Mushrooms are of different types and are mainly consumed as food because of their high nutritional value and several health benefits. All mushrooms originate from fungi, and the spores of mushrooms spread through the air only to settle in soil or wood and grow into mature mushrooms. Mushrooms are rich sources of vitamins and have immune-boosting properties too. Button mushrooms are most common as food items, along with Portobello, Maitake, Cremini, and Hedgehog mushrooms are favorites among food lovers across the world. However, if someone suggests that you buy blue meanies, think twice because it is a different mushroom species. Fondly known as shrooms, this type of mushroom has high hallucinogenic effects that are much stronger than the psychoactive properties of weeds, one of the most popular and controversial psychedelics.
Magic mushrooms
They are also known as magic mushrooms which generally grow in the wild or cultivated and have a high content of Psilocybin. This psychoactive compound is among one of the best-known psychedelics. All mushrooms contain varying amounts of Psilocybin, but blue beanies are the most potent species that cause 2-3 times more hallucinogenic effects than other types of mushrooms, as confirmed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administrations. The magic mushrooms come under the category of Schedule I drug, which has high chances of abuse and does not have any medical use in the US.
A new mushroom
Although consuming mushrooms for deriving hallucinogenic pleasures has been prevalent in cultures through the centuries, the magic mushroom is a relatively recent discovery by Dr. Albert Hoffman. He first isolated Psilocybin in 1958. Incidentally, Dr. Hoffman discovered LSD or lysergic acid diethylamide, too, a rave among those who did drugs during the seventies.
The standard method of consuming Magic mushrooms is to ix the dried mushroom with some food or drinks. However, there are instances of people eating the freshly picked mushrooms in the raw state.
Mushrooms equivalent to drugs
When you consume magic mushrooms, you are doing drugs because the lure of the hallucinogenic effects attracted you to the shrooms. Mushroom sellers dealing in magic mushrooms disclose the Psilocybin content and confirm the high effects of the psychoactive compound to attract customers. The hallucinogenic effects vary from person to person ranging from experiencing intense visuals to feeling excited, confused, and giggly, and at times anxious, worried, and paranoid.
The side effects of magic mushrooms include nausea, hallucination, distortion of sound and vision, and often tripping. The person’s behavior taking the mushroom depends on the amount consumed as larger doses can lead to the weirdest behavior as the person loses control over the body and mind.
Medicinal use
Although shrooms have gained notoriety for causing hallucinogenic effects, researchers from John Hopkins University are keen to use their medicinal properties. They found that Psilocybin is effective in the treatment of addictions of alcohol and nicotine and even depression. Studies revealed the ability of magic mushrooms to relieve the emotional distress of cancer patients who need a strong mind to sustain the side effects of the treatment.
While time will only tell if magic mushrooms could be suitable for human use until now, its hallucinogenic effects draw people towards it.
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