Hallucinogens 101: Mushrooms/Psilocybin
by MADELINE FERGUSON
Mushrooms Fast Facts
DEA Classification: Schedule 1
Other Names: Shrooms, Magic Mushrooms, Mushies
Naturally occurring
Look much like ordinary mushrooms but also come dried and ground in capsules
Often eaten fresh, brewed into tea or taken in capsules
Psilocybin is the main compound that gives magic mushrooms psychedelic effects, which is why you’ll often hear psilocybin used in medical or therapeutic settings when reading about the growing amount of research into these promising fungi. When taken your body turns the psilocybin into psilocin, which is psychoactive. It is thought to impact serotonin levels. Effects begin about 20-30 minutes after ingestion and can last up to six hours.
These mushrooms can be found growing in Mexico, South America and the Southern and Northwest regions of the United States. They can also be grown indoors and psilocybin can be synthetically produced.
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Taking mushrooms is typically referred to as a “trip” due to the effects, which include euphoria, auditory and visual hallucinations, change in sense of time, physical sensations and more. You often hear people warn of “bad trips”, which can happen depending on the amount ingested, tolerance of the person and state of mind. Here is information on avoiding a bad trip.
States like Oregon and Colorado have decriminalized mushrooms opening the door for more research on the promising substance. Research shows psilocybin to be effective in treating PTSD, depression and in helping people come to terms with the end of their lives.
Currently, Johns Hopkins is leading the way in research with studies focused on addiction treatment, Alzheimer’s Disease, eating disorders and more. Find a list of promising studies here.
Mushrooms have a long history of being used in spiritual settings. Many users report that psilocybin provides a catalyst for connection with the divine (whatever that means to the individual), ego death and increased fulfillment for weeks, months and even years after their experiences.
If you’d like to keep learning about magic mushrooms, the Utah Bee is committed to educating readers on this and other psychedelic compounds. Browse here.
A previous edition of the Hallucinogens 101 series on MDMA can be found here.