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mushrooms 101

27Feb

What is set and setting when it comes to psychedelics?

February 27, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY mushrooms 101 9

“Set and setting” is a concept that is well-known within the psychedelic community, only just now entering mainstream parlance. The phrase was coined by Timothy Leary – American psychologist and psychedelic advocate – in the early 1960s. Recently, the idea is being applied to cannabis in an attempt to maximize therapeutic potential and to understand the nature of memorable experiences – both positive and challenging.

The nature of a psychedelic trip

Psilocybin is the compound in magic mushrooms that creates the remarkable experiences these fungi are known for. It shares a chemical structure that is very similar to the neurotransmitter serotonin. After eating magic mushrooms, the influx of serotonin-like molecules tricks the brain into exciting the pathways related to happiness, well-being, cognition, and learning. The result is a “psychedelic trip” and distortions of perception, time and space.

Like most psychoactive compounds, psychedelics provoke a somewhat consistent set of results. Caffeine and cocaine will speed you up, cannabis and alcohol can slow you down, magic mushrooms and LSD make you trip. Unlike the first two, the latter trip can come in many shapes and forms, often playing out in your mind alone. While it may seem unpredictable – a rollercoaster of thoughts and emotions – there is an approach to psychedelics that helps to guide a trip.

What is set and setting?

Set and setting (S&S) are more of any exercise in mindfulness than anything else. It can equally be applied to any drug or activity. In regards to magic mushrooms, set and setting are arguably more important than the dose when it comes to the psychedelic experience.

It’s an understanding of both the world around you and your mind, before even taking a substance in the first place. Psilocybin may have the power to heal both physically and emotionally; set and setting are the best way to maximize the positive outcomes of a psychedelic experience.

Set: Short for ‘mindset’, this aspect of S&S is the consideration of your current state of mind, and the factors that are influencing it. This allows you the opportunity to predict what the general ‘vibe’ of the trip might be. Set also includes your goals and intentions, even if you’re only planning to have a purely recreational experience. You have the power to guide yourself in any direction you hope to explore, understand, or overcome.

Setting: Your environment. Where you are, what time it is, who you’re with – they all have a huge influence on a psychedelic trip. With experience, you can understand more clearly how these factors might influence you. To accelerate the process, consider keeping notes on your setting, to assist in evaluating the impact of individual factors on your trip.

The prime therapeutic value of psilocybin as a tool is the requirement for only a single session, as opposed to a life-time of pills. So, what is set and setting? Considering the potential impact of a trip, preparation and education are incredibly useful for making the most of what could otherwise just be a fun experience. Understanding what psilocybin can do to your brain can unlock a universe of potential exploration and self-improvement.

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27Feb

Tools for maximizing your trip/microdose/etc.

February 27, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY microdosing, mushrooms 101 8

If you’re trying to get the most out of your psychedelic experiences, or simply want to maximize the utility of a first or infrequent dose, there are tools that you can use. Different approaches—whether you’re microdosing, tripping, or preparing for either—have different methods to make your experience easy, insightful and enjoyable.

Physical tools for tripping and microdosing

These physical tools make up a part of your ‘setting’ or the environment where you use magic mushrooms.

Grinder

Grinding your mushrooms in bulk, before weighing doses, is the best way to increase consistency between experiences from the same batch. This eliminates the chance of getting a “strong shroom” surprise—the Russian roulette of group trips. The potency of individual mushrooms can vary by as much as ten-fold between mushrooms from different batches.

Journal

Tracking the aspects of your trip or microdose in a journal will help you find the factors that reliably provide you with positive outcomes. It helps you define your intention before you begin, track your insights during the session, and reflect on your experience after the fact. Many experienced psychonauts and therapist guides mention the possibility of “recapturing the magic” long after a trip ends—simply by reviewing the notes from your enlightened states.

Art supplies

Having a creative outlet during your heightened state is often a strong suggestion, especially alongside a journal. This can be something as simple as some pencils and paper, all the way to clay and paints. Even microdosing is associated with increased creativity and other measures of divergent thinking.

Prepared psilocybin products

One of the easiest ways to maximize your trip or microdosing is to buy prepared psilocybin products, skipping the hassle of grinding and dosing. Some examples include encapsulated microdoses with a dash of cacao; simple, pre-dosed, quarter-gram capsules; or more sophisticated blends that might include additions like CBD or ginseng. With some preparation and empty capsules, you can develop and create your own preferred blends alongside quality dried mushrooms.

Additions

Like the cacao, CBD and ginseng that are mentioned in the products above, there are some other well-known options that might make your experience different or more enjoyable.

Lemon

While it’s not totally clear, something in lemons accentuates the psilocybin trip. It often intensifies and shortens the experience, though it doesn’t do it reliably. Other acidic substances like citrus or tomato can also mimic this phenomenon.

Ginger

Ginger is known to treat indigestion, nausea, and vomiting. This is due to its ability to provoke gastric movement and emptying. If you’re prone to nausea after eating magic mushrooms, consider adding ginger in some way, or preparing a tea.

Cannabis

Many psychonauts are considering how they can introduce cannabis into their magic mushroom experiences, given expanding legalization. Combining the two can both intensify your trip, and potentially cloud the overall adventure. The possible effects will also depend on the potency of your cannabis, and whether it is THC- or CBD-rich.

Applying these tools have the power to maximize your trips and super-charge your microdoses.

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27Feb

Physical effects of magic mushrooms: What to expect

February 27, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY mushrooms 101 7

The most obvious outcome of eating magic mushrooms is a memorable and mind-expanding trip. However, like anything with that kind of power, a few side effects are inevitable. With some planning and preparation, most of these undesirable outcomes can be managed or eliminated entirely. In some regards, a side effect for some might be desirable for others—uncontrollable giggles is the best example.

What to expect from magic mushrooms

Psilocybin shares a chemical structure that is very similar to the neurotransmitter serotonin. After eating magic mushrooms, the influx of serotonin-like molecules tricks the brain into exciting the pathways related to happiness, well-being, cognition, and learning. The result is a “psychedelic trip” and distortions of perception, time and space.

Writers have been trying to describe the nature of a trip for centuries, with varying degrees of success. The great, late Ram Dass—a father of the ‘60s psychedelic renaissance—tries to explain with a metaphor:

“…picture a guy on the floor, looking at some spilled Coca-Cola…It show(s) the people under drugs became so trivial, and their minds became so caught in nothing…It show(s) this person was seeing that in everything there is everything. That in the spilled drop of Coca-Cola is the entire universe.”

Common physical side effects of magic mushrooms

Setting aside the mystical—and deeply personal—experience of the trip itself, there are some physical effects than can easily be explained. Most are fleeting and temporary, rarely lasting more than an hour or two.

Nausea

Magic mushrooms contain more than just psilocybin. In fact, the active compound usually comprises only 2% of the weight of dried shrooms. While the science is still underway to identify other compounds, something in the mix has the potential to provoke nausea. For those who are sensitive, preparing a mushroom tea is often the best way to reduce this side effect.

Yawning

While tiredness or sluggishness are rare—mushrooms are generally energizing—some people may be afflicted by frequent yawning at some point during a trip. The side effect is rarely more than annoying, but those around you might misinterpret the sign as boredom. Simply being aware of the possibility is enough to ensure no one feels hurt through misinterpretation.

Giggles and laughter

Given the energizing nature of magic mushrooms and the massive influx of serotonin into your brain, happiness and laughter are inevitable. This is rarely considered a side effect, but may cause trouble if discretion is required.

Clumsiness

Distortions of time and space are defining aspects of a psychedelic trip. Preparing a safe setting, avoiding stairs, and ‘babyproofing’ your space are simple measures that you can take to reduce risk.

Tolerance

The only semi-permanent, physical effect on the brain is the creation of tolerance to serotonergic compounds after a psilocybin trip. If a similar dose is taken within 10 to 14 days of the first trip, a significantly reduced experience is to be expected. Further, under certain conditions—like those taking anti-depressants—there might be other factors that give you an underwhelming experience.

Education and preparation aren’t required before taking magic mushrooms. However, they are suggested to make the most of the experience and to limit any potential for discomfort or risk.

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27Feb

Magic mushrooms and sex

February 27, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY mushrooms 101, sex 7

Taking magic mushrooms with your partner can be an incredible bonding experience with the ability to profoundly deepen your connection. Inevitably, the question of sex will arise (hopefully!), especially with a nickname like “herbal ecstasy” that some give to shrooms. Unfortunately, most people will have trouble with at least once aspect of sex on magic mushrooms, but it’s definitely worth trying if the circumstances align.

The connection between magic mushrooms and sex

“Sex, like everything else on psychedelics, is amplified,” says Neal Goldsmith, a New York-based psychologist and author of Psychedelic Healing. “Psychedelics enhance what’s already there, they put you in touch with reality with greater clarity and intensity than you generally experience. That’s part of tripping in general—surrendering, being open, having an accepting, philosophical attitude toward the events that might come your way.”

Sex with your partner while tripping doesn’t even need to happen for your sex life to improve from a magic mushroom experience. Even a solo trip can have significant effects on your sexuality and connection with others. Tripping with a partner can facilitate a deeper connection and intimacy, diminish barriers that might distance you, and allow a whole new level of communication to grow.

“I feel like if you trip with someone it can be like six months of dating in one day because you get to know them on this new level,” says Michelle Janikian, the author of Your Psilocybin Mushroom Companion: An Informative, Easy-to-Use Guide to Understanding Magic Mushrooms. “If you’re at a higher dose you might feel overwhelmed or very vulnerable. With so much sensation the thought of having sex on top can be too intense.”

Tips for sex on magic mushrooms

First and foremost, consent is best sorted before you’re under the influence. As with tripping in general—let alone sex—it’s safer and more enjoyable with someone you are able to trust. In a way, nothing is truly ‘casual’ on psychedelics; communication is more important than ever, especially if prone to anxiety. 

If you’re lucky enough to have your stars align, the best moment to take the dive is sometime after the peak. While there’s no real harm in trying before this—given the stipulations above—the intensity might be overwhelming. Time will dilate, sensations of sight and touch will be distorted, and interactions may feel anywhere from alien to complete unity.

Regardless of the outcomes of your trippy sexual experience, it will no doubt be a memorable excursion in your coital repertoire. Anecdotes often end in laughter, fiddling bits, in-depth exploration, acrobatic cuddling, or open discussion. As long as the rules of respect, understanding, communication, and patience are observed, you’re likely to have one of the most exciting sessions you’ve ever had. 

Remember to keep in mind that even after sex, you will likely still be tripping—depending on when you began in the first place. Such physical activity may ground you during the act, with your mind ready to float away again once you’re calm again.

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27Feb

Microdosing at work

February 27, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY microdosing, mushrooms 101 8

Unlike trip-inducing ‘macrodosing’, people are taking tiny amounts—or microdoses—of psychedelics for a competitive edge, from business to parenting. Like cannabis, the self-therapy is also being applied to a number of ailments, with anecdotes suggesting positive outcomes for pain, arthritis, and ADHD. The trend has been mentioned alongside Silicon Valley executives and moms alike, so let’s explore the idea of microdosing at work.

The demanding nature of work

Modern work is demanding, we all seek to limit the costs it has on our bodies and minds. For the lucky few that are invigorated by their professions, they too strive for burdenless efficiency. Across the spectrum of work, tools are employed to further these goals—caffeine, nicotine, legal amphetamines (e.g. Adderall), technology in all its forms—permissible enhancements to our working and personal lives.

While these chemical and digital boosts may be legal, they’re not without their downsides. Caffeine can leave you jittery, nicotine usually comes with a challenging addiction, pharmaceuticals each have their own laundry-list of side-effects, and technology has enabled individual workloads that would have been inconceivable only a few decades ago.

For the sake of this article, we’ll speak in hypothetical terms that assume the legal use of psilocybin at work. We do not condone activity that may jeopardize your security or employment.

Microdosing at work

Psilocybin shares a chemical structure that is very similar to the neurotransmitter serotonin, exciting the pathways related to happiness, well-being, cognition, and learning. At low doses, the effects are not readily noticeable but may contribute to improved creativity and mental flexibility. While the evidence is limited, these are all attributes that we seek to maximize while on the job.

Further, magic mushrooms are very safe among recreational drugs (cannabis, caffeine, and nicotine included) when taken responsibly and in moderation, with no known effects on the structure or health of the brain. According to Adam Winstock, founder of the Global Drug Survey and consultant addiction psychiatrist, “magic mushrooms are one of the safest drugs in the world.” However, long-term studies have not yet been undertaken.

With all this in mind, it seems like it might be easier to come up with an argument for why you shouldn’t microdose at work.

How to microdose magic mushrooms at work

If you’re interested in microdosing at work, there are a few things that will help you try the enhancement for yourself. Obviously, getting magic mushrooms is the first step; we make this as easy as ordering yourself a coffee—both prepared capsules, and dried mushrooms if you prefer a hands-on approach.

Like any new experience, it’s best to practice before “game day.” Consider trying your first microdose at home, so there are no unexpected surprises at the office. Even with very small doses, there are many different factors that might influence both the potency and the effect. Further, since the effects of microdosing can be subtle initially, you should track your days—and progress on the particular goals you’ve chosen—with a journal or digital tool.

With these tips, you should be able to maximize your experimentation with microdosing at work.

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27Feb

The difference in dosages and terminology: micro, average, hero

February 27, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY microdosing, mushrooms 101 11

Stepping into magic mushrooms, or psychedelics, for the first time is like entering into a whole new world, in more ways than one. Even before your first psychedelic experience, there is a universe of information and terminology that can feel daunting enough to ignore it entirely. If there’s one thing you really need to know before you dive in, it’s appropriate dosing for an enjoyable trip.

Trippy terms for dosing magic mushrooms

When it comes to magic mushrooms — the fungi that contain psilocybin — there are a few terms that are thrown around when talking about dosing. The most common are microdoses, average doses, and ‘heroic doses’. While these terms are somewhat open to interpretation, there is a range that’s generally agreed upon. It goes without saying — hopefully — that an average dose is recommended if you’re new to magic mushrooms.

The ‘average’ dose of magic mushrooms

An average dose of magic mushrooms is usually in the range of 1 to 2 grams. Since potency between mushrooms from different batches can vary by as much as ten-fold, it’s best to start on the low end if it’s your first experience with a particular batch. Unless you’ve gotten lucky (or unlucky?) with a super-strong mushroom, a dose of 1.5g should not be overwhelming for the vast majority of new users.

This assumes that your mushrooms are dried to the point that they snap like a cracker when bent. If your mushrooms bend and flex, it’s safe to assume that they’re carrying some water weight. However, do not attempt to increase the dose to compensate for added water; you can always re-dose after an hour if you prefer, but you can never un-dose if you’ve overdone it.

Microdosing magic mushrooms

Magic mushroom microdoses are usually suggested to be 1/10th of an average dose, putting them in the ballpark of 0.1 to 0.2 grams. However, the point of microdosing is that the direct outcomes are ‘sub-threshold’, or not readily detectable. Some sensitive individuals may find themselves having a ‘mini-trip’ with only 0.2g; self-experimentation is critical to finding the correct dose for you.

The Heroic Dose

A heroic dose of magic mushrooms is a concept coined by Terence McKenna, the “American ethnobotanist, mystic, psychonaut, lecturer, author, and advocate for the responsible use of naturally occurring psychedelic plants” and fungi. He defines it as any dose that is over 5 grams of dried mushrooms. He added an extra stipulating, in which the dose is undertaken in the setting of “silent darkness.”

While the name may implicate the slaying of dragons, or subduing of villains, it’s not without reason. A heroic dose will be challenging, only advised for those with ample experience. Like the heroes of yore, this dose is reserved for those with ‘training’, experience, or sheer strength of will. The addition of silent darkness adds another layer of ‘difficulty’, by making your mind the only challenge to overcome. In this setting, with a heroic dose, only you can dictate the objective success of such a challenging experience.

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27Feb

Psilocybe cubensis Species Spotlight

February 27, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY mushrooms 101 7

The mushroom species Psilocybe cubensis has made a big name for itself; from humble beginnings growing wild in the tropics, this mushroom has traveled to nearly every country on the face of the Earth. You may know it by another name — magic mushrooms — of which over 95% of the ones you might grow or buy are Ps. cubensis.

Most magic mushrooms are Psilocybe cubensis

Psilocybe cubensis — nicknamed “cubes” or “gold tops” — are the most common species of magic mushroom. There are over 180 different types of fungi that produce psilocybin, the compound that makes these mushrooms magic. The native range of Ps. cubensis is actually quite small, largely found in Cuba, where they gained their name.

Cubensis gained its fame and worldwide distribution by how easy they are to grow indoors. In 1976, Terence McKenna and his brother Dennis published Psilocybin: The Magic Mushroom Grower’s Guide. In it, they describe a simple method for indoor cultivation of Ps. cubensis that reliably yielded ounces of mushrooms after only a few months. Until this point, many individuals sought their mushrooms from the wild, with only a few diligent cultivators of both indoor and outdoor grows.

Since the ‘70s, there’s been a growing network of spore (a mushroom equivalent to a seed) traders and sellers. Like cannabis, some individuals chose to pursue the breeding of desirable traits, leading to the creation of strains with names like Golden Teacher and Penis Envy. When you buy magic mushrooms online or from somebody, they will likely be identified simply by their strain name.

The diversity of Psilocybe cubensis

Aside from a few specific strains, most Ps. cubensis mushrooms are indistinguishable from each other, making identification of strain nearly impossible once they’re harvested. In most cases, the strain name can be considered a ‘brand name’ or marketing tool, provided by the breeder at their whim.

The names usually refer to the history or a trait of the strain itself. Brazilian, Hawaiian and Mexican refer to where the mushroom might have first been cultivated from the wild, but it might equally refer to where the breed was developed. In other unfortunate cases, the name may be nothing more than a marketing fiction.

Aside from the strain, other factors are much more likely to have an impact on your trip: dose, set, setting, and the growth conditions of the mushrooms themselves. At the moment, this isn’t really a problem; all available evidence suggests that “a shroom is a shroom.” The real problem, arguably, is that almost no data exists on the differences between strains of Ps. cubensis. There is however one outlier, and that is Penis Envy (PE).

Penis Envy is a truly unique ‘cube’

This notable strain gained its name from its unique shape, characterized by an under-developed cap that resembles a helmet. It also has an albino sibling, the starkly white APE (for Albino Penis Envy). Through some act of nature or breeding, this strain is one of the few that is readily recognizable and generally considered to be potent. 
Magic mushrooms will rarely let you down when sourced from a reliable friend or vendor, the strain isn’t much more than a branding choice, unless it’s PE.

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16Feb

Are there different kinds of magic mushrooms?

February 16, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY mushrooms 101 3

Just like at the grocery store, mushrooms of the ‘magic’ variety come in many different shapes, colours, and sizes. The most common is Psilocybe cubensis, also known as “cubes”, “golden tops”, or simply “magic mushrooms.”

There are over 180 different species of mushrooms that contain psilocybin, the compound that makes these fungi magic. Psilocybin can comprise up to 2% of the overall weight of a dried mushroom and is named after the largest group of psychedelic mushrooms, the Psilocybe genus. The compounds were originally researched, synthesized and named by Albert Hofmann, better known as the ‘inventor’ of LSD or “acid.”

Species of magic mushrooms

The original chemistry conducted by Albert Hofmann used samples of Ps. mexicana, a magic mushroom bought from the Amazon rainforest. This particular species has a history spanning millennia, used as a sacred tool by the Nahuatl people — better known as the Aztecs. To them, it was called teonanacatl, or “flesh of the Gods.” They were consumed fresh or dried, sometimes mixed into honey or chocolate for ceremonies or feasts.

With magic mushrooms growing wild on nearly every continent, histories like these are suspected and evidenced around the world. Druidic peoples from Ireland are said to have used the “liberty cap”, or Ps. semilanceata — a species common throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They also consumed an entirely different type of magic mushroom, the iconic red and white-speckled “fly agaric” or Amanita muscaria, that shares the same northern range.

The latter — enshrined in pop-culture as the mushroom from the Mario series — can cause hallucinations and stupor but does not contain psilocybin. It contains an unrelated, psychoactive chemical that may be neurotoxic under certain conditions; these “magic mushrooms” should be avoided at all costs, except under the watchful eye of trained guides.

The many strains of Psilocybe cubensis

It wasn’t until the mid-1970s that Ps. cubensis began to amass its enduring fame. Before this time, most of the mushrooms that helped to power the counter-culture movement of the 1960s were harvested from the wild. Species like Ps. cyanescens and Ps. allenii grew readily from the wood-chips that covered flower-beds and paths within the parks of San Fransisco. 

The publication of Psilocybin: Magic Mushroom Grower’s Guide by the McKenna brothers in 1976 brought magic mushrooms — Ps. cubensis, specifically — indoors and readily cultivated in bulk. Much like cannabis, this move provoked selective breeding and the creation of unique strains and cultivars of cubensis. While the evidence isn’t yet there to support it, many claim that strains have their own distinct personality that can influence your psychedelic trip.

Strains or species, they’re all magic mushrooms

It’s relatively easy to tell species from strains: species will have “binomial” (two-part) names of Greek or Latin origin (Psilocybe cubensis, for example), while strains often have light-hearted or descriptive names like ‘Golden Teacher’ or ‘Penis Envy’. In most cases, “shrooms are shrooms” and contain psilocybin nonetheless, in relatively consistent quantities. 

As always, proceed with caution and moderate doses whenever you’re trying a new batch, strain, or species.

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16Feb

Do magic mushrooms contain anything other than psilocybin?

February 16, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY mushrooms 101, science 4

Recently, there’s been a surge in reporting on psychedelics. Often, “psilocybin” is used interchangeably with “magic mushrooms”, with little distinction made between the two. This is especially important as results become available from clinical trials — only synthetic psilocybin is used in these settings. 

Active compounds in magic mushrooms

Psilocybin is the compound in magic mushrooms that creates the remarkable experience these fungi are known for. Actually, that’s not strictly true. Psilocybin has little effect on the brain itself — it’s considered a ‘pro-drug’ — and is converted in the body to psilocin, the true star of the show. Psilocin is the molecule that directly interacts with the brain to create the psychedelic mushroom experience.

In magic mushrooms, psilocin is usually only found in trace amounts, where psilocybin can comprise up to 2% of the overall weight of a dried mushroom. Both are named after the largest group of psychedelic mushrooms, the Psilocybe genus, with over 120 different species. The compounds were originally researched, synthesized and named by Albert Hofmann, better known as the ‘inventor’ of LSD or “acid.”

If this was the end of the story, synthetic psilocybin could be considered an exact replacement for magic mushrooms in a clinical setting. While this has been the case so far, the story may be changing.

Magic mushrooms and the entourage effect

The entourage effect is a phenomenon that has garnered much attention from the cannabis industry. The premise is that cannabis is more than just a vehicle for THC and CBD — its primary active components — and cannot be replicated with synthesized compounds alone. This is largely due to a plethora of other compounds, mainly terpenes, that can influence the psychoactive effects of a given plant.

Evidence is emerging that suggests a similar observance in magic mushrooms. It has been known for decades that some species of magic mushrooms contain compounds similar to psilocybin: baeocystin and norbaeocystin. While the research is scarce, it suggests that these chemicals may also have an influence on the brain. 

More recently, trace amounts of entirely different compounds were found in magic mushrooms. They’re beta-carbolines and are known to inhibit an enzyme called monoamine oxidase. This enzyme is responsible for clearing psychedelic substances from the brain; when inhibited, it can prolong and intensify a psychedelic experience. 

Mushroom strains and ‘chemovars’

It remains unknown as to whether these substances — in the minimal quantities in which they’re found — may be enough to differentiate mushrooms from synthetic psilocybin, but their existence alone bolsters the need for more research.

Alongside scientists, these investigations will likely also be pursued by eventual players in the magic mushroom industry. Like cannabis, magic mushrooms have many different ‘strains’ that have been bred over the years. The weed industry is slowly making a shift from ‘strains’ (used for bacteria and viruses, not plants) that describe physical aspects of the plant, to ‘chemovars’ that indicate what the plant contains.

No doubt this trend will continue in an eventually legal mushroom system.

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14Feb

How do I prepare magic mushrooms?

February 14, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY mushrooms 101 6

There aren’t very many psychedelic compounds that can be simply harvested from nature and eaten, with no further preparation. However, this usually requires months of study in the identification of mushrooms and may come with an increased risk of nausea and discomfort.

Most people encounter magic mushrooms in a bag, dried and ready to munch. While this method will definitely get you to where you want to go, there are some alternative ways to prepare mushrooms, which may change certain aspects of your psilocybin experience.

How to prepare magic mushrooms

One big thing to keep in mind is that your stomach has a massive influence over your trip, no matter how you prepare your magic mushrooms. An empty stomach (no solid food for 4-8 hours) can result in a very fast onset and intense experience, compared to eating a large meal just before the mushrooms. Some snacks or a light meal is usually suggested in the hours before eating magic mushrooms, but not required. Be sure to have some calories on-hand for “trip food” in case you get hungry.

Eat ‘em

The obvious first choice when it comes to magic mushrooms is to simply eat them. The downside is that they’re not very palatable, especially for someone who doesn’t like the flavour. The actual mushroom mass – other than the roughly 2% psilocybin by weight – may also contain some compounds that could contribute to nausea at the beginning of your psilocybin experience.

Make a mushroom tea

Psilocybin is incredibly soluble in water, unlike the oil-based and resinous extracts of cannabis. This means that the active ingredients can easily be removed from magic mushrooms with water alone. Conveniently, psilocybin also seems to be relatively stable below 100°C – the maximum temperature of boiling water.

To maximize potency, mushrooms should only be in boiling/simmering water for up to 15 minutes. This is more than enough time to complete a near-total extraction of psilocybin. The process is faster if the pieces are smaller – grinding or breaking up your mushrooms helps. Just ensure that you have a strainer that’s capable of removing the small chunks, unless you don’t mind them in your tea.

Once the psilocybin is extracted into a tea, you can add any flavourings you find appealing to make the brew most palatable. Savoury stocks like chicken or beef can almost completely mask the mushroom flavour, and ginger is helpful if you’re prone to nausea. Your favourite tea can also contribute to the start of your psilocybin experience, by promoting a calm and relaxed state of mind.

Note: Be careful mixing any other substances with psilocybin; including caffeine, cannabis, alcohol, and even lemon juice.

The “Lemon Tek”

Adding lemon – or other acidic substances like citrus or tomato – can significantly change your experience with psilocybin. While the mechanism is uncertain, it is suspected that psilocybin may be broken into psilocin under acidic conditions. For whatever reason, this produces a very intense trip that often also has a shorter duration. This method should only be considered by those with prior experience with psychedelics.

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