John Miller
Psilocybin, often referred to as magic mushrooms, is a naturally occurring psychedelic found in certain types of mushrooms. Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic chemical that, when ingested, can cause a range of effects, from euphoria to hallucinations. The potency and effects of different types of psychedelic mushrooms can vary, influenced by their varying concentrations of psilocybin and psilocin, the chemical with psychoactive properties. The experience of taking magic mushrooms can also be influenced by the environment in which they are taken, with a calm, quiet, and relaxed environment contributing to a positive experience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Magic mushrooms, Psilocybin mushrooms |
| Active ingredients | Psilocybin, Psilocin |
| Effects | Hallucinations, Synesthesia, Euphoria, Anxiety, Panic, Flashbacks, Heightened senses, Altered state of consciousness, Self-reflection, Enhanced creativity, Nausea, Vomiting, Muscle weakness, Drowsiness, Lack of coordination, Increased tolerance, Lack of addiction |
| Use cases | Recreational, Religious, Spiritual, Therapeutic, Treatment of mental health conditions |
| Risks | Poisoning, Bad trips, Unpredictable behaviour, Financial difficulties, Legal issues |
| Types | Golden tops, Blue meanies, Liberty caps, Golden teacher, Penis envy, Psilocybe azurescens, Psilocybe mexicana, Psilocybe hispanica |
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What You'll Learn
Magic mushrooms' history of use in Mesoamerica for religious and spiritual purposes
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, are naturally occurring and are consumed for their hallucinogenic and psychedelic effects. They are known to affect all the senses, altering a person's thinking, sense of time, emotions, mood, cognition, and perception.
The use of magic mushrooms for religious and spiritual purposes has a long history in Mesoamerica. Archaeological evidence suggests that psilocybe mushrooms were used in Mesoamerica as early as 3,000 years ago, and they continue to be used in the present day. The indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica, specifically the Mixtec, Nahua, Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, and Aztec cultures, have a long history of using psilocybin mushrooms in various contexts, including religious, divinatory, therapeutic, and spiritual rituals.
In Mesoamerican cultures, psilocybin mushrooms were believed to have sacred properties and were often associated with deities and ritual practices. For example, the Nahua people referred to psilocybin mushrooms as "teonanacatl," which translates to "flesh of the gods." The use of psilocybin mushrooms was also depicted in Mesoamerican art and iconography, such as the Codex Vindobonensis Mexicanus 1, a pictographic manuscript created by the Mixtec people that portrays a pre-colonial mushroom ritual.
Psilocybin mushrooms were also used in healing rituals and religious ceremonies, often in combination with other hallucinogenic substances. For example, the Maya drank balché, a mixture of honey and extracts of Lonchocarpus, in group ceremonies to achieve intoxication. Ritual enemas and other psychoactive substances, such as peyote, the seeds of ololiuhqui, and bufotoxins from toad skin, were also used to induce states of trance and altered consciousness.
The use of psilocybin mushrooms in Mesoamerica has also influenced modern research and understanding of psychedelics. For example, Timothy Leary traveled to Mexico to experience psilocybin mushrooms himself and later started the Harvard Psilocybin Project, promoting psychological and religious studies of psilocybin and other psychedelic drugs.
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The effects of psilocybin on the brain and body
Psilocybin, the naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms, has profound perception-, emotion- and cognition-altering effects on the brain and body. When ingested, psilocybin is broken down by the liver and converted into psilocin, the chemical responsible for its psychoactive properties. The effects of psilocybin mushrooms typically appear around 20 minutes to half an hour after ingestion and can last between four and six hours, with some changes in sensory perception and thought patterns lasting longer.
Psilocybin works by binding to and activating serotonin receptors in parts of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which affect mood, cognition, and perception. It can also affect other regions of the brain that regulate arousal and panic responses. The quantity of psilocybin ingested, the user's past experiences, expectations, mental state, personality, and immediate environment can all influence their reaction to the drug.
The effects of psilocybin mushrooms are subjective and can vary considerably among individual users. While magic mushrooms have a low risk of addiction, they can cause unpredictable and potentially dangerous behaviour, and users may experience psychological distress in the form of extreme anxiety or short-term psychosis. Additionally, there is a risk of accidental poisoning from consuming poisonous mushrooms.
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The therapeutic potential of magic mushrooms
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, are naturally occurring psychedelic drugs that can induce hallucinations, distort senses, and alter a person's thinking, emotions, and sense of time. They have been used in religious and spiritual rituals for thousands of years, particularly in Mexico and Central America.
While magic mushrooms are often used recreationally, there is growing interest in their therapeutic potential. Psilocybin has a low level of toxicity and a low risk of addiction, and research suggests that it may be effective in treating various mental health disorders.
For example, psilocybin has been shown to have antidepressant effects, potentially helping to regulate the brain's reward system in people with depression or suicidal ideation. It has also been suggested that psilocybin may be useful in treating anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance use disorders. Additionally, psilocybin-assisted therapy may help manage end-of-life anxiety and depression in people with terminal illnesses.
The therapeutic use of psilocybin has been studied since the 1960s, but research slowed after it was designated a Schedule 1 drug by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency in 1970. However, recent years have seen a resurgence in interest, with states like Colorado and Oregon legalizing therapeutic psilocybin use.
While the exact mechanism of action of psilocybin is still being investigated, it is known to interact with serotonin receptors in the brain, particularly in regions that affect mood, cognition, and perception. The effects of psilocybin are also influenced by the user's mindset, expectations, and environment, highlighting the importance of set and setting in the therapeutic context.
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The risks and adverse effects of consuming magic mushrooms
Magic mushrooms, or mushrooms that contain psilocybin, are consumed for their hallucinogenic effects. They are psychedelic drugs, which means they can affect all the senses, altering a person's thinking, sense of time, and emotions.
While magic mushrooms are considered physiologically nontoxic, adverse reactions are occasionally reported and can be grouped by how long they persist. Here are some of the risks and adverse effects of consuming magic mushrooms:
Short-term side effects
Common short-term side effects include entering a fuzzy confused state, disengagement from reality, and an altered sense of space and time. Some people may also experience heightened anxiety, panic, paranoia, and suspiciousness. Other physical effects may include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness or relaxation, drowsiness, and lack of coordination.
Long-term side effects
Long-term problems can appear, and researchers say emotions and brain functions can be altered for up to a month after a dose. Some people experience flashbacks involving a previous magic mushroom experience, which can happen weeks, months, or even years after the drug was last taken. These flashbacks can be disturbing, especially if a frightening experience or hallucination is recalled.
Risk of poisoning
There is also a risk of accidental poisoning from eating a poisonous mushroom by mistake, as hallucinogenic and poisonous mushrooms can look similar and grow in the same environments.
Negative experiences
Higher doses of psilocybin may increase the risk of negative experiences, and pre-existing mental health conditions may also contribute to this risk. Psychological distress, such as extreme anxiety or short-term psychosis, can occur after recreational use of psilocybin.
Bad trips
The risk of a bad trip may increase due to a higher dose of psilocybin, feelings of anxiety before taking it, being in a negative environment, or mixing substances. A bad trip is more common in women, and the risk rises with multiple doses of mushrooms in one session.
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The legality of psilocybin mushrooms
Psilocybin, often referred to as "magic mushrooms", is a naturally occurring psychedelic found in certain types of mushrooms. The key ingredient in magic mushrooms is psilocybin, which is converted into psilocin in the body. Psilocin is the chemical that causes the psychoactive effects of magic mushrooms.
In the United States, psilocybin and psilocin were first subjected to federal regulation by the Drug Abuse Control Amendments of 1965. The possession and use of psilocybin mushrooms, including the bluing species of Psilocybe, is prohibited by extension. However, there has been ambiguity about the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms, as well as selective enforcement in some places. Most US state courts have considered the mushroom a "container" of the illicit drugs, and therefore illegal. A loophole further complicates the legal situation—the spores of psilocybin mushrooms do not contain psilocybin or psilocin and are legal to possess in many areas.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms in the United States. In May 2019, Denver, Colorado, became the first city in the United States to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms. Since then, several other cities and states, including Oregon, the District of Columbia, Washtenaw County in Michigan, Somerville and Cambridge in Massachusetts, Olympia and Tacoma in Washington, and Santa Cruz, California, have followed suit. In some cases, this has involved passing initiatives or measures that legalize the possession, obtaining, giving away, or transportation of specified quantities of psilocybin and other psychedelic substances. In other cases, it has involved prohibiting local law enforcement from spending resources to prosecute people for their use or possession.
While the legal landscape surrounding psilocybin mushrooms is evolving, it is important to note that the possession, use, and sale of psilocybin mushrooms remain illegal under federal law in the United States and in many other countries.
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Frequently asked questions
Psychedelic mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, are mushrooms that contain the naturally occurring psychedelic compound psilocybin. They are consumed for their hallucinogenic effects, which can include euphoria, hallucinations, and sensory distortion.
The effects of psychedelic mushrooms can vary from person to person and depend on factors such as dose, type of mushroom, and setting. Common effects include hallucinations, sensory distortion, euphoria, anxiety, panic, and changes in perception, mood, cognition, and emotions.
While psychedelic mushrooms have a low risk of addiction, they can cause adverse side effects such as nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, drowsiness, and lack of coordination. There is also a risk of accidental poisoning from consuming poisonous mushrooms that look similar to psychedelic mushrooms. Additionally, combining psychedelic mushrooms with other drugs can be unpredictable and dangerous.
There are over 200 species of psychedelic mushrooms, including Psilocybe azurescens, which is known for its high potency. Other common types include golden tops, blue meanies, and liberty caps, which are popular in Australia.
There is increasing interest in the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic mushrooms, particularly in the treatment of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. However, at this time, there are no approved therapeutic products containing psilocybin. More research is needed to understand the risks and benefits.
