Learn about the magic of nature: Psilocybin Mushrooms
Magic Mushrooms
The mushrooms you are taking as “Magic Mushrooms” or just “Shrooms” are predominantly brown color (not red cap with white dots!) psilocybe gene fungi with precursor active components of psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin. Psilocybin is a so-called pro-drug, meaning it is converted to psilocin in the body, which is the chemical with psychoactive properties, creating a so-called “trip”. There are other active components in psilocybe mushrooms contributing to the therapeutic and hallucinogenic effects which are widely under study.
How Magic Mushrooms Work
Psilocybin and psilocin are psychedelic tryptamines. Psilocin has a structure very similar to the structure of serotonin, a chemical messenger with important roles in our brains and digestive systems. Because of this similarity, psilocin can bind to receptors in the brain that are meant for serotonin. Binding and activation of serotonin receptor sites correlate with the manifestation of psychedelic effects and one important receptor sub-type is the 5-HT2A receptor.
Although our understanding is incomplete, recent studies have given new insights into how psilocybin works. Notably, it is thought that psilocybin works by suppressing parts of the brain that filter out information from a person’s senses. This would cause more sensory information to reach a person’s consciousness, causing hallucinogenic effects and changes in perception.
Why Magic Mushrooms?
Knowledge
THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS
Relieve Treatment-Resistant Depression
(With No Emotional Blunting)
Mood Swing Therapy
Addictive Disorder Treatment
(Smoking, Alcohol, Cocaine, Opioids)
Cluster Headache Treatment
End-of-Life Anxiety Relief
PTSD & OCD Treatment
ADHD Treatment
TRANSFORMATIONAL BENEFITS
Brain Regeneration
Creativity
Humility
Vulnerability
Intimacy
Accountability
Empathy
Compassion
Universal Love
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Brain Neurogenesis & Interconnectivity
(Volumetric Thinking)
Boosted Emotional Responsiveness
Openness & Desired Personality Shift
Altered Sense of Self
(Ego Dissolution)
Mystical Experiences & Elevation
Feeling of Unity & Oneness
Better Citizenship
Psilocybin mushrooms produce changes in consciousness, mood, thought and perception that people call a ‘trip’ or a ‘psychedelic experience’. Especially at higher doses, the effects can be extremely intense and indescribable. One of the most important considerations before taking this natural medicine—especially at moderate or high doses—is whether the experience of losing grip on reality might be distressing. Everyone’s experience is unique, so what may be manageable for a friend could be overwhelming for you.
Magic mushrooms can cause people to think in unusual ways, feel euphoric, and experience visual and auditory hallucinations. These hallucinations can range from subtle to all-encompassing. Colors may shift in tone and intensity, surfaces may appear to move, and intricate fractal patterns may form. At high doses, objects can morph, and users may encounter imaginary places or beings. Time perception may also change—minutes can feel like hours and vice versa.
Above very small doses, acting and speaking normally may become difficult. The experience can be spiritual, and many people rank their mushroom trips among the most meaningful moments of their lives. Others may find it simply entertaining—or even regrettable. Physical side effects may include nausea, stomach discomfort, dilated pupils, and a sense of heaviness or clumsiness. Headaches can appear after the trip and last up to two days. Recovery often requires rest, especially after intense experiences.
The psychedelic experience can be overwhelming, frightening, or disorienting—at least temporarily. While fully terrifying trips are rare, they do happen. The risk of negative psychological effects increases with dosage.
Effects typically begin 10 to 60 minutes after ingestion. A moderate dose may wear off after about 4 hours, but lingering effects—especially from strong doses—can last much longer. Driving or working may remain unsafe for hours afterward. Importantly, the strength of magic mushrooms varies widely, and individual responses to the same dose can differ dramatically.
Magic Mushroom Protocols
For a manageable, pleasant, and favorably impactful macro-dose experience (a good trip), you should take several preparatory, cautionary, and follow-up steps. Below are 5 essential requirements for securing a good trip:
- Set (Mindset & Intention)
- Setting (Your Surrounding)
- Dose
- Sitter (Shaman, Healer, or Therapist in Therapeutic Settings)
- Post-Medicine Reflections and Integration
All these steps are crucial to create a transformative, fruitful, and memorable experience for you. However, dosing is non-negotiable, as it is what you ingest and take into your body.