Emily Johnson
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. Psilocybin mushrooms are used as recreational drugs and may have been depicted in Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe. They have also been represented in pre-Columbian sculptures and glyphs seen throughout the Americas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Magic Mushrooms, Shrooms |
| Scientific Name | Psilocybin Mushrooms, Psilocybe |
| Active Ingredients | Psilocybin, Psilocin, Norpsilocin, Baeocystin, Norbaeocystin, Aeruginascin |
| Effects | Hallucinations, Anxiety, Fear, Nausea, Muscle Twitches, Increased Heart Rate, Increased Blood Pressure, Hilarity, Lack of Concentration, Muscular Relaxation, Dilated Pupils, Heightened Emotions, Heightened Senses, Laughter, Giggling, Sense of Mental and Emotional Clarity |
| Duration of Effects | 4-6 Hours |
| Onset of Effects | 5-10 Minutes (Tea), 30 Minutes (Eaten), 15-45 Minutes |
| Forms | Fresh, Cooked, Tea, Powder, Tablets, Capsules |
| Dose | Subthreshold/Microdose (2.5 mg), Low (5-10 mg), Intermediate/Good Effect (20 mg), High/Ego-Dissolution (30-40 mg), Heroic (5.0 g) |
| Legality | Illegal in Canada |
| Risks | Bad Trips, Flashbacks, Delayed Headaches, Psychosis, Fatal Events Due to Emotional Distress, Poisoning |
| Treatment | Supportive Care for Overdose, Victorian Poisons Information Centre (Australia), Ambulance (Australia) |
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What You'll Learn
Psilocybin mushrooms
While psilocybin mushrooms are used recreationally, there is also increasing interest in their potential therapeutic benefits. Clinical trials are investigating their potential to treat various mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance use disorders. However, it is important to note that the production, sale, and possession of psilocybin mushrooms are illegal in many places, and their use can lead to negative experiences, such as ""bad trips" or "flashbacks.""
The psychological consequences of psilocybin use can include hallucinations, an altered sense of reality, and an inability to discern fantasy from reality. In some cases, panic reactions and psychosis may occur, especially with large doses. While physical and psychological dependence on psilocybin mushrooms is rare, regular use can lead to tolerance, where even high amounts of the drug will no longer produce the desired effects.
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Bolete mushrooms
Hallucinogenic bolete mushrooms are said to induce Lilliputian hallucinations, causing people to see the "xiao ren ren" or "little people." These hallucinations are unique and distinct from the effects typically associated with other psychoactive mushrooms. The Yunnan mushrooms, for instance, are reported to induce hallucinations of walls moving and shifting, geometrical patterns, and strange shapes and object transformations.
The history of these mushrooms' hallucinogenic properties dates back to a missionary's report in 1936, where native consumption in Papua New Guinea was linked to "madness." This was further explored by anthropologist Marie Reay in the 1950s, who described the mushrooms as causing Lilliputian hallucinations. In the 1960s, mycologists Gordon Wasson and Roger Heim investigated over 400 mushrooms in the area, identifying six species associated with "mushroom madness." They sent one species, Boletus manicus, to German chemist Albert Hofmann, who detected trace amounts of unidentified indolic compounds. However, the quantities were too low for definitive identification.
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Magic mushroom effects
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 effects of magic mushrooms can vary from person to person and depend on the dose and type of mushroom used. The effects usually begin within 15-45 minutes of ingestion and can last approximately four to six hours.
The psychological consequences of psilocybin use include hallucinations, sensory distortion, euphoria, and an inability to discern fantasy from reality. Hilarity, lack of concentration, and muscular relaxation (including dilated pupils) are also common effects. However, a negative environment or a person's anxious state of mind can contribute to a "`bad trip\"", which may include paranoia, loss of boundaries, a distorted sense of self, and heightened anxiety. In rare cases, fatal events related to emotional distress and trip-induced psychosis can occur as a result of over-consumption of psilocybin mushrooms.
The strength of magic mushrooms can vary greatly, and it can be difficult to distinguish between different species of mushrooms. Poisonous mushrooms may be mistaken for magic mushrooms, and consuming them can result in minor gastrointestinal illness, with severe instances requiring medical attention.
Regular use of magic mushrooms may lead to tolerance, with the drug eventually having little to no effect. There is a low risk of addiction, and no known physical withdrawal symptoms, although mild psychological effects and feelings of tiredness may occur. However, further research is needed to fully understand the potential risks and benefits of magic mushroom use.
There is increasing interest in the therapeutic uses of magic mushrooms and psilocybin. While clinical trials have shown promising results, there are currently no approved therapeutic products containing psilocybin.
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Magic mushroom legality
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 most potent species are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens.
The legal status of unauthorised actions with psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide. Psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with a "high potential for abuse" or drugs that have "no recognized medical uses". However, psilocybin mushrooms have had numerous medicinal and religious uses in dozens of cultures throughout history and have a significantly lower potential for abuse than other Schedule I drugs. Psilocybin mushrooms are not regulated by UN treaties. Many countries, however, have some level of regulation or prohibition of psilocybin mushrooms (for example, the US Psychotropic Substances Act, the UK Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and the Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act). In some jurisdictions, Psilocybe spores are legal to sell and possess because they do not contain psilocybin or psilocin.
There has been a great deal of ambiguity about the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms in many national, state, and provincial drug laws, as well as a strong element of selective enforcement in some places. Most US state courts have considered the mushroom a "container" of illicit drugs, and therefore illegal. A loophole further complicates the legal situation—the spores of psilocybin mushrooms do not contain the drugs and are legal to possess in many areas. For example, in California, purchasing commercial mushroom spores and growing kits is legal, but cultivating active mushrooms for use or distribution nearly always results in felony narcotics charges.
In recent years, there has been a growing trend of localities, particularly in North America, revising their legal frameworks regarding psychedelics. This includes making the enforcement of psychedelics' illegality the lowest law enforcement priority in a given city (such as in Oakland and Washington, DC) to state-wide legalization of specific psychedelics (such as in Oregon and Colorado). On 3 November 2020, voters passed a ballot initiative in Oregon that made "magic mushrooms" legal for mental health treatment. In 2022, Colorado became the second US state to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms. On 5 October 2022, the Canadian province of Alberta announced it would be among the first to regulate and allow the use of psilocybin for medicinal purposes. In November 2020, the District of Columbia passed the Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020, which came into effect on 15 March 2021, allowing for the possession and non-for-profit gifting or distribution of psilocybin mushrooms. In Australia, psilocybin was approved for use in prescription medications for the treatment of PTSD and treatment-resistant depression in February 2023.
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Mushroom overdose
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. However, psilocybin has also been isolated from a dozen other genera, including Panaeolus, Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina.
While mushroom poisoning is rare, it can occur due to the misidentification of a poisonous species as edible or through intentional ingestion. The symptoms of mushroom poisoning depend on the toxin ingested, including amatoxin, psilocybin, muscarine, coprine, allenic norleucine, and gyromitrin. Of the many mushroom species, only about 100 are toxic. Most poisonings exhibit symptoms of gastrointestinal upset, which is more likely to occur with small quantities of toxic mushrooms.
It is important to note that no dose of psilocybin mushrooms is considered "safe," and fatal events related to emotional distress and trip-induced psychosis can occur due to overconsumption. However, neurotoxicity-induced fatal events are uncommon, as most patients admitted to critical care are released after receiving moderate treatment.
If you believe you or someone else has eaten a poisonous mushroom, do not wait for symptoms to occur. Contact a poison control center or a mycologist for assistance in mushroom identification and treatment recommendations.
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Frequently asked questions
Hallucinogenic mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, 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 magic mushrooms usually begin within 30 minutes of ingestion and can last approximately four to six hours. The effects include perceptual changes, such as visual and auditory hallucinations, hilarity, lack of concentration, muscular relaxation, heightened emotions and senses, and an altered state of consciousness.
Yes, there are several dangers associated with consuming hallucinogenic mushrooms. Firstly, they can lead to negative experiences or "bad trips", which can be influenced by the user's environment and state of mind. Secondly, they can cause physical side effects such as nausea, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and muscle twitches. Thirdly, in rare cases, fatal events have occurred due to emotional distress and trip-induced psychosis resulting from over-consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Finally, consuming magic mushrooms can lead to flashbacks, which are typically visual distortions that involve changes in emotions or perception and can occur weeks, months, or even years after the drug was last taken.
