Psilocybin magic mushrooms have been around for centuries, and their reported health benefits include improvements in depression, anxiety, headaches, drug addiction, and more.
However, experts warn that magic mushrooms are psychologically more dangerous than cannabis, meaning that first-time users should exercise caution before giving it a try.
In this guide, we’ll explain what psilocybin is, the potential health benefits, how to use it, and potential side effects. Read on to learn more.
What is Psilocybin?
Psilocybin refers to the primary psychoactive compound found in a type of hallucinogenic mushrooms that are commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms.” There are over 100 different types of mushrooms that contain psilocybin.
Mushrooms that contain psilocybin have long, slim stems and caps with dark brown edges. They are commonly found in the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast, where they grow in pastures where cow poop is located.
Magic mushrooms can also grow in South America, Central America, and Mexico. The strongest category of magic mushrooms is called Psilocybe azurescens, and it grows mainly in the Pacific Northwest.
How Does Psilocybin Work?
Psilocybin and other drugs, such as mescaline and LSD, are classified as “classic psychedelics,” meaning that they can induce changes in your thought, mood, and perception by acting as neurotransmitters in the brain.
When psilocybin enters the body, it is broken down into a substance that acts like the mood-regulating neurotransmitter serotonin called psilocin. Psilocybin activates a certain type of receptor for serotonin in the brain that triggers a psychedelic response.
Psilocybin may cause a hallucinatory effect that causes you to see things, hear things, or feel sensations that aren’t real. It can also cause you to experience synesthesia, which is a mixture of two senses, like smelling colors.
Additionally, people who have participated in psilocybin-assisted therapy have described the drug’s effects as life-changing. They claim that they experience deep insights that change the way they think about themselves.
Subjects who use psilocybin claim to have a mystical experience that has been described as being one with humanity, and these feelings usually go away once the high is over.
Health Benefits of Psilocybin
Research shows that many people have been using magic mushrooms for thousands of years. However, the compound wasn’t isolated and produced synthetically until around 1958.
It has been listed by the United States Drug Enforcement Association as a Schedule 1 Substance since 1970, which is the organization’s most restrictive category. According to the DEA, drugs in this category may be dangerous because they are considered highly addictive.
Despite this, many studies have found that psilocybin can be used to help treat depression, anxiety, addiction treatments, and more. Many researchers are calling for more studies to be done on the effectiveness of magic mushrooms on many life-altering conditions as the benefits may outweigh the risks.
Studies show that people who take psilocybin have a sharp increase in communication between brain regions that do not usually communicate with each other.
This may explain the worldly experience that people claim to have when they use it. It may also explain the quieting of thought patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, and addiction.
Potential Dangers of Psilocybin
Psilocybin is thought to be more addictive than other drugs, including cannabis. For this reason, it’s always best to use psilocybin for the first time under the care of a healthcare professional.
The most commonly reported side effect of psilocybin is a bad high, which can cause intense feelings of fear, confusion, and anxiety that can cause dangerous behavior, such as self-harm or accidental harm of others.
Psychedelics in general are very intoxicating compounds, and it’s hard to identify all possible side effects. Studies have shown that it may lead to increased blood pressure, and people with heart problems should talk to their doctor before taking it. Other possible side effects may include stomach cramps, vomiting, headaches, or nausea.
How To Use Psilocybin
You can take magic mushrooms in tea, dried, or raw form. You can also grind them into a powder and put them into a capsule, or coat them in chocolate to mask their bitter flavor.
Psilocybin can also be consumed as candy. The typical hallucinogenic effects last begin about 20 to 40 minutes after consuming them, and they tend to last three to six hours.
One of the biggest concerns when using psilocybin among recreational users is accidentally consuming a poisonous mushroom. For this reason, it’s best to make sure your magic mushrooms come from a regulated and trusted source.
Never buy magic mushrooms or any source of psilocybin from a website or person you don’t know, and check with your doctor before taking it for the first time.