Psilocybin Mushrooms

Category: Psychedelic, hallucinogen

Chemical name: psilocybin, psilocin, [3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl] dihydrogen phosphate

• Mushrooms that contain the chemical psilocybin or [3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl] dihydrogen phosphate, a chemical similar to LSD. (The primary effects of mushrooms come from several active alkaloids they contain; the most common are psilocybin, psilocin, and baeocystin. Psilocybin is a more stable compound than psilocin, but is broken down into psilocin after ingestion.) There are more than 180 species of mushroom which contain psilocybin or psilocin.
• Nearly all of the mushrooms containing psilocybin are small and brown or tan. They can be easily mistaken for other types of mushrooms in the wild (such as mushrooms that are non-psychoactive, inedible, or poisonous).
• Mushrooms can be eaten fresh or dried, alone or mixed with food, or brewed in tea or juice, dried mushrooms only contain about 0.3% psilocybin
• Mushrooms are known to produce a smaller scale LSD trip, with effects usually lasting 3 to 8 hours.

*Reactions and experiences may vary dramatically from person to person.*

Effects on brain:

Short term:

• When ingested, the psilocybin in the mushrooms is metabolized into psilocin, which interacts with neurotransmitter receptor sites on brain cells to mimic the effects of serotonin (very similar to the effects of LSD). Specifically, psilocin is a serotonin post-synaptic agonist.

• With long term use, decrease of natural serotonin production and cognitive impairment is possible.

Effects on body:

Short term:

• Possible short term effects include increased body temperature, light headedness, dilated pupils (causing blurred vision), sleepiness, sensitivity to light, headache, numbness, nausea.
• Very low doses may help reduce cluster headaches for those who experience them.

• Possible long term effects include cardiac complications.

Effects on behavior:

Short term:

• Possible short term effects include euphoria, laughter, more creative or philosophical thinking, visual hallucinations (ie, colors appear sharper, moving objects leave "trails" behind them, and flat surfaces may appear to "breathe"), increased emotional awareness, distortion of time perception, confusion, anxiety and panic.

• Possible long term effects include flashbacks and triggering of underlying mental problems like schizophrenia, psychosis.

Addiction:No evidence of physical or psychological addiction.

Tolerance:Metabolic, neurological and contextual can occur if mushrooms are used everyday for a few days, and at this point their effects will completely go away (complete tolerance) until the person stops using for a few days.

*Disclaimer! Nothing you do can make using mushrooms completely safe. All drug use has inherent risks and dangers. The suggestions in this section can only help you reduce some of the associated risks. The best way to avoid the harms related to drug use is to not take the drug at all.*

• Mushrooms are illegal; therefore if you are caught possessing, exchanging, buying or selling this drug it can result in criminal charges.
• Drug use affects the developing mind and body differently than developed ones. Waiting until your mind and body have more fully developed before using substances can have long term health and mental benefits.
• Know ahead of time that it is difficult to predict the amount of time the effects of mushrooms will last. The effects can be felt up to 4 days after taking mushrooms and after you might feel depressed. If possible, make sure you have time to recover after the trip.
• Do not drive or operate machinery.
• Make sure you are comfortable and trust the people you are with, this can help make the trip much more enjoyable and safe.
• If someone panics, try to help calm them and remind them that it is because of the drugs and that it will all go away sooner than later.
• Misidentification is a big problem; ingesting a wrong type of mushroom can result in stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea and death. If possible, make sure you get your mushrooms from a reliable source, and ask questions about what you are getting.
• There is no way of knowing how much psilocybin is in a mushroom, so start with a small dose to avoid a too heavy trip and to minimize chances of getting poisoned. Wait at least 30 minutes before deciding whether to take more or not.