The most common myths about magic mushrooms debunked
Magic mushrooms are psychedelics that can make you trip, but many people still don't know much about them and there are all kinds of myths about magic mushrooms. Are they really addictive? Are they a highway to enlightenment? In this blog we will delve deeper into the most common myths and wild stories and help to dispel them once and for all.
Why do myths about magic mushrooms arise?
People have been using psychedelics such as magic mushrooms for centuries and in fact they have always been part of our lives. The attitude towards mind-altering substances changed quite drastically from the 70s onwards. After the Flower Power era, people, especially in the US, looked differently at psychedelics. These substances were seen as the cause of all evil.
Many people became afraid of drugs. Wild stories were going around, a bad experience or a bad trip was widely reported in the media. People started to think that drugs could make you lose your mind. It is of course a fact that psychedelics change your consciousness, they are not called mind-altering for nothing. Magic mushrooms are also tarred with the same brush as other drugs. Studies, including the Global Drug Survey, generally rank psilocybin-containing mushrooms as substances with a relatively low risk profile, provided they are used under the right conditions and with the right preparation." according to the Global Drugs Survey.
Below we will discuss the most persistent myths surrounding magic mushrooms. What is true and what is not? You can find out here.
The most common myths surrounding magic mushrooms
Magic mushrooms are addictive
Many people believe that magic mushrooms are addictive. They think of addictive drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin. But Magic mushrooms are definitely not addictive. This is because the mechanism of action differs from that of hard drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin. Mushrooms, or more directly the psychedelic substance psilocybin, acts on the serotonin receptors. These develop tolerance to this substance relatively quickly (see also research by Nichols in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2016).
This means that the brain reacts less and less sensitively, so that you no longer notice any effects within a few days (sometimes within a few hours), even if you take more. Due to the rapid build-up of tolerance to psilocybin, the risk of physical addiction is estimated to be very low. To date, no evidence has been found in scientific research that magic mushrooms lead to physical dependency..
Mushrooms lead to instant enlightenment
Mushrooms can have a huge impact on your development, but it is not true that a dose of magic mushrooms will immediately result in "enlightenment". Yet there are people convinced that a trip is a kind of shortcut to a spiritual awakening and deep insights. It is true that mushrooms can have a transformative effect, but real breakthroughs and processing experiences still take time and effort with mushrooms.
If you use mushrooms as an aid in your development, it is important that you face the fact that you are on your way and that progress takes small steps. It can go a bit faster than when you do not use mushrooms. But even with magic mushrooms as an aid, you will have to work on yourself, you will have to learn, integrate and contemplate.
All mushrooms are the same
A mushroom is a mushroom, most people who have no experience with these psychedelics will believe that. But this is a persistent myth about mushrooms. There are now many different types of the Psilocybe genus known. They grow all over the world in different climates and each have their own effects.
This is due to differences in the concentration of active substances. As a result, they differ in strength, but also in the type of effects they can cause. It will make a big difference whether you take a dose of Psilocybe mexican (mild mushroom) or of Psilocybe McKennaii (very powerful mushroom species).
The use of mushrooms has no therapeutic value
If you are convinced of this myth, you do not believe that the use of mushrooms can have value for your mental well-being. However, there is increasing evidence that psilocybin can have positive effects in a therapeutic setting. have.
Research therapy psilocybin
Research has been done on magic mushroomsfor treatment-resistant depression, addiction and PTSD (see also research by Lowe, the Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin). In this respect, magic mushrooms appear to be at least as effective or even more effective than certain medications or when only talk therapy is used. If you suffer from mental health issues, do not try psychedelics on your own. Get professional help or consult your doctor.
Scientific publications on psilocybin:
Davis, A. K., Barrett, F. S., May, D. G., Cosimano, M. P., Sepeda, N. D., Johnson, M. W., & Griffiths, R. R. (2021).
Title: Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Journal: JAMA Psychiatry, 78(5), 481–489.
DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3285Carhart-Harris, R., Giribaldi, B., Watts, R., Baker-Jones, M., Murphy-Beiner, A., Murphy, R., ... & Nutt, D. (2021).
Title: Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression
Journal: The New England Journal of Medicine, 384(15), 1402–1411.
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2032994Nichols, D. E. (2016).
Title: Psychedelics
Journal: Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 101(2), 209–210.
Magic mushrooms can cause permanent psychosis
This is a myth that may have some truth to it. It is true that people who already suffer from psychosis or have a predisposition to it can react sensitively to magic mushrooms. The use of magic mushrooms can be a trigger that can induce psychosis. Although there is no convincing evidence that psilocybin causes psychosis in people without a predisposition or history, it can act as a trigger in vulnerable people. Therefore, caution is always advised, especially in the case of psychological sensitivity.
But it is advisable to always be careful with psychedelics. The use of mind-altering substances such as magic mushrooms can entail risks, especially in people with a psychological disorder, such as schizophrenia, anxiety or psychosis. Therefore, always consult your doctor first before using magic mushrooms.
More knowledge about magic mushrooms instead of myths
It is a pity that there are so many misunderstandings about magic mushrooms. They are special substances that offer people the possibility to experience a trip or even provide relief from mental complaints in certain circumstances.
Fortunately, we have now been able to dispel a few of these myths about magic mushrooms. The opinion about psychedelics now also seems to be changing somewhat in favor of these substances. Hopefully, this blog will provide more insight into the effects and risks of magic mushrooms. By correcting misunderstandings and sharing knowledge, space is created for a more nuanced view of these special substances.
Medical context and sources
Research shows that psilocybin may be effective in depression and PTSD, if used under medical supervision. For example, JAMA Psychiatry (Davis et al., 2021) published positive results, and The New England Journal of Medicine (Carhart-Harris et al., 2021) also showed similar findings. These studies took place in clinical settings. Self-use without expert guidance is not recommended. See also ClinicalTrials.gov for ongoing research.
Important explanation of scientific studies
Although more and more research is being done into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, many of these studies are still in the research or clinical phase. The studies mentioned show promising results, but are often conducted under strictly controlled conditions, with the guidance of medical or psychological professionals. The effects of psilocybin can vary greatly from person to person, depending on factors such as mental state, dosage, and setting.
Therefore, it is important to emphasize that this information is not intended as medical advice. If you have mental health issues or are considering using psychedelics for therapeutic reasons, be sure to always discuss this with a doctor or qualified practitioner. Self-experimentation without expert guidance can involve risks, especially if you have a history of mental health problems.
This blog is intended as a source of information, it is not medical advice. Anyone looking for the full references (including authors, titles and dates) can easily find them via the publications mentioned or platforms such as ClinicalTrials.gov. This blog is intended to be informative and does not claim to be a scientific publication.
