The Science Behind Magic Mushrooms

Globally cherished as a culinary delight, mushrooms enhance dishes with their rich, earthy flavor and hearty texture, elevating meals from pizza to risotto. However, consuming a specific variety can transform your dining experience into something truly extraordinary.

Referred to as magic mushrooms, shrooms, mushies, psychedelic mushrooms, or psilocybin, these fungi induce alterations in mood, perception, and behavior, often described as a "trip."

Mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus are often considered the quintessential magic mushrooms. While other genera can also induce hallucinations, enthusiasts argue that Psilocybe species are the genuine article. These mushrooms owe their hallucinogenic effects to psychotropic compounds like psilocybin and psilocin, with some varieties containing additional, milder substances such as baeocystin or norbaeocystin. The psilocybin content in a single mushroom ranges from 0.1 to 1.3 percent [source: Forensic Science International].

Magic mushrooms rank among the most popular recreational psychotropic substances due to their availability in nature and ease of cultivation. The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that approximately 1.3 percent of U.S. adults aged 26 and older had used hallucinogens, including mushrooms, LSD, and MDMA, within the past year [source: Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration].

Unlike synthetic psychotropic drugs such as LSD, magic mushrooms boast a millennia-old history tied to spiritual and religious rituals. Despite this, they share many similarities with LSD. Let’s explore how consuming them impacts individuals.

Tripping on Shrooms

Magic mushrooms share significant similarities with LSD in their physiological effects. Both are classified as psychotropic substances, influencing the central nervous system to induce their unique experiences. Often, a mushroom trip is described as a gentler, shorter counterpart to an LSD trip. Similar to LSD, magic mushrooms don’t create true hallucinations but rather alter the perception of real objects [source: Drug Scope].

Those under the influence of mushrooms may perceive colors differently or notice intricate patterns. Existing sensory inputs like colors, sounds, tastes, and textures can become distorted, while emotions and feelings are heightened. Time may seem to accelerate, slow down, or even halt entirely. Users often report a profound shift in their sense of self and a connection to a higher power or the universe.

As with LSD, the effects of a mushroom trip depend on the individual, dosage, and mushroom variety, as potency varies. The concept of "set and setting"—the user’s mental state and surroundings—plays a crucial role in determining whether the experience is positive. Those in a negative mindset or rigid environment are more prone to a bad trip, characterized by paranoia, anxiety, or fear instead of euphoria. The only remedy is to wait it out, and beginners are often advised to have a seasoned guide present.

Consuming mushrooms can lead to side effects such as dizziness, nausea, stomach discomfort, muscle weakness, reduced appetite, and numbness. These symptoms typically fade as the trip concludes. Some users turn to marijuana to alleviate nausea during the experience.

Magic mushrooms are not typically addictive, but users develop tolerance rapidly. For instance, consuming them on consecutive days often leads to a diminished effect on the second day. There’s also potential for cross-tolerance with other psychotropic substances like LSD, mescaline, and peyote, meaning using one can reduce the effectiveness of another [source: National Drug Intelligence Center].

Are magic mushrooms dangerous? Individuals with mental illnesses, whether diagnosed or not, may experience worsened symptoms after using them. While no deaths have been directly linked to magic mushrooms, the lethal dose is hundreds of times higher than a typical amount. However, consuming misidentified mushrooms can be fatal. With this in mind, let’s explore the various types of magic mushrooms.

Types of Magic Mushrooms

Foraging for wild mushrooms is risky due to the thousands of species, many of which look alike. While some toxic mushrooms cause only stomach issues, others can lead to organ failure or even death. Identifying edible mushrooms is best left to experts, as even seasoned foragers can make mistakes. A key identification method involves creating a spore print, where the mushroom cap is pressed gill-side down onto paper (often both dark and white for contrast) to release its spores. (We’ll discuss spore prints in more detail later.)

The Psilocybe genus includes dozens of mushroom species, most of which are small, averaging a 3-inch (7.6-centimeter) stalk and a 1-inch (2.5-centimeter) cap. Fresh specimens typically feature light grayish, yellowish, or brownish stems with brown or brown-and-white caps and dark gills. Below, we’ll highlight some of the most well-known varieties.

Do people simply eat magic mushrooms raw? Next, we’ll explore what constitutes a typical dose and the various methods of consuming these fungi.

Mushroom Dosages: Feed Your Head

The potency of magic mushrooms varies based on species, growing conditions, and handling. For instance, Thai P. cubensis strains are known for their stronger effects, while Gulf Coast varieties produce a milder experience. Psilocybin content diminishes when mushrooms are dried, leading users to consume more to achieve the desired effect. In the U.S., mushrooms are often sold in eighths of an ounce ( grams), typically priced around $35. Effects vary by individual and mushroom type [source: QZ].

Beginners are usually advised to start with about 1 gram (or less) of dried mushrooms (equivalent to one P. cubensis), wait an hour, and then decide if more is needed. While some consume mushrooms fresh or dried, their taste can be unappealing—ranging from floury to sour or bitter. Pairing them with fruit like strawberries can mask the flavor. For those averse to the taste, recipes like smoothies or chili are popular, though prolonged cooking may reduce psilocybin potency [source: TripSafe].

Consuming magic mushrooms isn’t limited to eating them. They can be ground and brewed into a tea by steeping in hot water and straining the liquid. Advocates of this method argue it doesn’t reduce the trip’s intensity. Since alcohol and mushrooms are often combined, some soak the mushrooms in rum or tequila, using the infused liquid in drinks. Those who’ve tried mushroom tea or extracts report faster onset of effects compared to eating them. Alternatively, dried mushrooms can be ground and encapsulated in gelatin pills, eliminating the taste and texture entirely.

While many purchase magic mushrooms, foraging for them in the wild is another option. Additionally, some enthusiasts grow their own at home. We’ll explore this process next.

Mycology: Growing Shrooms

Most cultivators begin with P. cubensis due to its widespread availability and ease of cultivation. While there are multiple methods to grow mushrooms, we’ll focus on one basic approach. All techniques start with a crucial component: the spore. A single spore develops into a mushroom, which can then produce hundreds of thousands of spores.

Spore prints, commonly used for identifying wild mushrooms, can also serve as a starting point for cultivation. The dry spores on the print need to be rehydrated for use. Maintaining sterility is critical throughout the process, as bacteria or mold can prevent growth or lead to contamination. Many growers opt to purchase spore syringes (containing spores and sterile water) from suppliers rather than preparing their own.

Essential equipment includes a large plastic container, canning jars, a pressure cooker or canner, brown rice flour, vermiculite (a mineral gravel used in gardening), and basic kitchen tools. The brown rice flour is combined with water and vermiculite to create a loose, nutrient-rich substrate cake, providing an ideal environment for spore growth. The substrate is placed in canning jars, sealed, and sterilized using the pressure cooker [source: The Third Wave].

Once the jars cool, the substrate is inoculated with the spore syringe through holes in the lids. The jars are then incubated at a consistent temperature of around 75 degrees Fahrenheit (23.9 degrees Celsius). Within a week, the spores should begin to grow, forming white, rope-like structures called mycelium. If mold appears or nothing grows, the process may have been compromised due to insufficient sterilization or contamination during inoculation.

When the cakes are fully colonized by mycelium, they are transferred to a plastic container for fruiting. The cakes require light and high humidity to thrive. If conditions are right, mushrooms start growing within a week or two and are ready to harvest when the caps begin to curve upward. Each cake can produce mushrooms for up to a month, typically in cycles known as flushes. A single cake can yield dozens of mushrooms, which should be refrigerated or dried promptly to prevent spoilage.

Experienced growers often advance from basic methods to bulk growing techniques. In bulk grows, substrates like straw or manure are used, which must be pasteurized to avoid mold. When executed correctly, these methods can yield hundreds or even thousands of mushrooms in a single harvest.

While growing mushrooms isn’t costly, acquiring spore prints or syringes can be challenging due to legal restrictions on their purchase, sale, or possession. Next, we’ll explore the legal status of magic mushrooms.

Magic Mushrooms and the Law

The legality of possessing, consuming, cultivating, or selling magic mushrooms varies by location. In the U.S., psilocybin is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Psychotropic Substances Act, an amendment to the Controlled Substances Act. This classification indicates a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, and a lack of safety even under medical supervision. Since psilocybin is the active compound in magic mushrooms, they are generally considered illegal. However, because spores don’t contain psilocybin, some argue this creates a legal loophole.

Most magic mushroom-related arrests occur under state law, unless involving large quantities, and the majority of states prohibit their possession. However, recent years have seen a shift, with cities and states reevaluating their policies. In 2019, Denver became the first U.S. city to decriminalize magic mushrooms, followed by Santa Cruz and Oakland, California [source: Leins].

Buoyed by recent successes, activists advocating for mushroom legalization are actively campaigning in other states. Lawmakers in Oregon, California, and Iowa have proposed bills to decriminalize magic mushrooms.

While fresh mushrooms and spores remain legal in many parts of the world, laws vary significantly by country. For instance, Great Britain allowed the sale of fresh magic mushrooms until 2005, though spores are still legal. The Netherlands, once a haven for otherwise illegal substances, banned dried mushrooms in 2001 and fresh ones in 2008, but permits small quantities of "magic truffles"—immature mushrooms that circumvent the law. Mexico prohibits mushrooms outright, except for religious use. In Spain, mushrooms are decriminalized, but grow kits may attract legal scrutiny [source: Entheonation].

In some countries, possession is legal but selling is not, while others impose harsh penalties. For example, Indonesia enforces death sentences for possession of such substances [source: Inside Indonesia].

Certain nations, like Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Brazil, have no restrictions on mushrooms, making them entirely legal.

Countries like Mexico allow exceptions to mushroom bans when used by indigenous groups in religious rituals. Next, we’ll delve into the history of magic mushrooms.

A Brief History of Magic Mushrooms

Historians suggest that magic mushrooms may have been used as early as 9000 B.C. in North African indigenous cultures, as evidenced by rock paintings. Artifacts resembling mushrooms have been discovered in Mayan and Aztec ruins in Central America. The Aztecs used a substance called teonanácatl, meaning "flesh of the gods," widely believed to be magic mushrooms. Alongside peyote, morning glory seeds, and other natural psychotropics, these mushrooms were used to induce trances, visions, and communication with deities. Spanish Catholic missionaries in the 16th century documented the use of these substances in the New World.

The notion that magic mushrooms have a sacred, ancient history is hotly debated. Critics argue that the evidence is inconclusive, with interpretations of ancient art and texts often reflecting personal biases. However, their use is well-documented among contemporary indigenous tribes in Central America, such as the Mazatec, Mixtec, Nauhua, and Zapatec.

Western interest in magic mushrooms began in the late 1950s. Mycologist R. Gordon Wasson, during his 1955 travels in Mexico, observed and participated in a Mazatec shaman's ritual involving these mushrooms. His findings, published in a 1957 Life magazine article titled "Seeking the Magic Mushroom," popularized the term. Wasson's colleague, Roger Heim, collaborated with Albert Hofmann (the creator of LSD), who isolated psilocybin and psilocin from the mushrooms collected in Mexico [source: Harvard University].

Timothy Leary, a prominent advocate for psychotropic substances like LSD, was inspired by Wasson's article and began experimenting with mushrooms at Harvard University. This led to their association with the 1960s counterculture and the hippie movement's quest for spiritual exploration [source: Harvard University].

Today, magic mushrooms are gaining wider acceptance, particularly through the practice of "microdosing." Users consume small amounts of psilocybin to enhance mood and creativity without experiencing full psychedelic effects. Some studies suggest these microdoses can reduce anxiety and improve productivity [source: Garlick].

Research into psilocybin has resumed after a decades-long hiatus due to legal restrictions. In October 2018, the FDA approved Compass Pathways to study psilocybin as a potential treatment for depression. Researchers aim to combine intense therapy with psilocybin to address treatment-resistant depression, a condition affecting approximately 100 million people globally [source: Compass].

In September 2019, Johns Hopkins University launched its Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. Scientists there aim to explore psilocybin's potential in treating a range of conditions, including opioid addiction, Lyme disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, and dependencies on nicotine and alcohol, among others.

Researchers worldwide are investigating the potential therapeutic applications of these fascinating compounds. Their goal is to understand how magic mushrooms and their active ingredients interact with the human brain and body. Their discoveries may open new pathways to perception and mental health that we have yet to fully comprehend.