How to Take Psilocybin Magic Mushrooms

If you are new to using psilocybin magic mushrooms, you might be intrigued by their effects. Many people enjoy the “trips” that shrooms give them. People often experience hallucinations and various emotional effects. Keep reading to learn more about magic mushrooms, including the right way to take them.

How Do Shrooms Work?

Magic mushrooms contain psilocybin. In the human body, this substance becomes psilocin. Then, it can bind with your brain’s serotonin receptors. These receptors can release chemicals that relate to anxiety, appetite, mood, perception, and learning, among others. When you have psilocin, your visual cortex’s activity increases. At the same time, the part of your brain that regulates your sense of self decreases its activity.

Effects of Shrooms

Because of the way psilocin affects your brain, you can experience some very interesting effects. When you take a low dose, your sense of perception changes. Colours might seem different, and you may notice repetitive shapes. You’ll likely experience some hallucinogenic effects, such as surfaces that seem to “breathe” and auras near light. 

When you take a higher dose, you might notice that space and time seem to be distorted. It may seem as though you and your environment are melding together. You will likely notice hallucinations whether your eyes are open or closed. Your emotions might range from anxiety to hilarity.

Taking Magic Mushrooms

You’ll want to prepare yourself for the length of your trip. It can last anywhere from four to eight hours, so it’s usually a good idea for you to set aside an entire day. You will likely not be quite yourself even after the trip is over. You should plan several more hours after the trip for the lingering effects.

Part of preparing also includes finding a chaperone or “trip sitter.” This should be someone who isn’t taking magic shrooms along with you. You especially will need someone to stay with you if this is your first time. If you can, try to find a friend who has used shrooms in the past. Make sure you trust them and that they know they’ll be there all day.

The last step is to eat a protein-filled meal. Your appetite will likely be decreased during your trip, and since it might last several hours, you’ll want to make sure you’re fueled. Consider eating meat or legumes about an hour before you start and make sure that you’re hydrated.

Getting Your Dose

A typical dose of shrooms is around 3.5 grams. This can cover the bottom of a sandwich bag. However, to play it safe, you might want to consider using less than that. A low dose would be around 1 gram, and the highest would be around 5 grams. Start on the low end — you can always go a little higher the next time. 

One study found that shroom users who gradually increased their doses each month had more satisfaction than users who started out with a lot of shrooms. Those who increased their doses bit by bit reported higher levels of positive moods, satisfaction, and overall well-being. Even a tiny dose had these effects. However, the optimal dose seemed to be around 20 to 30 milligrams per kilogram (so, a 65-kilogram user would have an optimal dose of 1.3 to 1.95 grams). 

Consuming the Shrooms

In general, magic mushrooms have a bitter and earthy taste. You will likely not enjoy the flavour. However, there are some ways that you can take them, so they taste a bit better. Many people like to grind them up before taking them. You can use a coffee grinder or a mortar and pestle.

Once you have ground them, you can steep them in boiling water and then filter them. You can also add lemon, honey, or ginger tea to help make it taste a little better. Once you have ground the shrooms, you can place them in smoothies or even put them into orange juice. Some people also like to put them on a sandwich or eat them with chocolate.

In the first hour of your trip, you might experience stomach cramps or nausea. This is why you want to have your meal at least an hour before beginning your experience. Some people find that tea or capsules are better than eating a whole mushroom. 

If you grind them up small enough, you might find it easier to digest them. However, there is no way to make sure that you won’t experience side effects. Remember that even if you do have these issues, it does not mean that something has gone wrong. 

It may take about 30 minutes to an hour to start to feel anything from your shrooms. The peak effects will usually happen around two to three hours after you take them, no matter what your dosage was.

What to Do During Your Trip

Some people will tell you to have activities to do if you feel creative during your trip. But don’t let this type of advice create these expectations. Not everyone will want to paint or write during this time. To get the most out of your experience, be prepared to go with the flow.

Sometimes, people who go on trips reduce stimuli by using headphones and eye masks. If you want to focus on your mental health, you might consider this. But don’t limit yourself to this. You may want to interact with art, nature, or even other people. 

If you feel extremely anxious or fearful, your trip sitter may be able to reassure you. Changing your surroundings can also be helpful. You may feel more comfortable if you look at or experience something new.

Closing Thoughts

After about seven or eight hours, your trip will likely be winding down. However, you might still notice some effects, so you will want to avoid doing work, making important decisions, or driving. Instead, time your trip so you can go to bed around this time. That will reduce the lingering effects. That way, you can reflect the next morning on your psychedelic activities. Following these steps can help you make the most out of your experience.