Sarah Brown
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as 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 psilocybin mushrooms are subjective and vary among users, but they can include hallucinations, an altered state of consciousness, and an inability to discern fantasy from reality. Psilocybin mushrooms have been used for thousands of years by Indigenous groups and are considered sacred in many cultures. Today, they are popular as recreational drugs and have been researched for their potential therapeutic benefits in treating mental health disorders. However, it's important to note that the production, sale, and possession of psilocybin mushrooms are illegal in some countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Magic mushrooms, Shrooms |
| Scientific name | Psilocybin mushrooms |
| Active ingredients | Psilocybin, Psilocin |
| Effects | Hallucinations, heightened senses, anxiety, fear, nausea, muscle weakness, drowsiness, lack of coordination, euphoria, inability to discern fantasy from reality, panic reactions, psychosis, flashbacks |
| Duration of effects | 4-6 hours |
| Time taken to appear | 15-45 minutes |
| Forms | Whole dried or fresh mushrooms, extracts, edibles, tea, powder |
| Legality | Illegal in some places, including Canada and Australia |
| History | Used for thousands of years by Indigenous groups for healing, divination, and spiritual rites |
| Species | Over 100 species, including Psilocybe mexicana, P. cubensis, P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, P. cyanescens |
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What You'll Learn
Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms have been used for thousands of years and are considered sacred by many Indigenous groups around the world. They have been important for healing, divination, and spiritual rites in various cultures. The Aztecs, for example, referred to these mushrooms as "the flesh of the gods." In Mexico and Central America, psilocybin mushrooms have been and continue to be used in religious, divinatory, or spiritual contexts. Rock art from c. 9000–7000 BCE from Tassili, Algeria, is believed to depict psychedelic mushrooms and the transformation of the user under their influence.
The effects of psilocybin mushrooms are highly subjective and depend on factors such as the type of mushroom, preparation, and dose, and the psychological state and environment of the user. Users may experience sensory, emotional, and neural changes, including vivid colours or auras around objects and people, objects morphing into other forms, and synesthesia. The psychedelic effects typically appear around 20 minutes after ingestion and can last up to 6 hours. Physical effects may include nausea, vomiting, euphoria, muscle weakness or relaxation, drowsiness, and lack of coordination.
It is important to note that psilocybin mushrooms can also lead to negative experiences, such as \"bad trips\" and \"flashbacks.\" A negative environment or anxious state of mind can contribute to a bad trip, which may include panic reactions and psychosis, especially with large doses. Some people may experience flashbacks involving previous magic mushroom experiences, which can be disturbing if they recall frightening hallucinations. These flashbacks can occur weeks, months, or even years after the last consumption and can be triggered by stress, tiredness, or exercise. While neurotoxicity-induced fatal events are uncommon with psilocybin mushroom overdose, fatal events related to emotional distress and trip-induced psychosis can occur as a result of overconsumption.
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The effects of psilocybin and psilocin
Psilocybin and psilocin are the active ingredients in magic mushrooms. They are hallucinogens that produce effects similar to LSD. The effects of psilocybin and psilocin usually occur within 15 to 45 minutes of ingestion and can last for up to six hours. The duration of the effects depends on the dose and the type of mushroom used. The potency of psilocybin mushrooms varies, with the most potent species belonging to the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens.
Psilocybin is a prodrug that turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion. Psilocybin is broken down by the liver in a process called dephosphorylation, resulting in psilocin. Psilocin is the active form of psilocybin and is responsible for the hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin mushrooms. It is a substrate of the monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzyme MAO-A. The activation of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor is specifically responsible for the hallucinogenic effects of psilocin and other serotonergic psychedelics.
Psilocybin and psilocin create short-term increases in tolerance, making it difficult to misuse them. They have not been found to cause physical or psychological dependence. However, regular users may experience flashbacks involving previous magic mushroom experiences, which can be disturbing. While psilocybin and psilocin have potential therapeutic uses, particularly in treating depression and anxiety, they are controlled substances and their production, sale, and possession are illegal in many places.
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The history of magic mushrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom and a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain the prodrug psilocybin. This turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion, causing psychoactive effects. The most potent species are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens. However, psilocybin has also been found in a dozen other genera, including Panaeolus, Inocybe, and Gymnopilus.
Magic mushrooms have a long history of use in various cultures around the world. They may be depicted in Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe, with rock art from c. 9000–7000 BCE from Tassili, Algeria, believed to depict psychedelic mushrooms and the transformation of the user under their influence. Prehistoric rock art near Villar del Humo in Spain suggests that Psilocybe hispanica was used in religious rituals 6,000 years ago. In Mesoamerica, the native peoples have a history of using hallucinogenic species of the Psilocybe genus for religious communion, divination, and healing, from pre-Columbian times to the present day. Mushroom stones and motifs have been found in Guatemala, and a statuette depicting a mushroom strongly resembling Psilocybe mexicana was discovered in a tomb in the Mexican state of Colima, dating from around 200 CE.
The Aztecs knew the Psilocybe species as teōnanācatl, or "divine mushroom," and it was reportedly served at the coronation of the Aztec ruler Moctezuma II in 1502. Some historians also suggest that North African and European cave paintings from 9,000 BC may allude to the use of magic mushrooms, with "flesh of the gods" being a hallucinogenic substance used in Aztec rituals.
In modern times, magic mushrooms were introduced to the United States in the 20th century by an executive at J.P. Morgan Bank, who discovered them on vacation. In 1957, R. Gordon Wasson, a successful banker and enthusiast of magic mushrooms, travelled to Mexico and learned more about their traditional use. With the help of Swiss scientist Albert Hoffman, he extracted psilocybin from the mushrooms, identifying it as the chemical responsible for the psychoactive effects. In 1960, counterculture icon Timothy Leary read an article about magic mushrooms and began distributing psychedelics throughout the US during the hippie movement. Despite being made illegal in the US in 1970, magic mushrooms continued to be used and even gained popularity with the release of the "Psilocybin: Magic Mushroom Grower's Guide" in 1976.
In recent years, there has been a push for the decriminalization and medicinal use of magic mushrooms. In 2018, researchers at Johns Hopkins University confirmed that magic mushrooms could be used to treat conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety. As a result, cities like Denver, Colorado, and Oakland, California, have decriminalized magic mushrooms, and other states are considering similar measures.
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Legality and restrictions
The legality of psychedelic mushrooms varies across the world. Psilocybin and psilocin, the substances in psychedelic mushrooms, 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 and no recognised medical uses. However, psychedelic 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.
In many countries, including the US, India, Russia, and South Africa, psilocybin is illegal. In the US, it is federally classified as a Schedule I controlled substance with "no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse." Psilocybin was banned by the 1970 Controlled Substances Act and is regulated by the Drug Abuse Control Amendments of 1965, which was intended to regulate the unlicensed "possession, manufacture, or sale of depressant, stimulant, and hallucinogenic drugs." However, the legal status of psychedelic mushrooms varies at the state level, with some states such as Oregon, Colorado, and Washington decriminalising or legalising their use for therapeutic purposes.
In other countries, such as Canada, Australia, Denmark, Peru, and Bolivia, psilocybin has been legalised for medicinal use. In some jurisdictions, Psilocybe spores are legal to sell and possess because they do not contain psilocybin or psilocin. However, in other jurisdictions, such as Germany, California, Georgia, and Idaho in the US, the sale and possession of psilocybin mushroom spores are specifically prohibited.
While the legal landscape surrounding psychedelic mushrooms is complex and evolving, it is clear that many jurisdictions are moving towards decriminalisation and legalisation for therapeutic and medicinal use due to the growing body of research highlighting the potential benefits of psilocybin in treating mental health conditions.
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Therapeutic uses and treatment
Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms or shrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin. When ingested, psilocybin is broken down by the liver and converted into psilocin, which is responsible for the psychedelic effects.
Psilocybin has attracted increasing attention from the media, clinicians, and researchers in recent years for its potential therapeutic benefits. While psilocybin has been designated as a Schedule 1 drug by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), there is growing evidence and interest in exploring its therapeutic potential.
One area of interest is the treatment of psychiatric and behavioral disorders. Research suggests that psilocybin may be effective in treating various psychiatric conditions, such as depression and anxiety disorders. For example, studies have shown that psilocybin-assisted therapy, in conjunction with supportive psychotherapy, can provide substantial antidepressant effects that may last for at least a year for some patients. Additionally, psilocybin has been found to reduce anxiety in cancer patients and facilitate smoking cessation, even in longtime smokers who had failed multiple attempts to quit.
Psilocybin may also hold promise in the treatment of substance use disorders. An online survey of individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder reported a reduction in alcohol consumption or abstinence after taking psilocybin, adding to the growing evidence for psychedelic-assisted treatment for substance abuse. Furthermore, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is supporting research into psilocybin as a potential treatment for substance use disorders and other mental illnesses.
The use of psilocybin in a controlled environment with supportive therapy is crucial to its therapeutic potential. The setting, including the environment, company, and state of mind, can significantly impact the experience. A comfortable, familiar, and safe environment with trusted friends can contribute to a positive experience, while a negative environment or anxious state of mind may lead to a "bad trip."
While psilocybin shows therapeutic promise, it is not without risks. Extreme fear, anxiety, panic, paranoia, and hallucinations are possible side effects, and in rare cases, fatal events related to emotional distress and trip-induced psychosis have occurred due to overconsumption. Additionally, there are regulatory hurdles, stigma, and funding challenges that must be addressed before psilocybin can be widely adopted for therapeutic use.
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Frequently asked questions
Psychedelic mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, are a type of hallucinogenic mushroom that contains the prodrug psilocybin, which turns into the psychedelic psilocin upon ingestion.
The effects of psychedelic mushrooms vary from person to person and depend on the type of mushroom, the dose, and the environment in which they are consumed. Common effects include hallucinations, an altered state of consciousness, anxiety, fear, nausea, and muscle twitches.
Psychedelic mushrooms can cause negative experiences, known as "bad trips," and, in rare cases, fatal events related to emotional distress and trip-induced psychosis can occur as a result of overconsumption. However, neurotoxicity-induced fatal events are uncommon with psilocybin mushroom overdose. It is also possible to accidentally consume poisonous mushrooms that look similar to psychedelic mushrooms.
