Psychedelic Mushrooms are mushrooms that contain hallucinogens – usually psilocybin and psilocin. Taking magic mushrooms may cause you to see, hear or feel things that are not there, or to experience anxiety, fear, nausea and muscle twitches accompanied by increased heart rate and blood pressure. In some cases, the consumption of magic mushrooms can lead to “bad trips” or “flashbacks”.
About magic mushrooms
Psychedelic Mushrooms have been used for thousands of years. There are over 200 species of magic mushrooms. Since many species look alike, it can be hard to tell the different species of mushrooms apart. It is possible for people to consume poisonous mushrooms, mistaking them for magic mushrooms.
The active ingredients in Psychedelic Mushrooms are chemicals called psilocybin and psilocin. As psychoactive substances, psilocybin and psilocin are controlled internationally under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions Activities with magic mushrooms, psilocybin and psilocin, such as sale, possession, and production, are illegal unless authorized by Health USA (for example, through the issuance of a licence or exemption, or under the regulations). Like all drugs, magic mushrooms, psilocybin and psilocin are also subject to the Food and Drugs Act (FDA). Psilocybin and psilocin are hallucinogens that produce effects similar to LSD. Individuals using magic mushrooms experience hallucinations and an altered state of consciousness. Effects appear within 15-45 minutes and usually last for four to six hours.
When consumed, the effects of magic mushrooms can vary from person to person. In addition, the strength of magic mushrooms can vary greatly. One mushroom may have different concentrations of the active ingredients compared to another and, consequently, the effects of the magic mushroom can depend on the dose and type of mushroom used.
Magic mushrooms sold illegally may be in the form of dried whole mushrooms or a powder. People may choose to take the mushrooms in many ways, including:
- eaten raw or cooked;
- ground up and used to make tea or mixed in a beverage;
- swallowed as capsules;
- sniffed up the nose (snorted), when in a powder.
Magic mushrooms should never be injected intravenously. There have been case reports in the literature of serious harms associated with intravenous injection of mushrooms, including septic shock and multi-system organ failure.
Psilocybin and psilocin are also produced and sold illegally as a powder or in tablets or capsules. Drugs produced illegally are not tested and may contain other dangerous substances.
How Long Does Psychedelic Mushrooms Stay In Your System
A person’s kidneys process the compounds in magic mushrooms, which include psilocybin, the primary ingredient responsible for shrooms’ hallucinogenic effects.
The process happens relatively quickly, and in many cases, the kidneys excrete most of them from a person’s system in a few hours.
Researchers note that about 66% of the compounds from shrooms get excreted in the first 3 hours after ingestion. After 24 hours, psilocybin becomes undetectable in a person’s urine.
However, there is no exact time for how long other compounds will stay in the system, or how long the shrooms’ effects will last.
Several factors may play a role in how the body handles these compounds, such as a person’s weight and metabolism, as well as the dose and type of mushroom ingested.
Do Psychedelic Mushrooms Show Up In A Drug Test
When shrooms are in a person’s system, how long they can remain detectable in drug tests can also vary widely. There are various drug tests available, with their own factors in screening methods, detection, and accuracy.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse lists common drug tests and the compounds they detect. The most common screening is the five-panel test, which tests for the following substances:
- amphetamines
- cannabis
- cocaine
- opiates, such as heroin
- phencyclidine, or PCP
In addition, there are eight- and 10-panel tests.
None of these screenings, including the five-panel test, check for the compounds contained in shrooms.
However, other tests can detect hallucinogenic compounds, although the screenings may need administering promptly. This is because the body metabolizes the shrooms and their compounds relatively quickly. After 24 hours, a urine, blood, or saliva test may not detect mushrooms in a person’s system.
Despite this, other screenings, such as a hair follicle test, may detect drugs over a longer periodTrusted Source after ingestion, although they might not identify these substances in the first few days after exposure.
Best Way To Consume Psychedelic Mushrooms
It is important to understand that consuming magic mushrooms without a healthcare professional’s guidance can be dangerous. Generally, though, there are a few ways that people can consume magic mushrooms:
- Dried: The most common method is to dry the mushrooms and then consume them orally. These can be eaten as whole pieces or ground into a powder.
- Tea: Some people prefer to make tea by steeping the dried mushrooms in hot water.
- Capsules: In some cases, dried mushrooms are ground into a powder. This is then placed into capsules for easier consumption.
It is important to note that the effects of psilocybin mushrooms can vary widely depending on several factors. This includes the dosage, your individual physiology, your environment, and your mindset.
Eating Psilocybin Mushroom
For those who prefer a faster method of use for psilocybin mushroom tea, they may prefer to consume this substance orally. With this method, they may be eaten as whole dried mushroom pieces or ground into a powder that is then baked or mixed into other substances.
Psilocybin Mushroom Tea
Psilocybin mushroom tea is a beverage made by steeping dried psilocybin mushrooms in hot water. The tea is typically consumed to ingest the psychedelic compounds psilocybin and psilocin. These can induce altered states of consciousness and pleasurable feelings.
How Long Does Mushroom Tea Last?
Once psilocybin mushroom tea has been ingested, it can take anywhere between 20 to 40 minutes for its effects to kick in. After setting in, the effects of the tea can last up to 6 hours, usually lessening in intensity towards the end of this duration. It is important to keep in mind that this timeline can vary depending on several factors. This includes the amount taken and your personal physiology.
How Do Psychedelic Mushrooms Affect the Body?
Psilocybin mushrooms can have profound effects on the body and mind. The primary active compounds in these mushrooms interact with serotonin receptors in the brain. This can lead to a variety of psychological and physiological changes.
Some of the most common psychological effects of psilocybin mushrooms include:
- Altered perception: Changes in visual, auditory, and tactile experiences.
- Emotional experiences: Intense feelings of joy, love, awe, or fear.
- Spiritual experiences: A sense of spiritual awakening or enlightenment.
- Thought patterns: Increased creativity, problem-solving abilities, and a deeper understanding of oneself and the world.
In addition to the alterations these mushrooms can cause to the mind, they can also have physical effects, including:
- Pupil dilation
- Increased heart rate
- Excessive sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
Can You Overdose on Psychedelic Mushrooms?
Before using magic mushrooms, it is important to understand that it is possible to overdose on them. While fatal overdoses are rare, excessive consumption can lead to severe adverse reactions.
Some of the potential risks associated with overdosing on psilocybin mushrooms include:
- Psychosis: The most common risk is experiencing a prolonged and distressing psychotic state. This is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia.
- Anxiety and panic attacks: Overdosing can trigger intense anxiety and panic attacks.
- Depersonalization: A feeling of disconnection from one’s own body or mind.
- Dangerous behavior: In some cases, individuals under the influence of psilocybin may engage in risky or harmful behavior.
It is crucial to approach psilocybin use with caution and respect. If you are considering using these substances, start with a low dose and gradually increase it as needed. Always use in a safe and supportive environment with a trusted person, preferably a healthcare professional, present.
Short-Term Effects Of Psychedelic Mushrooms
Using magic mushrooms can lead to short-term mental and physical effects.
Mental effects
Magic mushrooms may cause heightened emotions and senses and people may feel happy and creative. They may laugh or giggle a lot and experience a sense of mental and emotional clarity.
Magic mushrooms can also cause hallucinations and affect people by:
- distorting their sense of reality (they see and hear things that are not there)
- mixing up their senses (they believe they can see music or hear colours)
- altering their sense of time
Some of the negative mental effects of taking magic mushrooms include:
- changes in mood
- light-headedness
- anxiety and panic attacks
- confusion and disorientation
- fear or paranoia
Physical effects Of Psychedelic Mushrooms
Taking Psychedelic Mushrooms can produce:
- numbness, particularly in the face
- increased heart rate and blood pressure
- dry mouth, sometimes leading to nausea and vomiting
- muscle weakness and twitching, or convulsions
- exaggerated reflexes
- sweating and high body temperature, often followed by chills and shivering
- loss of urinary control
When to seek medical attention
Anyone who suspects they are experiencing poisoning from a magic mushroom should seek immediate medical attention.
A person experiencing a bad trip does not necessarily need to go to the hospital. However, intense feelings or a total detachment from reality may indicate an intense trip or overdose. Monitoring the person or taking them to the hospital may be the best course of action in these cases.
People who feel they are becoming psychologically dependent on magic mushrooms could benefit from seeing a mental health expert.
Constantly chasing altered state experiences using hallucinogens may indicate a risk for psychological dependency.
Summary
Hallucinogenic mushrooms contain compounds that act on the brain to cause their effects. Taking these shrooms can cause hallucinatory sensory experiences that may last hours.
The body metabolizes the compounds in magic mushrooms relatively quickly, while the shrooms and their compounds may be out of the body within 24 hours in most cases.
Common drug tests involving saliva or blood samples will not likely screen for the hallucinogenic compounds in shrooms. Specific tests to identify them will need to be administered within around 24 hours after ingestion to detect these substances.
There are some risks to consider before using mushrooms, and some people may wish to avoid them altogether.