Sarah Brown
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are 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. The effects of psilocybin mushrooms include euphoria, sensory distortion, hallucinations, and an altered state of consciousness. The active ingredients in magic mushrooms, psilocybin and psilocin, are controlled substances in many countries due to their hallucinogenic effects. While some people use these mushrooms recreationally, there are potential risks associated with their consumption, including negative experiences known as \bad trips\ and \flashbacks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Magic mushrooms, Shrooms |
| Scientific name | Psilocybin mushrooms |
| Active ingredients | Psilocybin, Psilocin |
| Effects | Euphoria, Hallucinations, Heightened senses, Anxiety, Fear, Nausea, Muscle twitches, Increased heart rate and blood pressure, Distorted sense of reality, Altered perception of time and space, Intense mood changes, Flashbacks |
| Toxicity | It is very difficult to overdose on psilocybin mushrooms. The median lethal dose or LD50 of psilocybin is 280 mg/kg. |
| Legality | Illegal in Canada and the US under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. |
| History | Rock art from c. 9000–7000 BCE from Tassili, Algeria, is believed to depict psychedelic mushrooms. Used in religious rituals 6,000 years ago in Spain and by native peoples of Mesoamerica. |
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What You'll Learn
Hallucinogenic mushrooms contain psilocybin and psilocin
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, contain the psychoactive substances psilocybin and psilocin. These substances are classified as Schedule I drugs by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which means they are considered to have a high potential for abuse and no legitimate medical purpose. However, there is increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, and clinical trials are underway to explore its possible benefits.
Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic chemical found in certain mushrooms, and when ingested, it is converted into psilocin by the liver through a process called dephosphorylation. These substances are the primary hallucinogenic toxins in the most commonly ingested genus of hallucinogenic mushrooms, Psilocybe. Other genera that contain psilocybin include Panaeolus (including Copelandia), Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina.
The effects of psilocybin and psilocin include hallucinations, an altered state of consciousness, and sensory distortions. They can also induce euphoria and heightened emotions and senses, leading to laughter and a sense of mental and emotional clarity. However, negative effects such as anxiety, fear, nausea, and muscle twitches may also occur. The experience is often referred to as a "trip," and if the effects are predominantly unpleasant, it may be called a "bad trip."
The effects of psilocybin mushrooms typically appear within 15 to 45 minutes of ingestion and last for four to six hours. The duration of the effects depends on the quantity consumed, the individual's past experiences, and their expectations of the experience. Psilocybin works by binding to and activating serotonin receptors in parts of the brain that affect mood, cognition, and perception.
It is important to note that the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms carries risks. While it is difficult to overdose on psilocybin mushrooms due to their low toxicity, consuming extremely large amounts can be dangerous and may even cause death. Additionally, there is a risk of accidental poisoning from ingesting poisonous mushrooms that resemble hallucinogenic ones.
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These chemicals are hallucinogens
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, are a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. These mushrooms are used as recreational drugs and may have been depicted in Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe.
The two primary hallucinogenic toxins in psilocybin mushrooms are psilocybin and psilocin. These chemicals are hallucinogens that produce effects similar to LSD. They are classified as Schedule I substances, meaning that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) believes they have a high potential for abuse and serve no legitimate medical purpose.
When psilocybin is ingested, it is broken down by the liver in a process called dephosphorylation, resulting in the compound psilocin. These chemicals create short-term increases in tolerance, making it difficult to misuse them as the more often they are taken within a short period, the weaker the effects are. The hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin usually occur within 30 minutes to 45 minutes of ingestion and last between four and six hours.
The effects of psilocybin mushrooms include hallucinations, an altered state of consciousness, and sensory distortion. They may also cause heightened emotions and senses, making people feel happy and creative, and experience a sense of mental and emotional clarity. However, they can also lead to negative experiences, such as anxiety, fear, nausea, and muscle twitches, accompanied by increased heart rate and blood pressure.
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They are controlled substances in many countries
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin. This drug turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion, causing hallucinations and an altered state of consciousness. The effects of psilocybin mushrooms usually appear within 15-45 minutes and last for four to six hours.
Magic mushrooms have been used by various cultures throughout history for medicinal and religious purposes. They may have been depicted in Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe, and they were certainly represented in pre-Columbian sculptures and glyphs throughout the Americas. However, despite their historical use, magic mushrooms are now controlled substances in many countries.
In 1970, psilocybin and psilocin became classified as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions and the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act (also known as the Controlled Substances Act). Schedule I drugs are defined as illicit drugs with a high potential for abuse and no recognized medical uses. As a result of this classification, activities involving magic mushrooms, psilocybin, and psilocin, such as sale, possession, and production, are often illegal unless authorized by specific regulatory bodies.
The possession and use of psilocybin mushrooms are prohibited under most national drug laws, including the US Psychotropic Substances Act, the UK Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and the Japanese Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law. However, there has been ambiguity in the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms in some jurisdictions, with some US states, such as New Mexico and Colorado, decriminalizing their use or possession.
The main risks associated with the use of magic mushrooms include the possibility of a ''bad trip', which can be influenced by a person's mood, environment, and the use of other substances. Additionally, there is a risk of mistaking poisonous mushrooms for magic mushrooms, as well as the potential for adverse interactions with certain medications.
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They can cause euphoria, hallucinations, and sensory distortion
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom. They contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. These substances are responsible for the mushrooms' psychoactive effects.
The effects of psilocybin mushrooms include euphoria, hallucinations, and sensory distortion. Users may experience heightened emotions and senses, feeling happy and creative, and laughing a lot. They may also have a distorted sense of reality, mixing up their senses, such as believing they can see music or hear colours. Psilocybin works by binding to and activating serotonin receptors in parts of the brain that affect mood, cognition, and perception. It also affects other regions of the brain that regulate arousal and panic responses.
The hallucinations caused by psilocybin mushrooms can be disturbing, and users may experience anxiety, fear, or panic. A ""bad trip"" may occur, particularly at high doses, and can include paranoia, loss of boundaries, and a distorted sense of self. In very rare cases, taking a large amount of mushrooms can cause severe side effects and even lead to death. Additionally, some users experience flashbacks, where they relive part of a previous drug trip, which can be triggered by using other drugs, stress, tiredness, or exercise.
The effects of psilocybin mushrooms typically appear within 15-45 minutes of ingestion and last for four to six hours. The quantity consumed, past experiences, and expectations can all influence the user's reaction to the drug. Microdosing has become a popular technique, where a small amount of mushrooms is taken for a less intense experience that is still recreationally enjoyable.
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They have been used for thousands of years
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, have been used for thousands of years. They are 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 other genera, including Panaeolus, Inocybe, and Gymnopilus.
The history of hallucinogenic mushroom use can be traced back to ancient rock art and sculptures. For example, rock art from Tassili, Algeria, dating back to 9000-7000 BCE, is believed to depict psychedelic mushrooms and their effects on users. Similarly, prehistoric rock art near Villar del Humo in Spain suggests that Psilocybe hispanica was used in religious rituals 6,000 years ago.
In Mesoamerica, hallucinogenic mushrooms have a long history of use among native peoples for religious communion, divination, and healing. Mushroom stones and motifs found in Guatemala further support this. A notable example is the discovery of a statuette from around 200 CE in the Mexican state of Colima, which depicts a mushroom resembling Psilocybe mexicana. This species was known to the Aztecs as teōnanācatl, meaning "divine mushroom," and was reportedly served at the coronation of the Aztec ruler Moctezuma II in 1502.
Following the Spanish conquest, Catholic missionaries campaigned against the use of hallucinogenic mushrooms, considering it idolatry. Despite this, the tradition persisted in some remote areas. The first mention of hallucinogenic mushrooms in European medicinal literature was in 1799, when a man served Psilocybe semilanceata mushrooms to his family, resulting in a child experiencing fits of laughter.
Today, hallucinogenic mushrooms are used recreationally, spiritually, and medically. Microdosing, or taking small amounts of dried mushrooms, has become a popular technique to achieve a less intense experience. The active compounds psilocybin and psilocin create short-term increases in tolerance, making it difficult to misuse them. However, it is important to note that the effects of hallucinogenic mushrooms can vary depending on an individual's mood, expectations, and environment.
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Frequently asked questions
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, contain the hallucinogens psilocybin and psilocin. When psilocybin is ingested, it is broken down by the liver and turns into psilocin, which is responsible for the psychedelic effects.
The effects of hallucinogenic mushrooms include hallucinations, sensory distortion, euphoria, anxiety, fear, nausea, and muscle twitches. The effects of magic mushrooms vary from person to person and can be influenced by factors such as mood, environment, and past experiences.
While it is very rare for hallucinogenic mushrooms to cause life-threatening symptoms, they can lead to negative experiences known as \"bad trips". Additionally, the consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms can result in accidental poisoning, as some poisonous mushrooms have a similar appearance.
The active ingredients in hallucinogenic mushrooms, psilocybin and psilocin, are controlled substances under international and local laws. The production, sale, and possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms are illegal in many places, including Canada. However, there is ongoing research into the potential therapeutic uses of these substances.
