Laura Smith
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. The active ingredients in magic mushrooms are chemicals called psilocybin and psilocin, which are hallucinogens that produce effects similar to LSD. The effects of magic mushrooms include heightened emotions and senses, hallucinations, and an altered state of consciousness. While the use of magic mushrooms rarely results in any life-threatening symptoms, it is important to note that they can have short-term mental and physical effects, and there is a risk of experiencing a `bad trip.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Magic mushrooms, shrooms |
| Scientific name | Psilocybin mushrooms |
| Active ingredients | Psilocybin, psilocin, norpsilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, aeruginascin |
| Effects | Hallucinations, altered state of consciousness, heightened emotions and senses, laughter, mental and emotional clarity, distorted sense of reality, paranoia, loss of boundaries, distorted sense of self, nausea, excessive yawning, increased blood pressure and heart rate |
| Duration of effects | 4–6 hours |
| Onset of effects | 15–45 minutes |
| Forms | Whole (fresh or dried), extracts, edibles, tea, powder, tablets, capsules |
| Dosage | Varies depending on psilocybin and psilocin content; psilocybin content typically around 0.5% to 1% of dried weight of mushroom, with a range of 0.03% to 1.78%; psilocin content up to 0.59% |
| Legality | Controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions; generally illegal in Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) |
| Risks | Bad trip, flashbacks, poisoning from similar-looking poisonous mushrooms, accidental ingestion by children or pets |
| Treatment in case of emergency | Call emergency services; National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline (in Australia) |
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What You'll Learn
Psychoactive substances psilocybin and psilocin
Psilocybin and psilocin are the active ingredients in magic mushrooms. They are classified as psychoactive substances, and their use and distribution are controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions. Psilocybin is a prodrug that turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. Psilocybin is also the O-phosphate ester of psilocin.
Psilocybin-containing mushrooms may be consumed in their whole form, such as fresh or dried mushrooms, or they may be turned into extracts or food products like mushroom tea or edibles. The dosage of psilocybin-containing mushrooms depends on the psilocybin and psilocin content, which can vary significantly between and within the same species. Psilocybin content is typically around 0.5% to 1% of the dried weight of the mushroom, with a range of 0.03% to 1.78%. Psilocin is also often present, with a range of 0% to 0.59%.
Psilocybin is rapidly dephosphorylated in the body to psilocin, which acts as a serotonin receptor agonist. Psilocin binds to and activates the serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5HT2a) receptor, affecting how the brain works and how different brain regions communicate with each other. These altered patterns of brain activity contribute to a person's profound change in consciousness. Some regions increase in activity and connectedness, while others decrease.
Psilocybin and psilocin have hallucinogenic effects, causing individuals to experience heightened emotions and senses, distorted sights and sounds, and a loss of their sense of time and space. They may feel happy and creative, laugh or giggle a lot, and experience a sense of mental and emotional clarity. However, they may also experience negative effects, such as anxiety, fear, paranoia, nausea, and muscle twitches, accompanied by increased heart rate and blood pressure. In some cases, the consumption of psilocybin and psilocin can lead to \"bad trips\" or \"flashbacks,\" which may be frightening and disturbing.
There is ongoing research into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and psilocin. There is interest in their ability to treat various mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and substance use disorders. While clinical trials have shown promising results, there are currently no approved therapeutic products containing psilocybin or psilocin.
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Short-term effects
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. Other substances that may be present in magic mushrooms include norpsilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, and aeruginascin.
The short-term effects of magic mushrooms typically appear within 15 to 45 minutes and last for four to six hours. The specific effects experienced may vary depending on the individual's mood, previous encounters with psychedelic drugs, expectations, and environment. For example, feelings of stress or anxiety before taking magic mushrooms may result in a "bad trip". A "bad trip" may also be more likely to occur in a noisy, crowded, or unfamiliar place. However, being in a good state of mind, with trusted friends, and in a safe, calm, and familiar environment can contribute to a positive experience.
The short-term effects of magic mushrooms can include heightened emotions and senses, increased creativity, laughter, and a sense of mental and emotional clarity. Magic mushrooms can also cause hallucinations and distort an individual's sense of reality, leading to experiences such as seeing and hearing things that are not there or mixing up the senses, like seeing music or hearing colours.
In addition, magic mushrooms can cause physical effects such as nausea, excessive yawning, stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. They can also lead to increased blood pressure and heart rate, which could be harmful to individuals with cardiac diseases. Delayed headaches may occur after taking magic mushrooms, typically lasting no longer than a day.
It is important to note that the use of magic mushrooms can elevate the risk of serious side effects when combined with other substances, such as cannabis, amphetamines, alcohol, or certain psychiatric medications. Mixing magic mushrooms with these substances may result in a relapse or worsening of psychiatric conditions. Additionally, individuals predisposed to or with existing psychiatric conditions may experience an elevated risk of side effects, even without mixing substances.
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Long-term effects
The long-term effects of magic mushrooms are not well understood, and research in this area is still lacking. However, some studies have revealed concerning information about the potential long-term effects of magic mushroom usage.
One possible long-term effect of consuming psilocybin, the hallucinogenic chemical found in magic mushrooms, is the occurrence of flashbacks, also known as hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD). These flashbacks can happen anywhere from a few days to years after ingesting psilocybin, and they can be very disruptive. During a flashback, a person may re-experience a hallucination or a traumatic recall of an intensely upsetting experience from a previous mushroom trip. While flashbacks may sometimes be mild, involving changing lights or colours, they can also involve intense panic, dissociation, and even hallucinations.
Another potential long-term effect of magic mushroom usage is a change in a person's personality or mood. Enduring changes in personality, attitudes, depression, spirituality, anxiety, well-being, substance misuse, meditative practices, and mindfulness have been documented in studies involving psychedelic drugs, with psilocybin being the most frequently administered drug.
In rare cases, the use of psychedelic drugs like magic mushrooms can induce persistent psychosis, which is characterised by visual disturbances, disorganised thinking, and mood changes. This is particularly true for individuals who already have mental health disorders. Additionally, the risk of injury while under the influence of magic mushrooms is high, and brain trauma or damage to other organs of the body can lead to permanent disability.
It is important to note that the physical long-term effects of magic mushrooms are considered rare, and adverse physical effects are sometimes attributed to underlying psychological disorders that were present before consuming the drug. Furthermore, the dramatic changes in brain state and neuron interactions caused by magic mushrooms can trigger long-lasting psychological effects, such as panic attacks, paranoia, and a distorted sense of self and reality.
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Magic mushroom identification
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin-containing mushrooms, 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 principal component of magic mushrooms is psilocybin, which is converted into psilocin to produce psychoactive effects. The effects of the substance are dose-dependent and may include perceptual, cognitive, and emotional changes.
Magic mushrooms are consumed orally, either eaten whole or brewed as part of a tea. They may be depicted in Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe, but are more certainly represented in pre-Columbian sculptures and glyphs seen throughout the Americas. They occur on all continents, but the majority of species are found in subtropical humid forests. They grow in meadows and woods in the subtropics and tropics, usually in soils rich in humus and plant debris.
Magic mushroom composition varies from genus to genus and species to species. The most potent species are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens, but psilocybin has also been isolated from approximately a dozen other genera, including Panaeolus (including Copelandia), Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina. P. semilanceata, commonly known in the UK as the Magic Mushroom, and in the USA as Liberty Cap, appears in grassland in autumn. It is most commonly found on pasture and parkland that has not been enriched with artificial fertilizer. It is fairly frequent in Britain and Ireland and occurs throughout Europe and North America.
P. cubensis is the most common Psilocybe in tropical areas. P. semilanceata is considered the world's most widely distributed psilocybin mushroom, found in temperate parts of Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand, although it is absent from Mexico.
It is important to exercise caution and restraint when attempting to identify psilocybin mushrooms. Ingesting a wild mushroom without a mycologist’s opinion could be deadly and produce adverse health consequences. While only 3% of known mushrooms are poisonous, looks can be deceiving. Magic mushrooms are relatively rare, urban-proximate mushrooms that have psychedelic properties when ingested.
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Magic mushroom legality
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are hallucinogenic fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. They are used as recreational drugs and have been depicted in Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe. They are also represented in pre-Columbian sculptures and glyphs throughout the Americas.
The legality of magic mushrooms varies across the world. Psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. This means they are considered to have a high potential for abuse and no recognised medical uses. However, the mushrooms themselves were not specifically included in the convention due to pressure from the Mexican government. As a result, many countries have different levels of regulation or prohibition in place. For example, in the US, most state courts have considered the mushroom a "container" of illicit drugs, and therefore illegal. However, there is ambiguity in the law as the spores of psilocybin mushrooms do not contain the drugs and are legal to possess in many areas. This has led to an active underground economy involved in the sale of spores and cultivation materials.
Some jurisdictions have specifically amended laws to criminalise the possession of psilocybin mushroom spores, including Germany, California, Georgia, and Idaho in the United States. On the other hand, some localities have made the enforcement of psychedelics' illegality the lowest law enforcement priority, such as in Oakland and Washington, DC. In November 2020, Oregon passed a ballot initiative that made "magic mushrooms" legal for mental health treatment. In 2022, Colorado became the second US state to decriminalise psilocybin mushrooms.
Outside of the US, the Canadian province of Alberta has allowed the use of psilocybin for medicinal purposes in drug-assisted psychotherapy since January 2023. Australia has also approved the use of psilocybin in prescription medications for the treatment of PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. In the UK, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 prohibits the possession and use of psilocybin under almost all circumstances, often carrying severe legal penalties.
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Frequently asked questions
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin-containing mushrooms, 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 active ingredients in magic mushrooms are chemicals called psilocybin and psilocin. Other substances that may be present include norpsilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, and aeruginascin.
Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic and can cause an altered state of consciousness. They can heighten emotions and senses, and distort one's sense of reality. They can also cause nausea, excessive yawning, and delayed headaches.
