Whether you call them magic mushrooms, shrooms, psilocybin mushrooms or boomers, psychedelic mushrooms have hundreds of different names. As the scientific community races to research these mind-altering fungi, their popularity in society grows even faster.
At this point, psychedelic mushrooms are as popular and commonplace as marijuana. With so many people trying them for the first time, it's important to know the basics of what this naturally growing drug can do and how it should be approached.
A Brief History
There is some research that suggests that magic mushrooms have been around since 9000 B.C. with North Africa’s indigenous peoples. Later in history, Mayan and Aztec art points to the significance of mushrooms in their culture. We know that Aztec people used teonanacatl mushrooms, or as they called it “flesh of the gods”, which were strains of psychedelic fungi that were closely connected to spirituality. There is also evidence of psychedelic mushroom use in many contemporary indigeonous tribes in Central America, including Nauhua, Mixtec, Zapatec and Mazatec.
Not until the late 1950s did Western society start experimenting with psilocybin. In 1955 R. Gordon Wasson, a journalist, traveled across Mexico to study mushrooms. While there, he participated in many rituals and ceremonies using magic mushrooms. Later he wrote a Life Magazine article called "Seeking the Magic Mushroom", which detailed his incredible findings and experiences. His article influenced the cultural movement of the 60’s; the age of free love, LSD, and rock and roll, which ultimately changed our society forever.
While people have been taking psychedelic mushrooms in the United States for decades, they weren’t always welcomed in society. In modern culture, taking psilocybin is common and has reached a much broader acceptance. While some people take them to go on full-blown psychedelic trips, others have been dabbling with microdosing for its mood lifting and creative effects.
Now, magic mushrooms are finally catching up to history and supporting mushroom’s use in modern society. Research is showing signs that psilocybin could help treat depression, heal trauma, help with opiod, nicotine, and alcohol addiction, lymes disease, and other ailments. In 2019, Johns Hopkins University opened a Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, which aims to further help us understand nature's medicine and how to use it effectively.
What is Psilocybe?
Psilocybe is a genus of mushrooms characterized by gilled undersides. Nearly all mushrooms in this genus contain traces of the psychedelic compounds psilocybin, psilocin and/or baeocystin. Psilocybe contains over 150 species of mushrooms that vary in shape, color, cap size and stems.
What is Psilocybin?
Psilocybin is one of the psychedelic compounds found in hundreds of different mushrooms and is one of the most common chemicals that are used as a psychoactive by humans.
How Does Taking Psilocybin Affect The Brain?
For many years, people considered the effects of psilocybin to be brain or mind expanding, however science actually says differently. Some studies have shown that taking psychedelic mushrooms actually subdues brain activity and constrains control centres across the brain. Psilocybin also activates serotonin receptors, which is why it has been linked to aiding mental disorders and other ailments.
Can You Ingest Psilocybin While on Other Drugs?
The research on this is iffy. There are some medications, like antidepressants, that have known side effects when combined with psilocybin. Depending on how you ingest or prepare magic mushrooms, some research has shown they might interact negatively with some acids, such as citric acid or alcohol, and marijuana.
Are They Safe?
According to a study done by the Global Drug Survey, psychedelic mushrooms are the safest drug to ingest recreationally. The numbers say it all; people who take psychedelic mushrooms are at least 5 times less likely to go to the ER for complications during their experience. One of the only risks surrounding magic mushrooms is accidentally picking the wrong mushroom while foraging, and winding up ingesting a poisonous one.
Can They Be Addictive?
Magic mushrooms aren’t addictive and aren’t linked to compulsive use. However, our brains build up a tolerance to psilocybin after every use, so prolonged use of mushrooms may require you to take higher doses over time. Even after 4 days of usage, scientists say it may be hard to feel their effects.
What is The Proper Dosage?
Psilocybe cubensis is the most common form of magic mushroom we encounter in modern society. A low to average dose is usually between one and two grams, an intermediate dose is considered between 2 and 3.5 grams, while an experienced user may find themselves taking between 2.5 and 5 grams.
It’s always important to weigh your mushrooms before ingesting them, because you can’t tell what a proper dose is by the naked eye.
Interested in Other Mushrooms?
There are hundreds of mushrooms that don’t provoke psychedelic experiences, but have a ton of other benefits to our mind and body. Mushrooms such as lions mane, reishi, and chaga have been linked to a series of health benefits, such as aiding cancer treatments, boosting your immune system and perfecting your skin.
If you’re interested in adding mushrooms to your daily ritual, try some of our mushroom capsules and powders. With a variety of mushrooms and vitamins, our supplements can help you take everyday by storm. Try Alchemi Mushrooms today!
