Whenever people talk of psychedelics, it’s hard to miss magic mushrooms being mentioned in such conversations. There’s a lot of information regarding magic mushrooms and their effects on you, with most of them made up to create euphoria regarding their use. But what exactly are magic mushrooms?
Generally speaking, magic mushrooms belong to an informal group of fungi commonly known as psychoactive fungi. They can either be cultivated or grow naturally in the wild. As they’re popularly known, Shrooms contain Psilocybin, which is a hallucinogenic compound that gives them psychedelic properties.
That’s not all, as you still need to know how Psilocybin works, the common side effects, and whether it’s safe to use Shrooms, which you will learn if you read on.
What Makes Magic Mushrooms Special?
As a whole, magic mushrooms contain two special compounds; Psilocybin and Psilocin, which are naturally occurring psychedelics. These compounds are the ones responsible for the ‘trip’ that the user experiences.
Dr. Albert Hoffman, the same man who discovered LSD, is the one who identified these two compounds in 1958. The US federal law has made it illegal to grow, handle, and even using magic mushrooms, and the substance is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, which means it has no current medical use, and there is a risk of misuse.
People use magic mushrooms as a recreational drug which provides effects such as sensory distortion and euphoria feeling.
Magic mushrooms were legalized in Oregon in October 2020, making it the first state in the US to legalize their use. However, the state has set a minimum of two years to determine the best ways to regulate and prescribing the psychedelic substance.
How Does Magic Mushroom Work?
Once ingested, the compound Psilocybin is converted to psilocin which works by targeting the prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain that is responsible for perception, cognition, and moods. The compound works by specifically activating the serotonin receptors in this part of the brain.
Depending on the dosage ingested, it’s also common for this compound to target parts of the brain that controls panic and arousal response. As a result, it’s easy for the user to experience auditory and active visual hallucination, commonly referred to as a ‘trip.’
It takes about 30 minutes for the effects to kick in, and the experience is expected to last between 6 and 12 hours, depending on the dosage.
Many past users have associated Shrooms with spiritual awakening and self-discovery where they registered positive influence and ‘knowing their true purpose’ after they have used this substance.
How Is Magic Mushroom Ingested?
As a general rule, Shrooms should first be dried in the sun for a few hours. The dried Shrooms should be crashed and eaten either raw or with drinks or food. Some people prefer to eat them fresh from the garden with a perception that they will have more and instant effects. There is no scientific proof to support this claim.
It’s also common for users, particularly young people, to mix Shrooms in their alcoholic drinks, with the hope of attaining a maximum ‘trip.’ This, however, is highly discouraged as results could be devastating.
Are There Side Effects Of Taking Magic Mushrooms?
Like any hallucinogen in existence, it’s common to experience side effects after taking magic mushrooms. However, the severity of these effects will be determined by how experiences you are, since first-time users get the worst side effects. Your mental state, such as your moods when taking this substance, will also come into play. It’ll also come down to the quantity you’ve taken and whether you mixed it with any other substance. Nonetheless, it’s common to experience these mental and physical side effects after taking Shrooms:
Mental side effects
- Hallucination (could be auditory or visual or both)
- Panic reactions experienced during a bad trip
- Nervousness
- Distorted sense of time
- Distorted thoughts
- Confusion
- Depersonalization
- Changing moods and emotions
- Spiritual awakening
- Euphoria
Physical side effects
- Weakened muscles
- Nausea
- Lack of coordination
- Headaches
- Dilated pupils
- Yawning
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Drowsiness
Keep in mind that the said effects would last for up to 12 hours, so a user should be prepared to be in that kind of state for a prolonged period. Contamination is also another concern, with most people taking Shrooms unknowingly that have been laced with other chemicals substances that might expose them to dangerous health conditions.
Are Magic Mushrooms Addictive?
Since people experience intense experiences under the influence of Shrooms, the compound Psilocybin is not considered addictive as people would limit the use based on past experience.
Our bodies are known to build up quick tolerance to this compound, which would end up requiring huge quantities of Shrooms to attain the same level of high.
Can One Get Sick From Taking Magic Mushrooms?
The main risk involved in taking magic mushrooms, especially when they grow in the wild, is confusing them with fly agaric mushrooms. Fly agaric mushrooms are dangerous since they contain the compounds muscimol and ibotenic acid, which cause side effects such as dizziness, twitching, vomiting, drooling, delirium, and sweating.
Since our bodies build quick tolerance against Psilocybin, it’s easy for a user to ingest huge quantities of Shrooms trying to attain the same level of high. As a result, they would be exposing themselves to overdose symptoms, which, even though they are not fatal, but can cause devastating health risks such as seizures, diarrhea, psychosis, vomiting, and intense muscle weaknesses.
In Conclusion
Magic mushrooms have psychedelic effects that might vary depending on the user, the quantity ingested, their general moods while taking the substance, and whether they mixed it with anything else. The side effects can be devastating, especially when you experience a bad trip. The substance works by targeting the serotonin receptors in the prefrontal cortex. It might take up to 30 minutes for the effects to take place, with the substance remaining in your system for up to 12 hours. Magic mushrooms are not addictive, but you can get sick from taking huge quantities. They shouldn’t be confused with flying agaric mushrooms that are poisonous.
