Magic mushrooms are becoming more popular in recent years, primarily because they can potentially treat various medical conditions. The psilocybin in shrooms is converted to psilocin in the body, which causes the psychedelic effects of magic mushrooms.

Potency, dosage, and your body’s metabolism and genetics will influence your feelings and the effects of taking magic mushrooms. Continue with us below to learn about all things shrooms.

What are Magic Mushrooms?

Magic mushrooms are a form of psychedelic that cause hallucinations and distortions in individual perception. They can also affect your thought processes and mood and are becoming increasingly popular in the medical world for their therapeutic properties.

What are the effects?

Psychedelic shrooms can cause the following effect:

• euphoria
• altered perception or thoughts
• mood changes
• increased or slowed heart rate
• headache
• hallucinations
• increased body temperature
• fast, shallow breathing
• nausea or vomiting
• sweating
• chills
• facial flushing
• pupil dilation
• tremors

These effects may last for three to six hours in most cases.

LATEST RESEARCH ON PSYCHEDELIC TREATMENTS

• A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that 25-milligram doses of psilocybin helped to significantly reduce depression symptoms. 
• Another study from Johns Hopkins found that the anti-depressant effects of psilocybin therapy may be durable for up to a year following treatment. 
• Psilocybin is thought to be able to help treatment-resistant depression or anxiety, specifically in patients with terminal illnesses.
• The FDA referred to psilocybin as a “breakthrough therapy” in 2019. 
• Several clinical trials have tested psilocybin in combination with therapy. Unlike antidepressants, psilocybin has been shown to have long-lasting treatment effects after just one or a few doses. 
• Some promising new research shows that psilocybin can potentially help treat substance use disorders, as well as nicotine and alcohol dependence. 

What are the risks?

The Justice Department’s National Drug Intelligence Center mentions the following potential adverse effects of ingesting psilocybin:

• vomiting
• weakness
• loss of coordination
• delusions
• Psilocybin can trigger episodes of psychosis (with a family history)
• Psilocybin can worsen heart conditions (pre-existing condition)

How long does a magic mushroom trip take to kick in?

Typically, mushrooms take approximately thirty to sixty minutes to kick it, and the effects peak about one to two hours after initial consumption. Magic mushrooms are usually taken as edibles, either as whole dried mushrooms or in gummies, chocolate, or tea. As with cannabis-infused edibles, it will take your body extra time to absorb the mushrooms and experience the effects.

Shrooms may take longer than an hour to kick in for some people. If you don’t feel any effects after a couple of hours and want to take more mushrooms, we recommend the “low and slow” approach—take a little more and wait another hour for them to kick in.

How long shrooms last in your system

A mushroom trip will usually last for about four to six hours. After about six hours, you will begin to come down and typically feel lingering effects for a few hours. So, how long do shrooms last in the body? Mushrooms may stay in your system for about three days after consumption. A routine drug test doesn’t typically detect shrooms, but some drug tests for them exist.

Common urine tests, blood tests, or a hair follicle test may look for:

• Alcohol
• Amphetamines
• Cannabis
• Cocaine
• Opiates
• PCP

Psilocin is not normally detectable via blood test, urine test, or saliva tests after three days, but it may stay in the body for longer. Age, weight, metabolism, drug use, and overall health will determine how quickly the body processes the drug.

How to Dose When Consuming Magic Mushrooms

If you are wondering how many magic mushrooms to take, you are not alone. It can be a bit frightening trying to dose psychedelics, especially for your first time.

We recommend that you start with one gram or less of dried mushrooms or about ten mg of psilocybin. You can experiment with higher doses once you feel comfortable with the initial dose.

• Low dose: one gram
• Medium dose: 1.75 grams
• High dose: 3.5 grams (an eighth ounce)
• Ultra-high dose: 5 grams

What does it Mean to Microdose Shrooms? 

Many people microdose for the same reason they take any other drugs or medication. They want to feel better. The most common reasons people microdose are to relieve chronic pain, combat depression, and help with creativity. 

Microdosing can be especially beneficial for people who need to be productive in their work or creative in their art. Alternatively, many people use microdoses because it is a safer alternative to overdoing it with a larger dose, which can cause the user to have a “bad trip.”

Microdoses are often described as “sub-perceptual,” so the user will experience effects without being overwhelmed by them. This means there is less risk of bad trips or adverse side effects like anxiety or paranoia than when someone takes a much larger dose. 

Preparing for a Shroom Trip

To avoid a bad mushroom trip, experienced users recommend the following guidelines.

• Be at ease and relaxed: You should only take magic mushrooms if you feel balanced emotionally. Also, ensure you’ve gotten enough sleep and are not physically ill the previous night. 
• Set up to Feel safe: Make sure you’re in a comfortable and familiar place where you feel peaceful. Only take the mushrooms if your surroundings make you feel safe and comfortable.
• Disconnect from Tech: Keep your phone off or away during the trip to allow you to explore your world. Make sure you have no social or work-related responsibilities during your trip.
• Please choose your company intently: Humans are social by nature, and the presence of a trusted friend can positively affect the state of mind. Don’t take mushrooms with people you don’t feel comfortable with.
• Let go of control: If you’re in a safe environment and sure you can leave your responsibilities behind, it’s time to give in to the experience and see what happens. 

How to rid your body of mushrooms quickly

Psilocybin and magic mushrooms are illegal at the federal level in the US, but certain states like Oregon and Colorado are leading the way in legalization efforts. It’s currently unknown if there are ways to get psilocin out of the system faster after consumption.

It varies significantly depending on a person’s body chemistry and medical history. The best way to quickly rid the body of shrooms and their psychedelic compound is to stop consuming them as soon as possible.

Can the Effects of Magic Shrooms and Weed Last for the Same Amount of Time?

Yes, the effects of magic shrooms and weed can last for the same amount of time. For daily smokers, half ounce usage of weed can result in a prolonged high, while magic shrooms can also produce long-lasting psychedelic effects when consumed in sufficient quantities.

Storage Tips to Keep Mushrooms Fresh

Here are a few ways to store dried mushrooms—and the pros and cons of each.

Airtight containers

Airtight containers are the best way to store dried mushrooms. Oxygen will cause mushrooms to degrade, dry out, and lose potency quickly. An airtight glass container will be more effective for storage. Be sure to keep them in the dark room with temperatures between 60-70°F.

Refrigerator 

We don’t recommend storing dried shrooms in the fridge, as cold temperatures can damage the quality and potency. Freshly picked, wet mushrooms can be stored in the refrigerator for a week, but they must be consumed or dried to avoid being ruined. 

Freezer

We don’t recommend storing mushrooms in the freezer because cold temperatures can damage them by freezing the moisture and causing freezer burn. It can also damage the potency which won’t provide the peak effects you may be looking for when taking shrooms.

Magic mushrooms will have some prominent signs when they’ve gone bad.

• Mold
• Discoloration
• Funky smell
• Bitter Taste

Are magic mushrooms legal?

Even with the recent passage of Proposition 122 in Colorado, psilocybin is still federally classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance of which there is no medical use, similar to heroin.

However, research has found that psychedelic mushrooms may have benefits for mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, and anxiety treatment. There are currently fifteen U.S. jurisdictions that have decriminalized the possession of psilocybin.

Can I get addicted to psychedelics?

It is rare that a person becomes addicted to psilocybin mushrooms, though not impossible. Magic mushroom addiction is often related to polysubstance abuse or an underlying mental health disorder.

This type of substance abuse may require specialized tests, as specific drug interactions with certain mushroom species can cause a bad shroom trip or even be hazardous.

Is mushroom similar to acid or LSD?

Shrooms and LSD are completely different psychedelic drugs. However, they belong to the same drug class and offer similar psychoactive effects. The primary difference between them is that LSD is a synthetic drug, while shrooms are grown organically.

Can mushrooms help with drug or alcohol addiction?

Limited scientific research is available on treating alcohol use disorder with psychedlic drugs like mushrooms. Recent evidence have shown that microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms may have some therapeutic benefits for those suffering from alcohol and drug addiction.

Final Thoughts

The body can quickly rid itself of shrooms, but various factors make it impossible to predict how long they’ll hang around in each individual. We recommend talking with a trusted healthcare professional if you feel comfortable discussing using psychedelics as a treatment option. Remember before any psychedelic experience to set up in a relaxed environment and start low and slow.