Magic mushrooms, also known as psilocybin mushrooms, are a type of fungi that contain the psychoactive compound psilocybin. These mushrooms have a long history of use in various cultures, particularly in indigenous communities in Central and South America. The effects of magic mushrooms can vary depending on the dose and the individual. Common effects include hallucinations, altered perception of time and space, spiritual experiences, and a sense of connection to the universe. Some users also report feelings of euphoria, increased creativity, and a deep sense of introspection. Psilocybin, the main active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is converted to psilocin in the body, which is responsible for many of the psychedelic effects.

The Effects, Risks, and Potential Health Benefits of “Magic Mushrooms”

“Shrooms” or “magic mushrooms” can produce euphoric feelings and possibly relieve mental health conditions. However, there are some risks to be aware of, and only a few U.S. cities where use is legal.

Archeological evidence suggests that humans have been using “shrooms,” also called magic mushrooms, for ceremonial and medicinal purposes for thousands of years.

In Central America, Aztec and Mazateca cultures believed these mushrooms had divine properties and used them during coronations and other important events until at least the 1500s.

Although their use was discouraged and criminalized by many church institutions and governments, especially after the colonization of the Americas, these mushrooms were still grown, cultivated, and used privately around the world. In the 1960s, mushroom use became associated with psychedelia and youth counterculture.

Today, people still use shrooms for a variety of purposes. Modern medical research is studying their potential use as a treatment for some mental and behavioral health conditions. As this research continues to show promise, there is advocacy for removing some of the longstanding legal restrictions on mushroom possession in the United States.

Shrooms are a type of mushroom that contain hallucinogenic drugs called psilocin or psilocybin. Shrooms are also known as magic mushrooms or simply as mushrooms. Taking shrooms causes hallucinations and can affect a person’s thoughts and emotions.

Shrooms can be consumed in a variety of ways including:

• eating dried mushrooms
• consuming powdered mushrooms by injection
• steeping mushrooms as tea
• cooking with dried or powdered mushroom
• adding powdered mushroom to juice and other beverages
• taking a capsule of powdered mushroom

How do you pronounce “Psilocybin”?

Psilocybin isn’t a word most people use every day. Even when psilocybin mushrooms are the topic of conversation, people typically just say shrooms or magic mushrooms. It’s likely many people have never heard the word psilocybin out loud. So, how is it pronounced?

Psilocybin is pronounced: sil-uh-sahy-bin

You’ll typically begin to feel the effects of mushrooms in about 30 minutes, and they’ll last for about 3 to 6 hours. Mushrooms can have different effects on different people. Your experience with mushrooms will be affected by factors such as:

• your age
• your weight
• the amount you use
• how much you’ve eaten that day
• your surroundings
• your expectations
• your experience with any previous drug use
• your personality

You might experience some or all of the following effects:

• changes to the way you perceive the world around you
• a feeling of unusual well-being or euphoria
• visual or auditory hallucinations
• feeling that you are having a magical, spiritual, or religious experience
• feeling that your body is very light or very heavy

It’s also possible to experience unpleasant physical effects. This can include:

• feeling dizzy and light-headed
• feeling nauseous
• vomiting
• shivering or having chills
• having an increased pulse
• having a numb tongue and mouth
• having high blood pressure

Are psilocybin mushrooms legal?

Psilocybin mushrooms are a Schedule I drug in the United States. This means it’s illegal to have, sell, or give away psilocybin mushrooms for any reason. There are significant legal penalties imposed on both the possession and selling of mushrooms.

However, there is advocacy to change this. In a few cities across the country, possession of psilocybin mushrooms has been decriminalized. In these cities, residents can’t be criminally charged for the possession of psilocybin mushrooms, as long as they do not go over a set amount. These cities are:

• Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Denver, Colorado
• Oakland, California
• Seattle, Washington

As more evidence about the possible potential health benefits of psilocybin mushrooms becomes available, other cities and states may develop similar legislation.

Research has shown that psilocybin could be beneficial as a treatment for psychiatric and behavioral conditions, including:

• depression
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• alcoholism
• cocaine addiction
• end-of-life psychological distress related to cancer or any other fatal condition

Additionally, psilocybin could help people quit smoking and has the potential to be a treatment for cluster headaches .

However, none of these uses have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These potential health benefits have been seen in studies, but haven’t been replicated on a large scale. More data is needed to confirm that psilocybin mushrooms are a reliable treatment for these conditions.

Want to get involved?

Humans have been using these mushrooms for thousands of years, but there’s a lot we still don’t know. If you want to help researchers learn about psilocybin mushrooms and how they can affect our minds and bodies — you may be able to join a clinical study. Check out ClinicalTrials.gov to learn about what studies are currently looking for participants.

Make sure to always talk with your doctor before starting a clinical trial, especially if it would interfere with any of your ongoing treatments.

The biggest risk associated with psilocybin mushroom use is that psilocybin mushrooms look very similar to some types of poisonous mushrooms. It can be easy to mistake a poisonous mushroom for a psilocybin mushroom. Always make sure to use an established guide or grower that produces mushrooms of a quality that can be trusted.

If you consume an especially large or especially strong batch of mushrooms, you might experience unwanted effects. These could include:

Sometimes shrooms can produce fear, paranoia, and other unwanted effects. This is known as a “bad trip.” Effects of a bad trip include:

• anxiety
• paranoia
• panic
• fear
• intense hallucinations
• unpleasant hallucinations
• flashbacks to previous experiences of taking mushrooms

Can the risks be avoided or reduced?

The best way to reduce your risks of unpleasant effects and bad trips is to be careful about the use of magic mushrooms. Controlling the amount of mushrooms you consume and the environment you take them in can have a big impact on your overall experience.

You can reduce your risks of a bad trip by:

• making sure you know the mushrooms you’re taking are psilocybin
• making sure you understand how much you will be consuming
• not combing magic mushrooms with other drugs
• not consuming mushrooms on a day you are feeling stressed, sad, or fearful
• consuming mushrooms with safe and trusted people
• consuming mushrooms in a pleasant, calm, and comfortable environment

If you’re not 100% sure the mushrooms you have are psilocybin, don’t take them.

Several types of poisonous mushrooms closely resemble psilocybin mushrooms. Even professionals sometimes mistake these mushroom types. It can be very dangerous to attempt to identify psilocybin mushrooms on your own. Poisonous mushrooms can make you severely ill and can even be fatal.

If you already have psilocybin mushrooms and want to double-check them, it’s good to keep these identifying features in mind:

• Psilocybin mushrooms have long and thin stems.
• Psilocybin mushrooms have a wide cap that is typically dark brown around the edges and lighter in the center.
• The underside of a psilocybin mushroom cap is generally dark brown with gills.
• The edge of the cap can be wavy, flat, or pointed.

Share on Pinterest There are four types of psilocybin mushrooms:
Inocybe geophylla — top left
Gymnopilus luteofolius — top right
Psilocybe semilanceata — botton right
Panaeolus cyanescens — bottom left

However, it’s not safe to consume a mushroom just because it has all of these visual characteristics. Poisonous mushrooms can share these exact traits. It’s typically not safe to make a decision simply based on looking at mushrooms, especially if you don’t have experience identifying them.

Many people choose to work with a guide or grow and cultivate their own mushrooms at home for safety. While this is much less dangerous, keep in mind that unless you live in one of four cities in the United States, possession of psilocybin mushrooms is currently illegal.

“Shrooms” or psilocybin mushrooms are mushrooms that contain the drug psilocybin. Psilocybin produces hallucinogenic and other mind-altering effects.

Some research indicates that psilocybin mushrooms could also be useful as a treatment for some mental and behavioral health conditions. However, more research is needed, and these treatments aren’t approved by the FDA.

Currently, in most of the U.S., psilocybin mushrooms are still illegal, both medically and recreationally.

Last medically reviewed on December 14, 2022

Hallucinogenic mushrooms drug profile

‘Hallucinogenic mushrooms’ is the name commonly given to psychoactive fungi, containing hallucinogenic compounds, most commonly psilocybin and psilocin. At low doses, hallucinogenic drugs have as their primary effects perceptual distortions and alterations of thought, or mood, with the presence of lucid awareness and minimal effects on memory and orientation. Despite their name, the use of hallucinogenic drugs rarely results in true hallucinations. The hallucinogens are a chemically diverse class. Grouping the hallucinogens based on their chemical structure includes, but is not limited to, three major classes: indolealkylamines or tryptamines (e.g. LSD, psilocybine and psilocin), phenethylamines, including mescaline and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA); and cannabinoids.

Psilocybin, the main active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is converted to psilocin in the body, which is responsible for many of the psychedelic effects. Psilocin binds to serotonin receptors in the brain, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, leading to altered perception and cognition. There is a growing body of research suggesting that magic mushrooms may have therapeutic potential.

Chemistry

Psilocybin (PY, 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) is the main psychoactive principle of hallucinogenic mushrooms. After ingestion, psilocybin is converted into the pharmacologically active form psilocin. Psilocin itself is also present in the mushroom, but in smaller amounts. Psilocybin and psilocin are both indolealkylamines and structurally similar to the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT). Besides psilocybin and psilocin, two further tryptamines — baeocystin and norbaeocystin — could also be present but are thought to be less active than the former two.

Psilocybin (psilocybine, psilocibina, psilocybinum, psylosybiini) (CAS-number: 520-52-5) is 4-phosphoryloxy-NN-dimethyltryptamine. According to IUPAC, the fully systematic chemical name is [3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-1H-indol-4-yl] dihydrogen phosphate. Psilocybin is the dihydrogen phospate of psilocin. Psilocybin is soluble in water, moderately soluble in methanol and ethanol, and insoluble in most organic solvents. Psilocybin is a prodrug of psilocin, in vivo the molecule is metabolised into psilocin by dephosphorylation.

Molecular structure of psilocybin

Molecular formula: C₁₂H₁₇N₂0₄P
Molecular weight: 284.3 g/mol

Psilocin (psilocine, psilocyn) (CAS-number 520-53-6) is 4-hydroxy-NN-dimethyltryptamine (4-OH-DMT) or alternatively 3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)indol-4-ol. According to IUPAC, the fully systematic chemical name is 3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-1H-indol-4-ol. Psilocin is an isomer of bufotenine, it differs only in the position of the hydroxylgroup. Psilocin is relatively unstable in solution. Under alkaline conditions in the presence of oxygen it immediately forms bluish and black degradation products.

Molecular structure of psilocin

Molecular formula: C₁₂H₁₆N₂0
Molecular weight: 204.3 g/mol

Studies have shown promising results in the treatment of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and addiction. Psilocybin-assisted therapy, which combines the use of magic mushrooms with psychotherapy, has shown significant benefits for patients with treatment-resistant depression and end-of-life anxiety. Despite these potential benefits, magic mushrooms are classified as illegal substances in many countries, including the United States. They are considered Schedule I drugs, which means they are not approved for medical use and have a high potential for abuse. However, there is a growing movement to decriminalize or legalize psilocybin for medical and therapeutic purposes. It is important to note that magic mushrooms should be used responsibly and with caution. The intensity of the psychedelic experience can be overwhelming for some individuals, and there is the potential for adverse effects such as anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis. It is recommended to use magic mushrooms in a safe and supportive environment, preferably with an experienced guide or therapist. In conclusion, magic mushrooms are a fascinating and potentially therapeutic substance that has been used for centuries. While further research is needed to fully understand their effects and potential benefits, there is growing interest in exploring their use for mental health treatment. However, it is crucial to approach their use responsibly and with caution due to the potential for adverse effects..

Reviews for "The Impact of Magic Mushrooms on Consciousness and Perception"

1. John - 2/5 - I tried magic mushrooms for the first time and it was a strange experience, to say the least. The trip started off okay, with some mild hallucinations and a heightened sense of euphoria. However, as time went on, I started to feel increasingly anxious and paranoid. The visuals became overwhelming and distorted, making it difficult to differentiate between reality and my own imagination. Overall, I found the experience to be overwhelming and frightening, and I definitely won't be trying magic mushrooms again.

2. Emily - 3/5 - I had heard so much about the magical effects of mushrooms, but my experience fell short of my expectations. While I did experience some mild visual distortions and enhanced colors, I found the overall trip to be quite underwhelming. I didn't feel any profound sense of enlightenment or connection to the universe, as some people claim. Instead, it felt more like a strange and disorienting experience that left me feeling tired and irritable. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I can't say that I enjoyed my time with magic mushrooms.

3. Sarah - 1/5 - Magic mushrooms were a complete disappointment for me. Not only did I not experience any of the positive effects that some people rave about, but I also felt physically unwell. I experienced intense nausea and stomach cramps that lasted throughout the entire trip. The visuals were minimal and not worth the discomfort. I also found the mental effects to be unsettling, as my thoughts became jumbled and it was difficult to focus on anything. Overall, I regret trying magic mushrooms and would not recommend them to others.

4. Michael - 2/5 - As someone who values control and logical thinking, the experience of using magic mushrooms was overwhelming and disorienting. I didn't enjoy the loss of control and the feeling of being at the mercy of my own mind. The visuals were chaotic and confusing, and I couldn't make sense of what I was seeing. I also felt disconnected from reality and had difficulty forming coherent thoughts. Not to mention, the comedown was exhausting and left me feeling emotionally drained. Magic mushrooms are just not for me.

Magic Mushrooms and the Path to Self-Discovery