Psilocybin mushroom

Psilocybin mushrooms are a special group of fungi that contain a natural compound. This compound can change how a person thinks and feels. These mushrooms are found in many different types, with the most well-known being in the Psilocybe group, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens. Other groups like Panaeolus, Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina also have these compounds.

People have used these mushrooms for thousands of years. In places like pre-Columbian Mexico, they were used for special and spiritual purposes. After European colonization, these practices often stopped.

In modern times, people became very interested in these mushrooms in the middle of the last century. This interest grew because of people like R. Gordon Wasson and Timothy Leary. Today, scientists are studying them to see if they can help people with certain problems. The rules about these mushrooms are different in many places. Some areas allow careful use for help, while others have stricter guidelines.

Natural occurrence

Main article: Psilocybin § Natural occurrence

See also: List of psilocybin mushroom species

Psilocybin mushrooms grow in many parts of the world. You can find them in fields, forests, and even near animal droppings. They are part of many groups of fungi. Some places where they grow include Mexico, Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

These mushrooms like warm, damp places with lots of plants. Scientists study them to learn more about where and how they grow.

Composition

Magic mushrooms have different ingredients depending on the type. The main ingredient is psilocybin, which changes into psilocin and causes mind-altering effects. Other ingredients like norpsilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, and aeruginascin might also be present and can change how the mushrooms affect you.

Some mushrooms also contain β-carbolines, such as harmine, harmane, tetrahydroharmine, and harmaline. These can block an enzyme that breaks down certain compounds, possibly making the effects of psilocybin stronger. These β-carbolines are found in different groups of mushrooms, including Psilocybe, Cyclocybe, and Hygrophorus.

Uses

See also: Psilocybin § Uses, and Psilocin § Use and effects

People may eat psilocybin mushrooms whole, either dried or fresh. They can also be made into foods like mushroom edibles or mushroom tea. In some places, these mushrooms can be found in special shops called smart shops, such as psychedelic mushroom stores. There are also products called magic truffles, which are parts of the mushroom's growth.

The amount of psilocybin in these mushrooms can change depending on the type. Dried mushrooms usually contain about 0.5% to 1% psilocybin. When eaten, psilocybin turns into psilocin, which creates mind-changing effects. These effects usually start about 20 minutes after eating and can last up to 6 hours. They may include changes in how colors and sounds are experienced, feelings of relaxation, and altered time perception. The strength of the effects depends on how much is eaten and the person's individual response. Some research suggests these mushrooms might help with certain mental health issues, but more study is needed.

Contraindications

Some people should be careful when using psilocybin mushrooms. This includes those with certain health problems or who take some medicines. These things can change how the body reacts. It is important to talk to a doctor before trying anything with psilocybin mushrooms.

Main article: Psilocybin § Contraindications

Adverse effects

See also: Psilocybin § Adverse effects

Psilocybin mushrooms can make some people feel uneasy or worried. It’s important to use these mushrooms only in safe places and with help from a trusted adult. These feelings can be different for everyone, so it’s best to learn about safety first.

Toxicity

See also: Psilocybin § Overdose

The most common type of mushroom that people use has two main substances that can change how the mind works: psilocybin and psilocin. It would be very hard to take too much of these mushrooms because you would need to eat a very large amount.

While it’s unlikely to take a dangerous amount, eating too much of these substances can sometimes cause problems in the brain related to a chemical called 5-HT2A, leading to a condition called serotonin syndrome.

Another worry is accidentally picking the wrong kind of mushroom, as some look like the ones that can change how the mind works but might be harmful.

Interactions

See also: Psilocybin § Interactions, Psychedelic drug § Interactions, and Trip killer § Serotonergic psychedelic antidotes

Psilocybin mushrooms can react in different ways when mixed with other substances. It is important to understand these interactions to stay safe. Some substances can change how psilocybin mushrooms work, making their effects stronger or weaker. It is best to talk to a healthcare professional before mixing any medicines or substances.

Pharmacology

See also: Psilocybin § Pharmacology, Psilocin § Pharmacology, and Psychedelic drug § Mechanism of action

Psilocybin mushrooms have a special substance called psilocybin. When someone eats these mushrooms, psilocybin turns into another substance called psilocin. This psilocin can change how a person feels and thinks, creating what some call a "psychedelic" experience. The mushrooms may also have other compounds that change how strong these effects are.

History

See also: Psilocybin § History

People have used psilocybin mushrooms in religious ceremonies for a very long time, but exactly when and where they were first used is not clear. Some think they were used by many people thousands of years ago, but careful studies show their use was actually limited and recent, depending on specific cultures.

Reliable evidence shows these mushrooms were used in rituals in Mexico before Europeans arrived. Some argue that old drawings in Algeria and near Villar del Humo in Spain show early mushroom use. Scholars also point to items from Mexico and Guatemala as possible signs of mushroom use in Mayan and Aztec cultures. The hallucinogenic mushrooms of the Psilocybe group have been used by people in Mesoamerica for religious and healing purposes from before European contact until today.

In more recent times, Europeans first wrote about these mushrooms in 1799. In 1955, two people named Valentina and R. Gordon Wasson took part in a mushroom ceremony in Mexico and shared their experience widely. This led to more interest and research. By the 1970s, many types of these mushrooms were found and collected around the world, and books on how to grow them were published. Today, interest in these mushrooms continues to grow, especially for scientific research.

Society and culture

Legal status

Main article: Legal status of psilocybin mushrooms

See also: Psilocybin § Legal status, and Psilocybin decriminalization in the United States

The rules about growing, owning, and selling mushrooms that contain a special substance called psilocybin change depending on where you live.

After Oregon Measure 109 in 2020, Oregon became the first U.S. state to make psilocybin legal for certain health uses. But selling these mushrooms without the right license can still lead to fines or going to jail. In 2022, Colorado allowed people to grow and share these mushrooms for personal use, though selling them is not allowed yet while rules are being made. Some other places in the United States have also made it easier to possess these mushrooms.

Also, in the United States, it is legal to buy spores of these mushroom species online in most states, except Georgia, Idaho, and California. This is because only the grown mushrooms and the part under the soil called mycelium contain psilocybin, which is banned by federal law. However, the spores can only be sold for studying under a microscope, not for growing mushrooms.

United Nations

Main article: Convention on Psychotropic Substances

Globally, certain substances like mescaline, DMT, and psilocin are listed as very strict drugs under international agreements. However, the plants or mushrooms that naturally contain these substances are not controlled by these agreements. This means that while the substances themselves are tightly regulated, the actual plants like Peyote cactus, roots of Mimosa hostilis, and Psilocybe mushrooms are not included in these strict lists. Only the specific substances mescaline, DMT, and psilocin are controlled.

Research

See also: Psilocybin § Research

Because of rules in the United States, scientists had a hard time studying psilocybin mushrooms until the early 2000s. Since then, these mushrooms have been tested to see if they might help people with problems like drug use, feeling very worried, or having a bad mood. In 2018–19, a group called the Food and Drug Administration gave special support for studies on psilocybin to help with sadness.

Recently, more scientists have become interested in studying psilocybin. They are looking at how it might help with mental health issues, but they say more careful studies are still needed.