What is Psilocybin Mushrooms?

What is Psilocybin Mushrooms?

While there are many types of mushrooms in the world, a few varieties contain a chemical called psilocybin, which can have hallucinogenic effects when ingested.1 Psilocybin mushrooms are native to Central and North America, in countries that include Mexico and the United States.1

While these mushrooms have been used for centuries by indigenous populations for religious and social rites, they became widely used as part of the counterculture movement of the 1960s until they were made illegal in 1968.2

Psilocybin mushrooms may also be called:1,2 

Hallucinogenic mushrooms
Magic mushrooms
Shrooms
Psychedelic mushrooms
Though some proponents urge further investigation into psilocybin for potential therapeutic benefits, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) currently lists mushrooms as a Schedule I substance.1,3 Schedule I drugs have a high risk for abuse, no known medical benefits, and are not approved for any use, even under the care of a doctor.1

Psilocybin Mushrooms Effects

Psilocybin interacts with our brain’s serotonergic neurotransmitter system in a way thought to underlie the various physiological and hallucinogenic effects associated with the drug.2,3  Many factors can influence the effects of the drug, including:2

The potency or amount of mushrooms ingested.
Prior experiences with mushrooms.
Your personality.
The setting you are in when you take the drug.
Your mental state at the time of ingestion.
Psilocybin Mushroom Overdose and Withdrawal
Since mushrooms are grown naturally and not synthesized in a lab, it is difficult to monitor and regulate the dosage. It is estimated that a lethal dose would be 1,000 times that of an effective dose, making it highly unlikely for someone to overdose on mushrooms unless an underlying health condition existed.

With no significant physiological dependence associated with the drug, withdrawal is not likely, although it may take a day or two to feel normal after ingesting mushrooms. You may feel lingering effects of the mushrooms, like feeling tired or having difficulty discerning fantasy or dreams from reality.