 My Mushroom FAQ (small version....)
What is the difference between Amanita muscaria (Fly agaric) and Psilocybe mushrooms?
General differences
Psilocybin/Psilocin Mushrooms
Mushrooms that contain the hallucinogens psilocybin and/or psilocin belong mainly to the genera: Psilocybe, Conocybe, and Panaeolus. The word "psilocybin" comes from the Greek words "psilo" meaning "bald" and "cybe" meaning "head". Visually they appear usually with carmel/light tan to off-white caps of varying size and a white to brown stem possibly showing a bluish tinge.
Some specific mushrooms containing psilocybin and psilocin include Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe semilanceata, Psilocybe mexicana, Psilocybe pelliculosa, Panaeolus subbalteatus, Psilocybe cyanescens and Psilocybe baeocystis.
Amanita muscaria
The Amanita muscaria mushroom is also known as "Fly agaric" because of its (anecdotal) ability to attract and kill flies. The Amanita muscaria does not contain psilocybin or psilocin. Rather, the hallucinogenic chemicals this mushroom contain are muscimol and ibotenic acid.
The fly agaric is related to some deadly mushrooms: the Amanita virosa (the "Destroying Angel"); Amanita verna and Amanita phalloides (the "Death Cap"). These mushrooms contain toxins that destroy cells in the liver and kidneys. Five to 24 hours after eating one of these toxic mushrooms people may become sick with nausea and stomach problems. Later, severe liver and kidney damage may occur, often resulting in death.Visualy these are the classic "toadstool" with a bright red to orange cap covered in white flecks and a strong white stem and gills.
Effects on psyche and body
Psilocybin/Psilocin Mushrooms
At low doses, psilocybin causes simple feelings of relaxation, physical heaviness or lightness, and some perceptual distortions (especially visual). At higher doses, more physical sensations occur, including lightheadedness, oral numbness, shivering or sweating, nausea, and anxiety or hilarity. The symptoms may appear 30 to 60 minutes after the mushrooms are eaten and reach a peak level around 1.5hrs or less and can last about four to six hours with an "afterglow" lasting several hours to several days.
Amanita muscaria
Amanita muscaria contains muscimol that produces feelings of euphoria, hallucinations, muscle jerks, drowsiness, sweating, pupil dilation, Increased tear and mucus formation (Those on muscaria often exhibit excessive tearing and salivating) and increased body temperature. Symptoms appear 30 to 90 minutes after eating this mushroom and are most intense after two or three hours. Symptoms include blurred vision, loss of motor skills, moderate to extreme nausea or cramps, physical relaxation or a sedative like effect, euphoria and a dream like state of being. The experience is said to be very different from that of psilocybin and many do not enjoy it. People who eat these mushrooms sometimes fall into a deep sleep. Some people describe the effects of eating Amanita muscaria as similar to being intoxicated by alcohol.
Effects on the Nervous System
Psilocybin/Psilocin Mushrooms
The chemical structure of psilocybin and psilocin is similar to the neurotransmitter called serotonin. In fact, the primary effect of psilocin is on the receptors for serotonin (HT-2a). There is also evidence that psilocybin reduces the re-uptake of serotonin by neurons in the brain allowing this neurotransmitter more time to act in the synapse.
Amanita muscaria
Muscimol and ibotenic acid from the Amanita muscaria appear to act on the GABA neurotransmitter system. Muscimol activates GABA receptors on neurons. The GABA neurotransmitter system is one of the brain's major inhibitory systems. Therefore, muscimol acts to inhibit the activity of neurons in the brain.
How do shrooms work (very simplified)?:
In very, very simple terms... The brain is made up of billions of neurons (brain cells). Each neuron is 'connected' to thousands of other neurons. The neurons take input from all of their neighboring neurons, and if the input is enough they 'fire' sending an output to all of their neighboring neurons. This process leads to thought, cognition, etc... (Very simplified)
There is space between the neurons. When you take a drug, the drug gets into the spaces between the neurons and alters how/when the neuron fires. (Very simplified)
The neurons have receptors, which are a lot like a keyhole. Think of a drug as a key. The drug usually only effects a neuron if it fits into one of the neurons receptors.
A tryptamine has a shape very similar to serotonin. Because of this, it will fit into the same 'keyhole' that serotonin fits into... but because the tryptamine shape is a bit different, the effects are different.
How do shrooms work?:
The answer to this question is somewhat complex and not 100% understood by scientists.
Serotonin is taken up or absorbed by neurons at receptor sites known as the 5-HT receptors. There are various types of 5-HT receptors, but for our purpose we'll generalize. Because psilocin's chemical structure is very similar to serotonin, it is taken up by the 5-HT2 receptor site (one of several 5-HT receptor types) as are many other common hallucinogens including LSD and mescaline.
After the psilocin molecules bind with the 5-HT2 receptor sites, little is known about what happens. Psilo(cybin)cin is considered a serotonin agonist and possibly may have reuptake inhibitory effects also(SSRI) .There is still not enough data to explain clinically exactly the effect of the active ingredients in psychedelic fungi. What we do know is that psilocin is NOT physically harmful to the body or brain. Psychological conditions can rarely arise from a very profound experience, but no physical harm is done by psilocin even in high dosages.
In short: psilocin molecules from the mushrooms bind with serotonin receptor sites in the brain and cause the mind to do strange things
and scientists arent quite sure why.
Do caps or stems contain more psilocybin/psilocin?:
The caps tend to contain more psilocybin and psilocin than stems.
Can mushrooms be smoked?:
There continues to be controversy around whether or not smoking psilocybin/psilocin containing mushrooms can produce a psychoactive effect. On the one side, are those who claim to have tried it and experienced effects. On the other are those who state that psilocybin and psilocin break down at low enough temperatures that a flame would destroy them, as well as those who have tried this method and experienced no effects.
Even if smoking mushrooms produces a psychoactive effect, the effect is very mild and won't last long. Eating psilocybin/psilocin mushrooms will produce incomparable effects. If you want a serious psychedelic experience, don't waste your mushrooms by smoking them; eat them.
Source: http://www.erowid.org/plants/mushroo...s_smoked.shtml
Discussion: http://www.shroomery.org/forums/show...Number=1007607
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/show...Number=1190335
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/show...&Number=926442
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/show...&Number=826091
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/show...&Number=589497
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/show...Number=1681553
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/show...Number=1467781
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/show...Number=1360732
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/show...Number=1047857
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/show...&Number=334342
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/show...&Number=322093
Do hallucinogenic mushrooms cause liver damage?:
The mushrooms that contain psilocybin and psilocin will not cause liver damage.
Has anyone ever died from eating psilocybes?:
There is one documented case of a man who consumed large amounts of P. semilaceata and died thereafter. The experts who investigated this case are still not united as to whether it was because of the mushrooms or some other reason.
The LD50 for psilcybin is as follows:
285 mg/kg i.v.(mice)
280 mg/kg i.v. (rats)
12.8 mg/kg i.v. (rabbits)
I m completely new to mushroom hunting, where do I start?:
One of the best things you could do would be to get yourself a book on mushrooms. The recommendations at the Hunting forum tend to be US-centric, so you should check your local bookstores for books on mushrooms of your country. If you can get a couple books, that's often a good idea. A list of recommended books mainly for the US can be found here.
Good mycology books for field mycology have keys. Keys are a list of choices where you choose between alternatives and are directed to different places in the book. For example, a typical early choice in the key will be based on what color the spore print is. Don't waste too much time on the big coffee table books with the pretty photographs, at least not at first. Those can be fun books to thumb through, but they're usually not that helpful for identifying mushrooms you find in the woods.
Then go out and find some mushrooms. At first, don't waste time picking everything in sight. You're not going to be able to identify all you find. Stick to a few fairly distinctive, common species. In other words, what are the mushrooms you see most often when you're out looking for them? Pick several and bring them home to identify.
Expect to take a couple hours trying to identify the first ones you find. And expect to be wrong in the end. That's OK. The time you spent reading and trying to ID them will help you next time. As you do it, you'll get better at knowing what you should be looking for.
If you know somebody locally who hunts mushrooms (not just actives or whatever), ask them for assistance. Mushroom people tend to be helpful.
For the first year or two, try to not spend all your time looking at LBMs (Little Brown Mushrooms). They're difficult for everybody, including professionals, to identify. In fact, expect that, no matter how good you get, you will never be able to identify every mushroom you find. I don't know a professional mycologist who can just tell you what every mushroom is.
If there is a mycological society nearby, they often have several experts among their members. Mycological societies tend to be organized mostly by and for people hunting mushrooms to eat, not get high on, so if your interest is in the latter you should be discreet. You especially need discretion if your country has laws prohibiting the possession or use of active species - prisons aren't good places to be anywhere in the world. Even so, you may meet others with your same interests in mushrooms there.
Above all, get out there and find mushrooms, and try to identify them yourself. There are places like this one to help you with the latter task. But help yourself by trying to identify them yourself first, even if only to genus. And let us know what your guess is, so we can confirm it or show you why you're wrong (most of us learn more from our mistakes than our successes).
Check out: www.erowid.com www.shroomery.com www.google.com
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2008-01-28, 21:28
