
Shrooms, or magic mushrooms, are mushrooms that contain hallucinogenic drugs called psilocybin or psilocin. They are consumed for their ability to induce hallucinations and distort a person's perception of reality. While some people use shrooms recreationally, they are also being studied for their potential therapeutic benefits in treating mental health conditions. However, it is important to note that the consumption of shrooms can lead to negative experiences known as bad trips and may have physical and psychological side effects. The biggest danger associated with shrooms is the possibility of consuming poisonous mushrooms by mistake, which can result in severe illness or even death.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Other names | Magic mushrooms, mushies, blue meanies, golden tops, liberty caps |
Active ingredients | Psilocybin, psilocin |
Effects | Euphoria, hallucinations, distorted senses, altered sense of time, heightened emotions, giddiness, mental clarity, nausea, dry mouth, increased heart rate and blood pressure, muscle weakness, twitching or convulsions, sweating, high body temperature, chills, shivering, loss of urinary control, paranoia, fear, anxiety, panic attacks, confusion, disorientation, flashbacks |
Use | Recreational, medicinal, spiritual, ceremonial |
Legality | Illegal in Canada, the US, and the UK. Decriminalised in Denver and three other US cities. |
Forms | Raw, dried, powdered, brewed into tea, cooked, capsules, liquid extract, chocolate-covered, tablets |
What You'll Learn
The history of shrooms
The Aztecs used a substance called teonanácatl, which translates to "flesh of the gods" or "divine mushroom", and was likely magic mushrooms. Along with peyote, morning glory seeds, and other psychotropic substances, the mushrooms were used to induce a trance, produce visions, and communicate with the gods.
When Spanish Catholic missionaries arrived in the 16th century, they wrote about the use of these substances, attempting to destroy all records and evidence of their use. However, a 16th-century Spanish Franciscan friar and historian mentioned teonanácatl in his writings, which later intrigued ethnopharmacologists.
In the late 1950s, Westerners began consuming magic mushrooms. R. Gordon Wasson, a mycologist studying mushrooms in Mexico, witnessed and participated in a ritual ceremony using magic mushrooms conducted by a shaman of the Mazatec, an indigenous people from southern Mexico. Wasson wrote an article about his experience, published in Life magazine in 1957, which sparked widespread interest in the use of magic mushrooms.
Timothy Leary, a prominent proponent of psychotropic drugs, read Wasson's article and began experimenting with magic mushrooms at Harvard University. As a result, magic mushrooms became associated with the hippie movement and its exploration of new forms of spirituality in the 1960s.
Today, magic mushrooms are one of the most widely used recreational psychotropic drugs due to their accessibility in the wild and ease of cultivation. However, their legal status varies across the world, with some countries decriminalizing or legalizing their use for therapeutic or personal purposes, while others impose strict penalties for possession and consumption.
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Shrooms and religion
Shrooms, or magic mushrooms, are hallucinogenic drugs that have been used for thousands of years. In Central America, Aztec and Mazateca cultures believed these mushrooms had divine properties and used them during coronations and other important events until at least the 1500s.
Today, shrooms are illegal in many places, including the United States and Canada, but there is growing interest in their potential therapeutic uses, particularly for mental health disorders.
The use of shrooms can induce feelings of having a magical, spiritual, or religious experience. In addition, archaeological evidence suggests that shrooms have been used for ceremonial and medicinal purposes for thousands of years.
In pre-colonial Central America, for example, Aztec and Mazateca cultures believed that shrooms had divine properties. They used them during coronations and other important events until at least the 1500s. Despite discouragement and criminalization by church institutions and colonial governments, the use of shrooms persisted, and they continued to be grown, cultivated, and used privately around the world.
In modern times, shrooms are sometimes used to induce transcendent spiritual experiences. They can distort a person's sense of reality and mix up their senses, leading to an altered state of consciousness.
Therapeutic Uses of Shrooms
While the production, sale, and possession of shrooms are illegal in some countries, there is increasing interest in their potential therapeutic uses, particularly for mental health disorders. Clinical trials have shown promising results for conditions such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- End-of-life psychological distress related to cancer or other fatal conditions
- Smoking cessation
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Cluster headaches
- Anorexia
- Substance abuse
Risks and Side Effects
The biggest risk associated with shrooms is the possibility of consuming poisonous mushrooms by mistake, as they can look very similar. Other risks and side effects include:
- Unpleasant or intense hallucinations ("bad trips")
- Flashbacks
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Nausea
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Dry mouth
- Muscle weakness and twitching
- Exaggerated reflexes
- Sweating and high body temperature
- Loss of urinary control
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Shrooms and the law
Shrooms, or magic mushrooms, are illegal in most places. In the US, they are a Schedule I drug, meaning it is illegal to have, sell, or give away shrooms for any reason. There are significant legal penalties for both possession and selling. However, there is advocacy to change this, and in a few cities across the US, possession of shrooms has been decriminalised. These cities include Denver, Washington D.C., Oakland, and Santa Cruz.
In the UK, shrooms are a Class A drug, making it illegal to possess, give away, or sell them. Possession can result in up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Supplying someone, even friends, can result in life in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.
In Canada, the production, sale, and possession of shrooms are also illegal. Shrooms are controlled under the United Nations Drug Control Conventions and, in Canada, under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).
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Shrooms and mental health
Shrooms, or "magic mushrooms", are hallucinogenic and can cause a range of effects, including perceptual changes, euphoria, and a distorted sense of time. They can also induce negative experiences, known as "bad trips", which can involve unpleasant hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and confusion.
The effects of shrooms can be highly unpredictable and vary from person to person. The experience is influenced by various factors, such as the amount consumed, physical environment, mental state, health, and previous encounters with psychedelic drugs.
While shrooms are often associated with recreational use, there is a growing body of research suggesting that psilocybin, the primary psychoactive ingredient in shrooms, may have therapeutic benefits for mental health.
Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin
Psilocybin has been found to interact with serotonin receptors in the brain, influencing cognitive function and perception. This interaction may be key to its potential effectiveness in treating various psychiatric disorders.
Research suggests that psilocybin, when administered in controlled conditions with supportive therapy, could be beneficial for treating conditions such as treatment-resistant depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other mental health disorders. It has also shown promise in easing fear and anxiety in people with terminal illnesses.
Safety and Regulatory Considerations
Despite its therapeutic potential, psilocybin is currently classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States, indicating that it is considered to lack safety under medical supervision and has a high potential for abuse. However, some states have decriminalized or deprioritized possession of psilocybin, and there is ongoing research to explore its therapeutic benefits.
It is important to note that taking psilocybin outside of a controlled setting carries risks, including the possibility of experiencing undesirable and harmful effects. It is not recommended for people with certain mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia or severe bipolar disorder, as it could precipitate psychosis.
While the therapeutic potential of psilocybin is being explored, more research is needed to fully understand its mechanism of action and optimize its therapeutic use. Shrooms should not be consumed recreationally due to their unpredictable effects and the potential risks involved. If you are considering psilocybin-assisted therapy, it is crucial to do so under the supervision of trained professionals in a controlled setting.
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Shrooms and addiction
Shrooms, or "magic mushrooms", are not physically addictive. However, they can cause psychological dependence, and users may continue to use them to attain the pleasurable feelings associated with their use. This can lead to problematic, compulsive patterns of use.
Shrooms are not as addictive as other drugs, such as opioids and stimulants, and people who use them regularly do not follow typical addiction patterns. However, shrooms are often abused, especially among younger populations, and this abuse can lead to negative consequences in their personal and professional lives.
Shrooms are illegal in most countries, including the United States, and possession, sale, and use can result in fines or imprisonment. They are classified as a Schedule I drug in the United States, indicating a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
While shrooms have been used for centuries by indigenous populations for religious and social rites, and they have recently been accepted in some countries for their possible therapeutic use in treating mental health disorders, they can also have negative side effects and lead to a bad trip, especially when mixed with other drugs. It is important to be careful when taking any type of drug, including shrooms, and to seek professional help if addiction or abuse is a concern.
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Frequently asked questions
Shrooms, or magic mushrooms, are mushrooms that contain hallucinogenic drugs called psilocybin or psilocin. They are consumed for their euphoric and hallucinogenic effects.
Whether or not shrooms are a sin is a matter of personal belief and religious doctrine. However, it is important to note that the use of shrooms or magic mushrooms is illegal in many places.
The effects of shrooms can vary depending on individual factors such as size, weight, previous drug use, and the amount consumed. Some possible effects include changes in perception, euphoria, hallucinations, nausea, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and distorted sense of reality.
According to current research, shrooms are not considered addictive. However, regular use can lead to tolerance, where larger amounts of the drug are needed to achieve the same effects.