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science

05Apr

Immunity: Psychedelics and mushrooms

April 5, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY health, science

Psychedelics, and especially magic mushrooms, will be touted as having many amazing applications over the coming decades. From large doses of psilocybin for depression to microdoses of mushrooms for arthritis pain—the science has only just started and many questions remain unanswered and unasked.

Until concrete data is gathered on the effects of magic mushrooms on the body and mind, we’re left to explore anecdotes, small studies, and theoretical musings on the benefits of psychedelics. One specific area of importance is the possibility of receiving an immune boost from fungi—both a vague marketing term and a very real contributor to optimal health.

The immune system and how to boost it

Your immune system is best seen as a reflection of your overall health and fitness: 

  • Immune boosters: Exercise, vitamins, minerals, healthy diet, and even mindfulness.
  • Immune compromisers: Injury, disease, deficiencies, stress, some medications, and lack of sleep.
  • Immune balancers: Vaccinations, some medications, and the ‘good’ bacteria in your gut.

Unfortunately, for many supplements and proprietary blends touted by ‘experts’, the title of “immune booster” does not require support or verification, and is not a claim that bothers the FDA or Health Canada.

For all intents and purposes, the onus is on you to verify the statements concerning supplements and non-pharmaceutical products.

When it comes to supplementing your diet, there are only a few specific additives or foods that definitely (supported by extensive research) boost your immune system, Vitamins C and D for example. Individual products or compounds are unlikely to single-handedly swing immunity in your favour—a holistic and all-encompassing approach is a preferred method. However, there are some indirect approaches to bolstering your immunity that have some basis in fact.

Mushrooms and the immune system

When added to a balanced diet, mushrooms provide a component of health that fruits and vegetables aren’t able to produce. Vitamin D is a compound that is integral to immune function and optimal health, and can only be created through direct exposure to sunlight. Humans produce it in the skin, but only with adequate time in the sun.

Fungi are also capable of this process, creating Vitamin D that is able to be absorbed by humans who lack it.

Placing sliced mushrooms in the sun for only 15 minutes, spread over tin foil, can increase the concentration of Vitamin D by nearly 25%.

Psychedelics and the immune system

In general, psychedelics can be an immediate stressor to your body, with elevated hormone levels (e.g. Cortisol) associated with emotional stress. However, this heightened level of stress rarely lasts much longer than a trip, when other benefits begin to manifest after the initial onslaught. Aside from the potential for significant impacts on stress and mental well-being, an intriguing hypothesis is being proposed that also implicates microdosing psychedelics.

Research has definitively demonstrated a connection between the gut—and the organisms that inhabit it—and our brain. Further, gut health has been implicated in major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, addiction and autism. These findings have prompted Dr. Kim Kuypers, preeminent psychedelic research, to propose

“…low doses of psychedelics exert their effects via an indirect ‘central’ route, i.e., via the gut…psilocybin is a phytochemical that ends up in the gut after oral administration.”

Serotonergic drugs are known to affect the GI tract—SSRIs have been used for their therapeutic value in the treatment of gastric disorders. With 95% of the body’s serotonin localized to the gut, the effect of psychedelics is only beginning to be uncovered.

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05Apr

Antidepressants and psychedelics

April 5, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY health, science

The psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, has recently been ‘fast-tracked’ by the United States FDA for approval in treating depressive disorders. More specifically, the therapy has been indicated for both Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) and Major Depression (MDD). 

This has prompted interest in the chemical from those who currently suffer from all forms of depression; front-line therapies for the disorders currently employ antidepressant pharmaceuticals, along with behavioral therapies. Unfortunately, antidepressants blunt and diminish the effects of psilocybin—understandably, you may be wondering how to safely combine the two.

Antidepressants and magic mushrooms

Most antidepressants significantly diminish the psilocybin experience, from microdosing to macrodosing. Not only is this a bummer in general, but it can also be dangerous when individuals try to increase their dose of psilocybin to overcompensate for the effect. For others that are desperate for real transformation, the outcome of a disappointing trip can be equally as detrimental to the psyche.

The boogeyman of drug prohibition has also created the specter of Serotonin Syndrome—a legitimate and dangerous event to be sure, but incredibly rare among users of ‘classical psychedelics’. These include magic mushrooms and LSD, compounds that operate directly on your serotonin system. The syndrome and its associated complications are much more common among users of MAOIs, which are inherent in the mixture of plants that comprise ayahuasca.

While the prospect of a blunted trip isn’t dangerous in and of itself, the possibility is nonetheless a barrier to those who may most benefit from psilocybin therapy. For those that are stable and determined to make the most of their psychedelic experiences, tapering off of antidepressants is an approach that’s frequently considered.

Tapering antidepressants for psychedelic therapy

Antidepressants are prescribed for a reason, and tapering your dose will come with inevitable outcomes. Before making any changes to your medication regimen, a thoughtful reflection on whether it’s truly a good time to undertake such a process is necessary. Crisis, major life changes, and instability should be general indicators that now is not a good time for drastic measures.

Ideally, you’ll have your prescriber on-board and notified. Along with brain zaps and general discomfort, tapering can also increase suicidal ideation—discounting the potential benefit of psilocybin, safety is always of paramount importance. Reduction of dosing as not a strict science: a fast taper limits your unmedicated timeframe, but may introduce strong and unwanted side-effects.

Tapering off of antidepressants slowly is often recommended, minimizing side-effects and allowing for time to reflect on the changes in mindset that accompany the process. This isn’t a one-way process—if you feel, at any time, that your mental stability is at risk, reassume your regular dose and delay your psychedelic experience. 

After fully tapering to baseline over weeks or months, it is best to allow for a further 2-4 weeks to fully eliminate the compound from your system. At this point, you’ll be ready to experience the full, mystical and transformative experience that you seek. Afterwards, medication should be resumed, but the dosage can be discussed with your prescriber to account for any changes in mindset.

Antidepressant & Psychedelic Drug Interaction Chart

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05Apr

Magic mushrooms and sleep

April 5, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY health, science

Sleep is not usually the first thing that comes to mind when you think about magic mushrooms. While yawning can be a common side effect, the stimulation of a trip often pushes the thought of sleep to the background. The experience provided by psilocybin is not unlike a waking dream, though the similarities between the two situations continue well beyond the visuals they’re able to project onto your mind’s eye.

The direct effect of magic mushrooms on sleep

Perhaps the most well-known effect of psychedelics on the sleep of its users is the propensity for wild dreams:

“Even when I close my eyes and feel like the trip has run its course, my mind is still operating at an elevated activity level, I sat in a dark room, but I could still see light. I’d close my eyes and could see flashes of electricity.”

This outcome is probably due to the influence of psilocybin on the serotonin system. This neurotransmitter (a chemical that allows your brain to think) powers the parts of your brain associated with happiness, well-being, learning, and cognition. It also has strong connections to dreaming; namely the speed and frequency of shifts between phases of sleep.

The bulk of vivid dreams occur in the phase known as REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Research demonstrates that alterations of the serotonin system—SSRIs for the treatment of depression—can modify the time spent in REM sleep each night. The same effect is expected of classic psychedelics like LSD and magic mushrooms; you may find your dreams intense and vivid, or unremarkably dull or even nonexistent.

The connection between a psilocybin trip and dreaming

When researchers look at the brain images of patients tripping on psilocybin, they describe the pattern as similar to dreaming states—increased “volume” of activity in regions associated with sleep and primitive emotion. Further, when the drug is administered during or just before sleep, it seems to induce higher activity levels during REM sleep, confirming their connection. 

Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, a preeminent researcher in the psychedelic domain, mentions “a waking dream” is more than just a metaphor when it comes to a trip.

Psychedelics have the capacity to blur lines between dreams and reality, with distortions of time and memory to match. While the realization that you’re dreaming only rarely saves you from a nightmare; a reminder that “it’s just a mushroom, it will end” often helps to soothe a bad trip.

Magic mushrooms and sleep

When it comes to sleep, there are two main things to keep in mind when taking magic mushrooms:

  • Don’t expect to sleep on shrooms. While Dr. Carhart-Harris mentions above that psilocybin was administered to some patients before sleep, the situation is out of the norm. Make sure to give yourself enough time, at least 6-8 hours, between taking mushrooms and bedtime.
  • Be prepared for vivid dreams. A very common side-effect, this outcome may ignite a trip-like dream—or equally intense nightmare. Yet another reason to avoid sleep after dosing, and gives a reason to trip in the morning!
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16Feb

Do magic mushrooms contain anything other than psilocybin?

February 16, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY mushrooms 101, science

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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11Feb

How does Psilocybin affect the brain?

February 11, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY science

If magic mushrooms have captured your interest, you may be asking “How does psilocybin affect the brain?” Psilocybin is the compound in magic mushrooms that creates the remarkable experience these fungi are known for.

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.

The effects of Psilocybin

A psychedelic trip is purely temporary, with no known effects on the structure or health of the brain. At low doses, known as microdosing, effects are not readily noticeable but may contribute to improved creativity and mental flexibility. Psilocybin may have the power to heal both physically and emotionally, but the experience will almost always be memorable — regardless of the outcome.

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. If an individual were to have two, back-to-back psilocybin experiences — which is not suggested — an increase in dose of up to 300% might be required for the second day.

This tolerance also applies to other ‘classical’ hallucinogens like LSD and DMT, which hints toward their shared mechanism of action.

How does Psilocybin affect the brain?

Psilocybin mimics the neurotransmitter serotonin, which powers the pathways in your brain associated with perception and reward. Psychedelic compounds like psilocybin are known as “serotonergic” or “classic” hallucinogens, chemicals that directly alter the creation, action, or elimination of the neurotransmitter serotonin. While often characterized as the mediator of well-being and happiness, serotonin has many nuanced roles within the body.

Serotonin, or a lack thereof, is often associated with clinical depression. The frontline treatment is the prescription of SSRIs or Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor. While there is little evidence to explain the phenomenon, this type of drug has a significant interaction with psilocybin and other psychedelic compounds. Anecdotes suggest that SSRIs inhibit the effects of psilocybin and that the combination should be largely avoided.

The interplay between SSRIs and psilocybin is especially unfortunate, given that there is growing evidence that psychedelics can significantly improve severe forms of depression. The FDA has even granted psilocybin a “breakthrough therapy” designation for both Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) and Major Depressive Disorder, with clinical trials underway.

Psilocybin and your brain

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. Considering the potential impact of such an event, preparation and education are incredibly useful for making the most of what could otherwise just be a fun trip. Understanding what psilocybin can do to your brain can unlock a universe of potential exploration and self-improvement.

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07Feb

How safe are magic mushrooms?

February 7, 2020 SUPERFUNGUY mushrooms 101, science

Before taking any substance for the first time, it’s best to start by asking a few questions. When it comes to psilocybin, one of the first should be “How safe are magic mushrooms?” A key pillar of harm-reduction is education, both the benefits and possible harms.

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

Understanding psilocybin

A psychedelic trip is purely temporary, with no known effects on the structure or health of the brain. 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. 

If an individual were to have two, back-to-back psilocybin experiences — which is not suggested — an increase in dose of up to 300% might be required for the second day. This is often cited as the reason that “No” is the answer to “Are magic mushrooms addictive?” This tolerance also applies to other ‘classical’ hallucinogens like LSD and DMT, which hints toward their shared mechanism of action.

At low doses, known as microdosing, effects are not readily noticeable but may contribute to improved creativity and mental flexibility. Psilocybin may also have the power to heal both physically and emotionally.

How safe are magic mushrooms?

Psychedelic compounds like psilocybin are known as “serotonergic” or “classic” hallucinogens, chemicals that directly alter the creation, action, or elimination of the neurotransmitter serotonin. While it seems counter-intuitive, anecdotes suggest that SSRIs — Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors — inhibit the effects of psilocybin and that the combination should be largely avoided.

Otherwise, according to a global drug survey completed in 2017, magic mushrooms were considered the safest recreational drug. “Magic mushrooms are one of the safest drugs in the world,” says Adam Winstock, founder of the Global Drug Survey and consultant addiction psychiatrist. Compared to users of MDMA, LSD or cocaine; users of magic mushrooms were five times less likely to require medical attention.

The FDA has even granted psilocybin a “breakthrough therapy” designation for both Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) and Major Depressive Disorder, with clinical trials underway.

Magic mushrooms and other drugs

Psilocybin has the potential to interact with some other medications and compounds. Other than SSRIs, MAOIs and other antidepressants are the most common interactors. Depending on the preparation method, mushrooms can also interact with acids like lemon juice and potentiators like Syrian Rue. Extra research and caution is suggested before combining Psilocybin with any other substance, even alcohol or cannabis.

For your first few magic mushroom adventures, it’s best to avoid any substance that might cloud the experience. As always, if you are mixing things up, proceed with caution and consume in moderation.

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