Magic Mushrooms: Everything You’ve Been Afraid to Ask

Psilocybin, which is found in magic mushrooms, has been used for centuries. It is an intoxicating compound. You can think of it as being the THC in cannabis. Because of this, many people enjoy using shrooms to take a fun trip. Recently, magic mushrooms have become more mainstream, leaving many more potential users wanting to learn more.

How Do Shrooms Work?

When you ingest them, the psilocybin will become psilocin. That can interact with your brain’s serotonin receptors. These receptors are located near the parts of your brain that help you have sensory experiences. That may be an explanation as to why you see, hear, and feel odd things when your dose is high enough.

You will want to avoid using shrooms unless you are in a controlled environment. It can be hard if you are a first-time user because they can be psychologically challenging. It is a good idea to have a friend with you who knows what the trip is like. They can help you feel calmer if you begin to panic. There are several levels of trips you can take, including:

• Micro-dosing, at levels lower than 0.2 grams
• Moderate doses, at levels of around 1 to 2.5 grams
• Heavy doses, at levels of 1.5 to 15 grams

You will want to weigh your doses instead of counting the number of shrooms, which is not accurate. Most people take around 1 to 2 grams of shrooms. Your research and personal experience can help you decide on the best dosage. If you have fresh shrooms, you will want to multiply their weight by 10. If you are taking another species besides Psilocybe cubensis, which is the most common, then you should research the dosage, because it might differ from cubensis.

How Do I Make Shroom Tea?

You will want to have one dose of shrooms for every teacup of water. Allow the water to come to a boil and crush your shrooms while you wait. Then, add them to your teacup and pour the boiling water over them. Allow them to sit for around 10 to 15 minutes. 

You can then pour the tea through a strainer, so you will not ingest the chunks. If you want to, you can add a teabag in your favourite flavour. Essential oils can also be added.

You can reuse the shrooms to make another infusion. Add the shrooms back to boiling water and allow them to steep just like with the first time.

What Are Strains and Species?

A species is a scientific section to help divide the many types of shrooms out there. One common species is Psilocybe cubensis, which is popular with people who are new to growing shrooms. If you have ever purchased shrooms, you are most likely familiar with them. 

The species name will have two parts to it. The first is Psilocybe, which is often just written as P. That refers to the shroom’s genus. The second part is the species. For example, that might be something like cubensis. However, some of them have nicknames — like “Cube” for cubensis. P. pelliculosa might be known as Elf Stools.

This genus has many sizes, appearances, shapes, and environments that it does well in. P. cubensis is from tropical environments, while P. semilanceata does well in temperate areas. While both species are from the same genus, there are several differences between them.

On the other hand, different strains are often a kind of Psilocybe cubensis. This is the most common species of shrooms. Some nicknames for them include B+, Golden Teacher, or Albino. They are descended from a certain type of Psilocybe cubensis that was harvested in the wild. 

The main difference between different strains of Psilocybe cubensis is how easy they are to grow and their appearance. They are different variants, which means they are in the same family but have differences.

What Is Lemon Tek?

With Lemon Tek, you will use chemistry to determine how the shrooms will impact you. You can mix ground, dried, or whole shrooms together with lemon juice. That way, you can intensify and accelerate the effects. It is unknown just how this works, but many people find that it causes them to feel the effects sooner. That can be a good method if you have only a smaller dose available. At the same time, it will also end faster. This is not a good trick for beginners.

Are Shrooms Dangerous?

You may have heard some stories about users who committed suicide or did other harmful things when taking shrooms. The good news is that these stories are mostly fabricated. Some of them are about people who mixed shrooms with other drugs. As long as you stick with only shrooms, you should be fine. 

One report found that out of all the possible drugs you can take, shrooms send the smallest number of people to the emergency room. The only dangerous aspect is confusing magic shrooms with poisonous mushrooms. That is why it is so vital for you to only get your magic mushrooms from a trusted source.

It is also difficult for you to be addicted to shrooms. The experience is so intense that you may not take them very often. When you do, you will most likely only want to take a small amount at a time. 

If you do take higher doses, your body will quickly build a tolerance to them. That means that it is hard for an addiction to form. There are also no reports of shroom addictions.

Are There Other Active Compounds in Shrooms?

Besides psilocybin, you can find several other compounds in the shrooms. Psilocybin is considered to be a pro-drug, which means it breaks down to psilocin in your body after you take it.

There are some similar compounds in other species, such as Norbaeocystin and Baeocystin. However, there is not as much of either of these. They were named for the fungus P. baeocystis, which is where the researchers first found them.

Does Psilocybin Interact with Medication?

Some medications can interact with psilocybin. That includes MAOIs, SSRIs, and antidepressants. Depending on the way that you prepare them, psilocybin may even interact with some acids, including lemon juice. 

If you take any kind of medication, you should not use psilocybin until you have consulted with your doctor. You will also want to do some research. Taking precautions is important. Even using alcohol with your shrooms may cause unintended consequences.

Can You Overdose on Shrooms?

Because of how low the toxicity of magic mushrooms is, it is hard for you to take too many. However, keep in mind that if you are not in a good state of mind when you take shrooms or the setting is not great, you might have a bad trip. That can have long-lasting effects. If you find a friend, they can help to guide you through the trip.

What Are the Effects Like?

As with similar substances, the dosage will determine the effects that you will experience. It is always best to start with a smaller dose and go from there. The active compound can last from four to six hours. When you have a dose that is larger than 0.2 grams, you may experience personal reflection, enhanced senses, and an elevated mood. 

Once you get to larger doses, the effects mentioned above may become more intense. You may even experience hallucinations and have a distorted sense of time. When you take a micro-dose, you may reach a flow state. This means you are productive and happy. 

In general, shrooms can result in your consciousness changing. Over the long term, however, the results can vary, so it is difficult to generalize them. Some users believe that shrooms can help them to control anxiety or depression. Many people enjoy using shrooms because they may give them deeper personal meaning and help them experience spiritual things.

What Does the Research Say?

There is still a lack of research on the effects of shrooms. While they are legal in some countries, like Canada, other countries, like the United States, have not yet legalized them. That makes it harder to do studies on their effects. It will be a while before there is much long-term research.

How Do You Prepare for a Trip?

If you do not smoke cannabis, then it is a good time to start before your trip. First, roll up any blunts or joints that you want. It can be harder for you to roll one once you are on the trip. Using marijuana is a nice compliment for your trip, and it may even help your stomach feel calmer. Once you hit the peak of the shroom trip, having cannabis in your system may help you have deeper introspective moments.

It is a good idea to consider fasting before your trip, especially if you get nauseated easily. But the main reason to skip some meals is that it can make your trip more enjoyable, as it strengthens the feeling. You can consider avoiding food for around 12 to 24 hours before taking your trip. 

To make things easier, try to avoid eating much late at night. If you can, sleep in on the day of your trip. That way, much of the fast will happen during the night. It is a good idea to stay well-hydrated, so you can avoid other issues. Eating a small piece of fruit is OK if you are very hungry. Of course, you will likely take your shrooms with food to make them taste a little better. 

Do Shrooms Make You Creative?

Many people feel more creative while they are on a trip, even if they are not normally so. If you have always wanted to draw, then gather up some paint, pens, pencils, and paper. If you like to write, then you can get a notebook and a pencil or create a new document on your computer. 

Anything that you do not want to forget should be written down while your creativity flows. If you can easily transcribe something, then you will want to have the right tools. The trip can be mentally stimulating, ground-breaking, or visually intense. When you know that you can easily remember the moments when you are back to normal, it will help ensure that your creativity continues to flow smoothly. This way, it will be easier for you to enjoy each moment.

Why Don’t Shrooms Taste Good?

If you dislike the strong, earthy flavour of shrooms, then you are not alone. While many people enjoy the time of introspection and deep meaning that a magic mushroom trip provides, they do not like getting there. Luckily, there are several ways of taking shrooms.

If you want to cover up the taste, then you can go with a shroom smoothie. First, take your dried shrooms and crush them in a bag. Make a smoothie. If you need suggestions, then berry smoothies are always a good choice. The sweet flavour may help to counteract the bitterness of the shrooms. 

Once your smoothie is almost ready, toss in your shrooms and put the blender on the pulse setting a few times. That will ensure that everything is mixed in well. This will prevent you from accidentally finding a clump of bitter-tasting magic shrooms when you drink it. 

If a smoothie seems like too much work, you can also put it in your favourite juice. That might be grape, apple, or orange juice. Since your body absorbs liquids quickly, you can get going on your trip a little faster with this method.

Closing Thoughts

Knowing more about shrooms will help you make the most out of your experience. For example, now you know how you can prepare for the trip. By gathering up some creative supplies, you can keep track of your deep experiences. Remember that it is always a good idea to have someone with you when you are going on a trip to keep you grounded and safe. Starting small is a good idea that will help you understand how magic shrooms affect you.