresh, cooked, dried, or brewed into a tea.
The effects of magic mushrooms typically begin within 30 to 45 minutes of consumption and can last for up to 6 hours. The duration and intensity of the effects can vary depending on individual factors such as mood, personality, and expectations, as well as the dosage and potency of the mushrooms. While some users may experience mild trips characterised by drowsiness or relaxation, higher doses or stronger mushrooms can lead to more intense hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and distorted senses of time, place, and reality. It is worth noting that the effects of magic mushrooms are unpredictable, and a "bad trip" can occur, leading to terrifying thoughts, intense paranoia, panic attacks, and fears of death.
The active compounds in magic mushrooms, psilocybin and psilocin, are classified as psychoactive substances and are internationally controlled under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. The effects of these compounds are similar to those produced by LSD. While there is little evidence of physical or psychological dependence on magic mushrooms, regular use can lead to tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the desired effects. Additionally, there is a risk of experiencing flashbacks or "re-experiencing" some part of a previous trip, which can be disturbing, especially if the original experience was frightening.
Magic mushrooms have been used for thousands of years, with archaeological evidence suggesting their ceremonial and medicinal use in ancient cultures. However, it is important to exercise caution when considering the consumption of magic mushrooms due to the potential risks involved. Firstly, it is challenging to distinguish between psilocybin mushrooms and poisonous mushrooms, as they may closely resemble each other. Consuming poisonous mushrooms can lead to severe illness or even death. Secondly, while the health benefits of magic mushrooms are being explored, particularly in the treatment of mental health disorders, there are currently no approved therapeutic products containing psilocybin due to a lack of rigorous scientific evaluation of their safety and efficacy.
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They are also known as shrooms
"Shrooms" is a common term for psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms. They are mostly illegal in the U.S. but have a wide range of potential health benefits. Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic and can cause hallucinations, as well as affect a person's thoughts, emotions, and senses. They can make people feel happy, giggly, and creative, and they may also have a sense of mental and emotional clarity.
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 4 to 6 hours. The length and intensity of each mushroom trip can vary depending on how strong the mushrooms are, how much was consumed, and individual factors such as mood, personality, and expectations. A trip might be mild, leaving a person feeling drowsy or relaxed, but higher doses or stronger mushrooms can bring on hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and nervousness.
It is important to note that there are risks associated with consuming magic mushrooms. Poisonous mushrooms closely resemble psilocybin mushrooms, and it can be very dangerous to attempt to identify them on your own. Consuming the wrong type of mushroom can lead to severe illness or even death. Additionally, consuming large amounts of magic mushrooms can lead to a long-term mental health condition known as psychosis, and some people may experience flashbacks involving a previous magic mushroom experience.
Magic mushrooms have been used for thousands of years, with archaeological evidence suggesting that humans have consumed them for ceremonial and medicinal purposes. In Central America, Aztec and Mazateca cultures believed these mushrooms had divine properties and used them during important events. Despite their long history of use, magic mushrooms are currently controlled substances under international law and are illegal in most places without authorization.
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They have been used for thousands of years
Magic mushrooms, or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They are used as recreational drugs and may be ingested in their fresh or dried form, or brewed into tea. They may also be turned into extracts or food products.
In British Columbia, magic mushrooms are believed to have been used for spiritual or medicinal purposes by Haida and other coastal first nations. However, there is little evidence in the formal ethnological literature of their traditional use, even as food. Most local peoples appeared to avoid mushrooms in general.
The Liberty Cap, or Psilocybe semilanceata, is a grassland species strongly associated with grazing livestock. It is a common species in temperate Europe and has a long history of use as an intoxicant in many parts of the northern hemisphere.
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They have a wide range of effects
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, mood, personality, and expectations.
The effects of magic mushrooms typically begin within 30 to 45 minutes of consumption and can last for up to six hours. Early physical effects may include nausea, excessive yawning, and stomach cramps. Once these initial effects wear off, the "trip" begins. The trip can vary widely in intensity and can be influenced by factors such as dosage, mood, personality, and expectations.
A mild trip may leave a person feeling drowsy or relaxed, while a stronger dose or more potent mushrooms can lead to hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, nervousness, and a distorted sense of time, place, and reality. In some cases, a ""bad trip"" may occur, which can be a frightening experience involving intense paranoia, panic attacks, and fears of death. It is worth noting that it is challenging to predict what kind of trip each user will have, and there is no way to end a bad trip until it has run its course.
In very rare cases, consuming a large quantity of magic mushrooms can lead to severe side effects, such as septic shock and multi-system organ failure, or even death. Additionally, some users may experience flashbacks, where they relive a part of their drug trip, days, weeks, months, or even years after taking magic mushrooms. These flashbacks can be triggered by stress, tiredness, or exercise and can be disturbing, especially if a frightening experience is recalled.
It is important to note that magic mushrooms can be difficult to identify, and some poisonous mushrooms closely resemble psilocybin mushrooms. Therefore, it is crucial to be cautious and only consume magic mushrooms if you are certain of their identity, as consuming poisonous mushrooms can have severe health consequences.
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They can be dangerous and even fatal
Magic mushrooms, or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom and a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They may be ingested in their fresh or dried form, mixed with food, brewed as tea, or turned into extracts or food products. The effects of magic mushrooms generally begin after about 30 to 45 minutes and can last as long as 6 hours.
While the effects of magic mushrooms can be euphoric and sensory-distorting, they can also be dangerous and even fatal. The length and intensity of each "trip" vary depending on the strength of the mushrooms and the amount consumed. The trip also depends on the user's mood, personality, and expectations. Some trips may be enjoyable, but others may lead to terrifying thoughts of losing control, intense paranoia, panic attacks, and fears of death. With mushrooms, it's challenging to predict what kind of trip each user will have. Moreover, there's no way to end a bad trip until it has run its course, which could take hours.
In very rare cases, consuming a huge amount of mushrooms can lead to severe side effects that may even cause death. Additionally, some mushroom users experience flashbacks where they relive a part of a drug trip when they are no longer high. These flashbacks can occur without warning, from a few days to several months after taking mushrooms.
Another significant danger associated with magic mushrooms is the risk of consuming poisonous mushrooms by mistake. Many poisonous mushrooms closely resemble psilocybin mushrooms, and even professionals sometimes struggle to distinguish between the two. Consuming the wrong type of mushroom can lead to poisoning and severe illness or even prove fatal. Therefore, it is crucial to be extremely cautious when identifying and consuming mushrooms.
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