things 2 know
Psilocybin |
Psilocybin one of the main psychoactive compounds in magic mushrooms. The active dose of psilocybin is 3-30 mg. The effects are psychotomimetic; psilocybin is considered a psychedelic drug. Duration: 4-7 hours. Chemically speaking psilocybin is a tryptamine and an alkaloid. Psilocybin is the posphate ester of psilocyn and the more chemically stable of the two compounds. Because of its greater molecular weight psilocibyn is less potent than psilocin. Other chemical names for psilocybin are: 4-HO-DMT Phosphate Esther TRYPTAMINE 4-HYDROXY-N N-DIMETHYL 4PHOSPHORYLOXY |
Dangerous mushrooms
Cytolitic toxins - (eg: Cyclopeptides, Orellanin, Gyromytrin) are very dangerous and, as the name suggests, attack the cells of organs in which they are present, destroying the kidneys and the liver.
Haemolytic toxins - attack red blood cells.
Coprine poisons - inhibit acetaldehyde metabolism, causing buildup after consumption of alcohol.
Psychotropic compounds - found in hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Muscarine - found in several spp., most famously A. muscaria.
Cumulative gastro-enteric poisons - come in many different types.
Poisonous mushrooms
If you are not an expert in identifying wild mushrooms, don't go out and try to pick magic mushrooms in the wild ". You might pick a really poisonous mushroom. Before you go hunting make sure that you are able to identify the magic mushrooms you are looking for, and that you are aware of the posionous look-al-likes.
Eating magic mushrooms that have gone bad
When you are growing your own magic mushrooms and the become covered with mold, DO NOT eat them. When you have bought (fresh) or picked magic mushrooms and they have gone bad (dark brown, black, moldy), DO NOT eat them. Moldy or bad mushrooms may contain poisons and harmfull bacteria, that could make you very ill.
Bad trip
Magic mushrooms contain psilocin and psilocybin psilocybin. These compounds are psychedelics. They will cause an effect similar to a "trip" on LSD. Loss of reality may be experienced and severe anxiety and paranoia can occur. You may experience a bad trip. The most important rule to prevent a voyage into hell is: START WITH A LOW DOSE. See taking magic mushrooms for more advice.
Amanita
Muscaria
A lot of people trip on Fly Agaric and call them magic mushrooms as well.
However, don't confuse psilocybe mushrooms with Amanita Muscaria (fly agaric). There is no psilocybin nor psilocyn in Fly Agaric and we don't consider it a 'real' magic mushroom.
The (red with white dots) Amanita Muscaria can cause a very unpleasent experience and health problems. Potential symptoms of Muscarine, an active alkaloid of Fly Agaric and other Amanita's, followed after ingestion as described by The Merck Index are: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache and bronchospasm. With larger doses: acrimation, incontinence, bracycardia, hypotension and shock. Ibotanic acid, also an active substance of the Amanita's may cause brain damage as described by various authors on Public Medline. Muscimole is another active alkaloid in Amanita Muscaria. Its symptoms after oral intake are described by Richard Schultzes and Albert Hofmann as confusion, disoreantation in situation and time perception, disturbance of visual function and hearing, muscle twitching, weariness, fatigue and sleep. Psychic performance and learning are diminished. Jochem Gartz, a well known mushroom specialist warnes in his book 'Magic Mushrooms around the world' that Amatoxins contained in the Amanita's may be lethal!
What's more! Amanita's are legal everywhere, even in the USA. Would the drug tsars keep a drug legal that is really nice?