Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that alter the way of thinking and mood. They affect numerous cognitive processes by promoting new pathways between neurons. They are commonly used to help people in depression and with many mental disorders as they also have an immediate effect. Many cancer patients use psychedelics like psilocybin to be positive because treatment is not the only factor for staying alive. Research indicates the potential for a wide array of mental health disorders. Psychedelic drugs are currently being investigated for the treatment of everything from depression to cluster headaches to Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists are also studying psychedelics for their beneficial effects for pain related diseases, with the belief they can beneficially alter psychological mechanisms and neural pathways associated with persistent pain. Because psychedelics reorganize neural networks in the brain, they have the potential to target pain through changes in the brain’s structure and function. Beyond mental illness and pain-related diseases, psychedelics have the potential to treat any disease where new neural pathways might improve function. Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs. Hallucinogens are a large, diverse class of psychoactive drugs that can produce altered states of consciousness characterized by major alterations in thought, mood, and perception as well as other changes.
Psilocybin is a Hallucinogen that people can ingest through certain types of mushrooms. That’s why they are also called magic mushrooms. Psilocybin does not always cause active visual or auditory hallucinations. Instead, it distorts how some people that use the drug perceive objects and people already in their environment. The hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin usually occur within 30 minutes after a person ingests it and last for 4–6 hours. In some individuals, changes in sensory perception and thought patterns can last for several days.
The potency of a magic mushroom depends on:
species
origin
growing conditions
harvest period
whether a person eats them fresh or dried *The amount of psilocybin in dried mushrooms is 10 times higher compared to fresh ones.
Effect:
They include altered perception of time and space and intense changes in mood and feeling.
Other possible effects of psilocybin include:
feeling of Joy
peacefulness
visual alteration and distortion
dilated pupils
dizziness
drowsiness and yawning
weak concentration
lack of coordination
unusual body sensations
nausea and vomiting
paranoia
weak body
confusion
The effects of psilocybin vary between people, based on the user’s mental state, personality, and environment.
If the user has a mental health condition or feels anxious about using the hallucinogen, they face a higher risk of having a bad experience.
Psilocybin is not chemically addictive, and no physical symptoms occur after stopping use. However, after several days of psilocybin use, individuals might experience psychological withdrawal and have difficulty adjusting to reality.
Regular use can also cause an individual to become tolerant to the effects of psilocybin, and cross-tolerance occurs with other drugs, including LSD and mescaline. People who use these drugs must wait at least several days between doses to experience the full effect.
Psilocybin has also shown effectiveness at easing fear and anxiety in people with terminal cancer.
Side Effects and Doses:
When taken by mouth: Psilocybin is possibly safe when used as a single dose under medical supervision. Single doses of psilocybin have been used in controlled settings without serious side effects. The most common side effects include confusion, fear, hallucinations, headache, high blood pressure, nausea, and paranoia. Despite being a controlled substance in the US, the risk for abuse seems low.
There isn't enough reliable information to know if psilocybin is safe to use without medical supervision at any dose, including micro doses. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There aren’t enough reliable information to know if psilocybin is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Bipolar disorder: Psilocybin might increase the risk of mania in people with bipolar disorder or those with a family history of bipolar disorder.
Heart disease: Psilocybin might increase the risk of cardiac arrest and death in people with heart disease.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Psilocybin might make diarrhoea worse in people with IBS.
Boiling point: 523.4 °C Formula: C12H17N2O4P Molar mass: 284.25 g/mol Metabolism: Hepatic Melting point: 220–228 °C (428–442 °F) |
Citation:
(Cover image source: NBC News)
Hartney, Elizabeth. "What Are Psychedelic Drugs?" verywellmind, 14 Nov. 2022, www.verywellmind.com/types-of-psychedelic-drug-22073.
"Psilocybin - Uses, Side Effects, and More." WebMD, www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1654/psilocybin. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.
Sellers, Alisha D. "What are magic mushrooms and psilocybin?" Medical News Today, 4 Oct. 2021, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/308850#what-is-psilocybin.
"What are magic mushrooms?" Alcohol and Drug Foundation, 16 Aug. 2022, adf.org.au/drug-facts/psilocybin/.
"What are psychedelics?" Alcohol and Drug Foundation, 16 Aug. 2022, adf.org.au/drug-facts/psychedelics/.
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