In early trials where psychedelics were given to healthy adults under supportive conditions, many participants reported lasting beneficial changes in their personality, their behavior, and their values and attitudes. Anecdotal reports in lieu of systematic studies have since corroborated these initial findings as people often report a greater appreciation of music, art, and nature along with more tolerance for others and increased creativity and imagination after a psilocybin magic mushroom trip. More recent studies have also mirrored these early findings.About 40 percent of participants in laboratory studies of psilocybin magic mushrooms reported positive, long-term changes in aesthetic experience and their relationship with nature.

Research in 2011 found that more than a year after a single experience with psilocybin magic mushrooms, personality measures of openness remained significantly elevated in study participants. The researchers speculate that a magic mushroom trip’s mystical experience is likely the key to such enduring changes. They define a mystical experience as “feelings of unity and interconnectedness with all people and things, a sense of sacredness, feelings of peace and joy, a sense of transcending normal time and space, ineffability, and an intuitive belief that the experience is a source of objective truth about the nature of reality.”

Interestingly, the more intense the mystical experiences a person reports on a psilocybin magic mushroom trip, the greater the positive, long-term changes they see. These subjective effects, such as feelings of interconnectedness, of psilocybin magic mushrooms are likely a result of their ability to decrease the interconnectivity of integration hubs in the brain. That is, psilocybin magic mushrooms allows for more “cross talk” between brain regions that are typically kept separate. Researchers speculate that this enables a state of “unconstrained cognition.” Many of the same brain activity patterns are also observed during various states of meditation as well. Recent research has shown that psilocybin magic mushrooms can be used to enhance spiritual practice.

Cluster headaches are more intense but shorter in duration than migraines and are often described as the most painful and disruptive type of headache. Attacks at night may be more painful than those that occur in the daytime, but both interfere significantly in a person’s life.

To date, no systematic studies have been published that describe psilocybin magic mushrooms’ potential to treat cluster headaches, but a myriad of anecdotal reports have caught the attention of the medical community. In the mid-2000s, medical professionals began taking notice of psilocybin magic mushrooms and LSD as possible treatments for cluster headaches after some of their patients reported remission of their condition following recreational magic mushroom psychedelic use (and subsequent self-medication). One recent survey reported that psilocybin magic mushrooms could be a more effective treatment of cluster headaches than currently available medications, with nearly 50 percent of sufferers reporting psilocybin shrooms as a completely effective treatment.

Recently, a prestigious research group in London, United Kingdom carried out a study that suggests psilocybin magic mushrooms could be used to treat major depression.Twelve patients were given two doses of psilocybin magic mushrooms (one low, and one high), combined with psychological support.

One week after the second dose, depression scores were significantly reduced in nearly all patients, with eight of the 12 showing no symptoms of depression. Three months later, five patients were still depression-free, and four of the remaining seven had a reduction in the rating of their depression from “severe” to “mild or moderate.”

Psilocybin magic mushrooms treatment has also been shown to successfully reduce symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in a small study of patients who didn’t respond to conventional selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drug therapy. In this study, all patients showed a reduction in OCD symptoms ranging from 23 to 100 percent.

The “classic psychedelics” were used in preclinical trials to treat addiction in the 1950s and 60s with promising results, but again, once many of these psychedelics were made illegal in the U.S. and most of Europe, research into using them in a therapeutic context came to a virtual halt.

But recent years have seen a resurgence in using psilocybin magic mushrooms and other psychedelics as therapeutic tools to treat addiction. In a 2015 study, psilocybin magic mushrooms, as part of an assisted treatment plan, showed promise in treating alcoholism. Significant reductions in drinking and abstinence from drinking were reported after psilocybin magic mushroom administration as part of a treatment program.

Psilocybin magic mushrooms appear to be a potential tool in helping people quit smoking tobacco. In a recent trial, two to three treatment sessions with psilocybin magic mushrooms as part of a larger cognitive-behavioral therapy program for smoking cessation had an 80 percent success rate with smoking cessation in study participants (12 out of 15 subjects). By comparison, conventional smoking cessation method success rates (gum, patches, cold turkey) have about a 35 perecnt success rate.

Researchers are beginning to theorize that many of psilocybin magic mushrooms beneficial effects on mental health conditions may be due to its ability to “reset” a control system in the brain. The Default Mode Network (DMN) has been linked to depression and other mood disorders when overactive. Psilocybin magic mushrooms have been shown to dramatically reduce the activity of the DMN, which has recently been linked to its anti-depressant effects.

Psilocybin is the active psychedelic ingredient in psychedelic magic mushrooms. The threshold dose for feeling the effects from dried mushrooms is typically in the 0.1 to 0.5 grams (100 to 500 mg) range, though it varies across individuals. A moderate dose in the 1 to 2.5 gram range, taken orally, typically produces effects that last from four to six hours.

Psilocybin is metabolized into psilocin, both of which appear to be equally active in producing psychedelic effects. Psilocybin is about 100 times less potent than LSD and 10 times less potent than mescaline, other psychedelic compounds.

Psilocybin and its metabolite psilocin primarily interact with serotonin receptors in the brain. It has an especially high affinity for the 5-HT (serotonin) 2A subtype receptors. In rodents, psilocybin shows strong interaction with receptors in hub regions of the brain that integrate sensory experiences. This could, therefore, explain effects such as synesthesia (mixing sensory modalities; e.g., hearing colors, tasting sounds) and altered sensory experiences during magic mushroom trips.

Researchers are beginning to theorize that many of psilocybin magic mushrooms beneficial effects on mental health conditions may be due to its ability to “reset” a control system in the brain. The Default Mode Network (DMN) has been linked to depression and other mood disorders when overactive. Psilocybin magic mushrooms have been shown to dramatically reduce the activity of the DMN, which has recently been linked to its anti-depressant effects.

Not much data exists concerning adverse drug-drug interactions with psilocybin magic mushrooms. Anecdotal reports from emergency rooms suggest abstention from alcohol while tripping. In fact, it’s best to abstain from alcohol while using any psychedelic compound.

Since psilocybin magic mushrooms are a potent serotonin agonist, it’s best to avoid using it while on any medications that alter the serotonin system, such as Tramadol and Prozac and other SSRI antidepressants.

Psychedelic magic mushrooms have a longstanding, profound, and storied background among the many cultures that have historically used them. Some historians believe that magic mushrooms may have been used as far back as 9000 B.C. in North African indigenous cultures, based on representations in rock paintings. Archaeological evidence from the Sahara desert suggests that humans have been using psychedelic mushrooms for thousands of years. Mushrooms are represented in prehistoric art across many different geographic regions. In most cases, they’re thought to be religiously symbolic, often in the context of rights of passage ceremonies. If our ancestors did use mushrooms, such a powerful experience almost certainly would have influenced prehistoric culture, from art to religion to social values that regulated everyday life. Some have gone even further. Terence McKenna’s “Stoned Ape Hypothesis” suggests that early humans or pre-human hominids ingested mushrooms, leading to evolutionary benefits including advancements in intelligence. It should be noted that the scientific community regards this hypothesis with skepticism because some of its assumptions lack convincing evidence.
Statues and other representatives of what appear to be mushrooms that have been found in Mayan and Aztec ruins in Central America, namely in Mexico and Guatemala. The Aztecs used a substance called teonanácatl, which means “flesh of the gods,” that many believe was magic mushrooms. Along with peyote, morning glory seeds and other naturally occurring psychotropics, the mushrooms were used to induce a trance, produce visions and communicate with the gods. When Spanish Catholic missionary priests came to the New World in the 16th century, some of them wrote about the use of these psychotropic substances. However, the idea that magic mushrooms have a long, holy history is highly controversial. Some believe that none of this evidence is definitive, and that people are seeing what they want to see in the ancient paintings, sculptures and manuscripts. There is confirmed use among several contemporary tribes of indigenous peoples in Central America, including the Mazatec, Mixtec, Nauhua and Zapatec. After conquering these areas in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Spanish forbade psychedelic mushroom use by indigenous peoples, regarding it as a savage and uncivilized cultural practice. Despite this, the indigenous shamans ignored Spanish law in secret for over 400 years to preserve their shared cultural heritage with these mushrooms.

The first reliable account in the West of “intoxication” with psilocybin mushrooms came in 1799 when four children were accidentally fed Psilocybe semilanceata, a species of psychedelic mushroom. Magic mushrooms began to be eaten by Westerners in the late 1950s. A mycologist (one who studies mushrooms) named R. Gordon Wasson was traveling through Mexico to study mushrooms in 1955. He witnessed and participated in a ritual ceremony using magic mushrooms. It was conducted by a shaman of the Mazatec, an indigenous people who live in the Oaxaca region of southern Mexico. Wasson wrote an article about his findings, which was published in Life magazine in 1957. An editor came up with the title “Seeking the Magic Mushroom” and the article is the source of the phrase, although Wasson didn’t use it. One of Wasson’s colleagues, Roger Heim, had enlisted the help of Albert Hofmann (the “father” of LSD), who isolated and extracted psilocybin and psilocin from the mushrooms Heim and Wasson brought back from Mexico. The famous Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann (who synthesised LSD) first isolated psilocybin in the lab in 1957 from Psilocybe mexicana, a species of mushroom found primarily in Central America. A year later, it was produced synthetically for the first time.[2] Wasson effectively kickstarted the psychedelic mushroom movement in the West when, in 1957, Time Magazine published his photo essay, “Seeking the Magic Mushroom,” in which he detailed his experiences. After reading of Wasson’s experiences and then traveling to Oaxaca to experience psilocybin mushrooms for themselves, Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, researchers at Harvard University, founded the Harvard Psilocybin Project which, of course, got them fired shortly thereafter. So, they did what any jobless, charismatic academics would have done in 1962: they started a psychedelic movement. Psilocybin magic mushrooms were quickly adopted into the 1960s counterculture.

Timothy Leary, perhaps the most famous proponent of psychotropic drugs such as LSD, read the Life article and was intrigued, and he began experimenting with them at Harvard University. From there, magic mushrooms became inextricably tied to the hippie movement and its search for a new form of spirituality for the rest of the decade. For years, mushrooms were mostly associated with the counterculture.
In 1971, psilocybin was listed in the UN’s Convention on Psychotropic Substances as a Schedule I drug in the U.S., making it illegal for all purposes. However, psilocybin magic mushrooms were not part of the UN convention, which, to this day, allows countries who have signed the convention (essentially a treaty) to regulate magic mushrooms that naturally contain psilocybin as they see fit.

Over the past few years, regulatory bodies such as the DEA and FDA have loosened rules about using psilocybin magic mushrooms, more so than any other psychedelic, in controlled research trials. Exciting new findings on psilocybin magic mushrooms as a therapeutic tool and for personal/spiritual development are emerging.

Magic mushrooms are finding broader acceptance in popular culture. Some people have taken up what’s called “microdosing” with psilocybin, essentially consuming tiny amounts of the chemical. They don’t experience full-blown trips. Instead, they feel a boost in mood and creativity that they believe lowers their anxiety and makes them more productive. Some studies seem to support their claims.

Scientists are now pursuing a number of avenues of research on these mysterious chemicals. The 1970s brought a ban on psilocybin except for medical research, which only recently began again after more than 30 years. In October 2018, the Food & Drug Administration granted Compass Pathways permission to research mushrooms as a treatment for depression. Researchers plan to combine intense therapy with psilocybin in hopes of finding better ways to combat treatment-resistant depression, which they say affects about 100 million people worldwide.

In September 2019, Johns Hopkins University unveiled its Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. Scientists plan to evaluate psilocybin magic mushrooms as a possible treatment for everything from opioid addiction, Lyme disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, nicotine and alcohol dependency, and many other ailments. There are many other researchers around the world digging into the possible medicinal uses of these magical chemicals. All of them seek to unlock the way magic mushrooms and their compounds interact with our brains and bodies. Perhaps their work will unlock the doors of perception in our minds in ways we can’t yet even begin to imagine.

Of the almost 200 known types of psychedelic mushrooms, the most widely known and consumed species are:

Magic mushrooms are finding broader acceptance in popular culture. Some people have taken up what’s called “microdosing” with psilocybin, essentially consuming tiny amounts of the chemical. They don’t experience full-blown trips. Instead, they feel a boost in mood and creativity that they believe lowers their anxiety and makes them more productive. Some studies seem to support their claims.

Scientists are now pursuing a number of avenues of research on these mysterious chemicals. The 1970s brought a ban on psilocybin except for medical research, which only recently began again after more than 30 years. In October 2018, the Food & Drug Administration granted Compass Pathways permission to research mushrooms as a treatment for depression. Researchers plan to combine intense therapy with psilocybin in hopes of finding better ways to combat treatment-resistant depression, which they say affects about 100 million people worldwide.

In September 2019, Johns Hopkins University unveiled its Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. Scientists plan to evaluate psilocybin magic mushrooms as a possible treatment for everything from opioid addiction, Lyme disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, nicotine and alcohol dependency, and many other ailments. There are many other researchers around the world digging into the possible medicinal uses of these magical chemicals. All of them seek to unlock the way magic mushrooms and their compounds interact with our brains and bodies. Perhaps their work will unlock the doors of perception in our minds in ways we can’t yet even begin to imagine.

“Psilocybin magic mushrooms cause brain bleeding, stomach bleeding, and/or kidney failure”

A “bleeding brain” would be diagnosed as a stroke, hemorrhage, or aneurysm. There is no evidence of this ever happening after ingesting psilocybin mushrooms, nor is there any evidence to suggest that these mushrooms cause stomach bleeding. A 1981 report found that the two most common complications with mushroom use were dilated pupils and overly sensitive reflexes. Other literature reviews have found no complications of mushroom use in healthy individuals. As for kidney problems, the issue is actually a mushroom identification problem. The psychedelic mushroom species Psilocybe semilanceata does not cause kidney issues, but mushrooms in the family Cortinarius are often mistaken for P. semilanceata and are harmful to the kidneys.

“Shrooms make you go insane”

Researchers have drawn similarities between psilocybin magic mushroom trips and psychotic episodes like those found in schizophrenia, but in almost all cases, this is temporary (hence, the term “trip”). Even people who are admitted to the emergency room after taking psilocybin magic mushrooms return to their normal physical and mental state within a matter of hours. In fact, a recent large, population-wide study found a reduced likelihood of psychological distress and suicidality among those who use classic psychedelics such as psilocybin magic mushrooms and LSD. While there is no conclusive evidence suggesting that latent mental health problems can be exacerbated by psychedelic use, many scientists believe this is the case. As such, if you have a history of mental illness (especially schizophrenia), you may want to avoid psychedelic drugs.

“Magic mushrooms are poisonous”

This depends on your definition of poisonous. If you categorize a chemical substance that induces an intoxicated state, alters your consciousness, and causes some physiological changes as poisonous, then sure, psilocybin magic mushrooms are poisonous. But if that’s the case, then all drugs are poisonous, including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and caffeine. A narrower definition of a poisonous substance, however, would not categorize psilocybin magic mushrooms as such. While mushroom poisoning from non-psychedelic species can cause serious physical illness and in rare cases death, psilocybin magic mushrooms are not toxic. Proper identification of mushroom species, therefore, is obviously critical.

Psilocybin magic mushrooms and their metabolites are not included in most standard drug screens; however they are sometimes included in extended drug screens.

If you follow the 6S’s of psychedelic use and avoid taking magic mushrooms if you have a family history of mental health issues, psilocybin magic mushrooms will not cause psychological trauma. Psilocybin magic mushrooms can cause you to feel ‘crazy’ for a short time (acute psychosis), known colloquially as a “bad trip,” if you don’t follow the 6S’s. Although there is no concrete evidence, some scientists suspect that psilocybin magic mushrooms can cause latent mental health issues to surface.

Many species of mushrooms contain psilocybin, and some look similar to poisonous mushrooms, so it’s important to identify your mushrooms correctly. Many species of psilocybin magic mushrooms are recognizable by their long thin stems and short cone-like caps.

In some countries, it is illegal to possess, buy, or grow psilocybin magic mushrooms. However, the spores are legal to buy in many places. You can order online.

Psilocybin magic mushrooms can be eaten whole, taken as capsules, brewed in a tea, or cooked into food. A moderate dose is 1 to 2.5 grams, which can be weighed on a scale.

Psilocybin mushrooms can be microdosed by ingesting around 0.1 to 0.5 grams (100 to 500 mg), but everyone’s tolerance is different. We highly recommend using precisely dosed magic mushroom capsules for microdosing.

Taking a moderate dose of psilocybin magic mushrooms will produce an immediate tolerance. If you take the substance again soon, it will have a weaker effect. You should wait at least three days between psilocybin magic mushroom doses.

Psilocybin magic mushrooms should not be mixed with Tramadol, as it can lead to serotonin syndrome. We do not suggest mixing magic mushrooms with SSRIs. Be VERY cautious if mixing psilocybin magic mushrooms with illicit drugs such as, amphetamines or cocaine. It is common for users to combine shrooms and cannabis in Ontario.