Hallucinogenic mushrooms are commonly known as “ magic mushrooms” or “ psychedelic mushrooms”. They are so called because they can cause hallucinations, changes in perception and other psychotropic effects. These effects are due to the presence of active compounds such as psilocybin and psilocin . Magic mushrooms are consumed in a variety of ways, including smoking them, eating them, or drinking them as a tea.
Truffles are underground sclerotia that form at the base of trees. They are generally smaller than magic mushrooms and have a similar appearance and texture to unformed mushrooms. Truffles also contain active compounds such as psilocybin and psilocin , which give them similar properties. Truffles are usually consumed by smoking or eating them.
Magic Mushroom is legal in the Netherlands
A common misconception is that drugs are legal in the Netherlands. In fact, even cannabis, which is sold publicly on the streets of Amsterdam, is still an illegal drug. This means that Luxembourg is actually the first country in Europe to officially legalize cannabis for cultivation and consumption.
Did you know ?
recreational drugs are illegal in the Netherlands. Yes, even grass. But a policy of tolerance emerged, and in 1976 the Dutch parliament decriminalized possession of less than 5 grams of cannabis.
This decision has been a new culture of coffee shops, where you can buy up to 5 grams of cannabis flowers under the pretext that it is not illegal, but only decriminalized. This grew and now Amsterdam is famous for its cannabis culture, with over 160 cafes in the city center. Amsterdam sells a wide range of cannabis products, including dishes, high THC buds, oils and more.
Magic Mushrooms, is it legal?
What about other types of drugs? What about magic mushrooms? Almost all other drugs are treated strictly. Like the rest of the world. Cocaine, heroin and MDMA are illegal and are only sold illegally by drug dealers or street dealers. Only cannabis seems to have found its own way out. Interestingly, before 2008 magic mushrooms were legal in the Netherlands.
What is a hallucinogenic mushroom?
Hallu, magic, or hallucinogenic mushrooms are wild mushrooms found all over the world. Mushrooms can be poisonous, so it's important to know exactly what magic mushrooms look like if you decide to research them.
Magic mushrooms look like a regular mushroom, but have a longer stem and a smaller head, hallucinogenic mushrooms contain psilocybin , which is a natural hallucinogenic and psychoactive ingredient.
Psilocybin is responsible for the well-known effects of mushrooms, these effects include:
- Distorted sense of reality
- Euphoria
- Improves sensitivity
- Hallucinations
- Introspection.
Psilocybin mushrooms
Magic mushrooms are categorized as drugs worldwide because they are a hallucinogen.
In the USA they are classified as List 1 and in the UK - Class A, which means that there is a high risk of abuse and addiction.
Any drug that distorts and reshapes reality is often considered the most dangerous of most nations, although this is not always the case.
This is despite the fact that psilocybin has been shown to have many different medical benefits . A study done on JAMA Psychiatry . "The study results are approximately four times higher than clinical trials for commercially available antidepressants," said Alan Davis, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns-Hopkins University and one of the authors of the study.
The Netherlands Banned mushrooms only recently
This is the headline of an NBC News article, written in 2007:
The Netherlands will ban the sale of hallucinogenic mushrooms, the government announced on Friday, toughening liberal drug policy after the suicide of a teenage girl.
After a girl jumped out of a window under the influence of mushrooms in 2007, protests against hallucinogens took place and the drug became illegal.
As a result, most types of magic mushrooms are prohibited.
All but one: the truffle.
What is a truffle?
To understand why truffles have remained legal, one must first understand what they really are.
And, of course, how they differ from magic mushrooms.
Most people talk about truffles in the Netherlands, as they are not allowed in most other countries. When visiting Amsterdam, many are surprised at how easy it is to buy truffles.
They can be purchased in cafes and fancy boutiques and are usually presented in colorful wrappers with names such as: "mexicana", "atlantis" and "high hawaiians". They all say they are stronger than each other.
But what exactly are truffles?
Magic truffles have nothing to do with the types of truffles that we know in the kitchen.
Magic truffles are sclerotia, which are basically a hard mass of fungal mycelium growing below the surface.
Magic truffles come from the mycelium of the psilocybe mushroom and contain psilocybin . Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic compound and gives truffles and mushrooms a psychedelic effect.
Taste and appearance of truffles?
Magic truffles are actually magic mushrooms that have never come to the surface, and that's exactly what they look like.
They look like mushrooms that never saw the sun and couldn't grow.
This means that their taste is a bit earthy. Plus, they're very dry, so eating them raw can be quite difficult.
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How are magic mushrooms and truffles used?
What are the differences between these two mushrooms and why is one legal and the other not in the Netherlands?
What does Science say?
First, let's look at the scientific differences between the two substances.
So far we know that both contain psilocybin , which is a psychedelic compound.
But here is what the National Library of Medicine says:
" Magic mushrooms " is the most common name for hallucinogenic mushrooms containing the psychoactive alkaloids psilocybin and psilocin.
In recent years mushroom sclerotia, often referred to as " magic truffles ", have become a form of supply for the psychoactive psilocybe alkaloids, as psilocybe sclerotia are not explicitly included in laws prohibiting the sale, purchase and the use of these substances and mushrooms. .. which contain them. "
This means that Magic Mushrooms and Magic Truffles are one and the same .
However, magic truffles are simply at an earlier stage of development. They are in their infancy, which is why they are "picked" underground.
Also known as sclerotia , magic truffles are younger mushrooms that store food in tough mycelium. After a while, they turn into magic mushrooms .
What are the effects of magic mushrooms and truffles?
Some people think that truffles are less strong than mushrooms because they are legal and are not so formed.
Both contain psilocybin and the same chemical compounds, so technically they should have the same potency.
However, because magic truffles are standardized and marketed, they have been able to create and package products of varying strength and effectiveness.
That's why you can buy weak, soft and strong magic truffles in Amsterdam.
It's harder to do the same with magic mushrooms because they're illegal and are usually sold by people who don't have different species.
How to consume it, Effects in how long?
Magic Truffles and Magic Mushrooms are digested, usually triggered after about an hour, and their effect can last 4-8 hours. In general, magic truffles and magic mushrooms have the same power,
it is possible to consume hallucinogenic mushrooms by smoking them. The usual practices are the mixture with tobacco, even cannabis. Regarding the effects, they are not different, but it seems that they are less intense than the consumption by ingestion or by drinking it in the form of tea.
Truffles and Legality?
If all of this is true, then why did the Netherlands decide to ban magic mushrooms, but not magic truffles?
First, it's important to understand that countries like the UK and the US have banned the substance psilocybin, so anything containing it is also illegal.
This includes both magic mushrooms and magic truffles.
In the Netherlands, however, they decided to ban magic mushrooms as a substance and not as a content. This allowed magic truffles to slip through the cracks.
What is the difference between magic mushrooms and truffles?
Magic mushrooms and magic truffles are essentially the same drug, except they're both in different stages of development.
In particular, the Netherlands has decided to treat each drug individually and not the substances it contains.
Whatever you think is right or wrong, the fact is that magic truffles are extremely easy to buy in Amsterdam.
Mushroom Medical?
According to a recent study , psilocybin from "magic mushrooms" may help improve the long-term treatment of depression .
A small study conducted by Imperial College London and published in Nature Medicine on Monday concluded that psilocybin causes "the functional network of participants' brains to become more functionally connected."
Two separate studies were tested on a total of 60 people. In the first, everyone was given psilocybin, and in the second half, they were given psilocybin and half were given an antidepressant.
"In both trials, the antidepressant response to psilocybin was rapid, sustained, and correlated with a decrease in the modularity of fMRI brain networks, suggesting that the antidepressant effect of psilocybin may depend on an overall increase in the integration of the brain network," the study says. . .
The study sheds light on the antidepressant potential and therapeutic effects of psilocybin, as much is still unknown about its controlled effects.
In December, Dr. Anthony Buck of Harborview Medical Center began his study of the effect of psilocybin on the mental health of health care workers following the covid pandemic. He hopes the psychedelic drug derived from magic mushrooms will have a positive effect.
Psilocybin has been shown to have a positive effect on depression in other previous studies.
According to a 2020 study by Johns Hopkins Medicine on how psilocybin affects adults with major depression, "Researchers reported that two doses of the psychedelic psilocybin given with maintenance psychotherapy resulted in a rapid and depressive symptoms, with most participants showing improvement, and half of the study participants achieving remission after four weeks of follow-up.
Psilocybin Microdosing
Leary and Das (originally Richard Alpert) even conducted research on LSD with Harvard students before the drug was banned in 1968. In recent years, the view of psychedelics has changed. A growing body of research is investigating their benefits in treating depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
The days of scary stories of people jumping off buildings to their inevitable death due to hallucinations and mistaken beliefs that they can fly are a thing of the past.
In 2017, the FDA even approved psychedelics as a breakthrough drug , and psychedelic therapy is already being studied in the most respected fields of science.
One of the practices that is gaining popularity is microdosing – taking small amounts of certain medications for small adjustments in mood and consciousness.
But is it safe? And what do the studies show? Here we will see the main advantages. And please keep a healthy dose of insight; I am not a doctor and this article is not advice. Therefore, consult a specialist before starting your research.
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Extract from Opinion from the Microdose pro site and Translated from English to French
Psychedelics and the Brain
Psychedelics are known as psychoactive drugs because of their ability to completely alter a person's consciousness, including thoughts, emotions, and perceptions.
They are generally hallucinogenic and should not be taken lightly. Some of them are natural, some are artificial. These include ayahuasca , psilocybin , DMT , and LSD (also known as acid which was first synthesized in the 1930s).
Neuroscience, which studies chemical changes in the brain, has proven to be an unlikely doorway to the revival of psychedelics.
Understanding how the brain works, the researchers were able to look closely at the effects of psychedelics, which is a departure from the first-hand accounts that were a major criterion in previous studies.
One of the phenomena - neuroplasticity - offers insight into the potential benefits of psychedelics. It explains how the physical matter of the brain is not fixed, but plastic, always in a state of change and movement throughout our lives.
Behavioral changes correspond to physical changes in the brain. Although these changes can be caused by repetition and new habits, psychedelics have a powerful role to play.
One of the leading researchers in psychedelics, journalist Michael Pollen, explains this impact in his book How to Change Our Minds . He quotes a metaphor used by Dr Mendel Kaelen, postdoctoral fellow in neurology at Imperial College London:
"Imagine your brain as a snow-covered hill, and you think like sleds sliding down that hill. As the sleds descend the hill one after another, a small number of basic tracks appear in the snow.
When descending, it will be drawn to the already existing tracks, almost like a magnet. Over time, it becomes more difficult to descend the hill on another path or in a different direction.
Think of psychedelics as temporary snow leveling. Worn paths disappear and suddenly the sled can move in other directions, explore new landscapes and literally create new paths."
Psilocybin in microdose
These pathways and the various brain variants appear to help people overcome deeply ingrained behaviors. There are many studies that show the benefits of psychedelics in reducing depression, for example, but the most encouraging is their ability to support people with resistant depression. Psychedelics seem to find new paths that other interventions cannot find.
Due to the growing number of studies showing the positive effects in improving people's moods, healing injuries and supporting their mental health, some scientists claim that we are experiencing a "psychedelic revolution". Like all revolutions, interest in psychedelics grew both inside and outside the laboratory. One such practice, microdosing, is becoming a wellness trend, and many claim the results are life-changing.
What is microdosing?
Psychedelics are inherently powerful. Their hallucinogenic properties can transport people to other dimensions, to see reality in a completely different way, to gain a deep understanding of the interconnectedness or unity of everything, or, conversely, to experience a " bad trip". They should not be confused and their intensity must be weighed against the potential benefits for well-being. This is where microdosing comes in.
Microdosing is more of a recreational fad, although it has been scientifically studied. It involves ingesting a small amount of the drug, enough to cause a noticeable change, but not enough to make you talk to trees or quit your job after a sobering realization of the futility of the capitalist system in relation to nature. original spirituality of the human soul. . The goal is to maximize benefits while reducing the side effects of thrips that can keep you from functioning on a day-to-day basis.
mushrooms that heal?
Although restrictions on psychedelics have eased (in 2021, Hopkins' drug received the first federal grant for psychedelic research in 50 years), they are still illegal in many countries, preventing researchers from prescribing them outside from the laboratory. Of course, that doesn't stop those who want to, uh, "do their own research" by taking a small dose, usually only 5-10% of the standard dose, per day.
A 2020 study examining the benefits of microdosing over psychedelics found a number of benefits for depression. These include improved cognitive flexibility, divergent thinking (necessary for creativity), increased sense of presence, reduced ruminative thinking, and increased self-empathy. What is even more impressive is that lower doses of psychedelics were well tolerated and caused few physiological effects.
To understand the broader impact as well as the application of microdoses, the researchers also interviewed people about their experiences to obtain anecdotal data on the benefits.
In 2021, a large survey of nearly 9,000 participants found that "among those who reported mental health issues, microdoses showed lower levels of depression, anxiety, and gender-related stress."
The same studies highlight the difficulty of precisely determining what microdosing is; as many people self-administer psychedelics, frequency, amount, and source vary, suggesting the need for more structured research.
Which hallucinogenic mushroom to take?
Mushrooms containing psilocybin and psilocin are generally of the genera Psilocybe, Panaeolus and Copelandia and there are more than 50 species. The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) can also be used but it is particularly dangerous for health.
Which Growkit to choose?
The 1st place goes to this variety of magic mushrooms.
Of unknown origin, the Golden Teacher differs from other hallucinogenic mushrooms by its particular appearance.
This grow kit contains the psilocybe cubensis "Golden Teacher" mushroom, known for its educational effects and unknown origin.
The Golden Teacher is known for his golden hats and special shamanic abilities and is very popular due to his easy and fast growth.
With this strain, the first harvest is often the smallest, the second is usually much larger.
Due to the quality of the mushroom, the content of active ingredients is significantly higher than most traditional grow kits on the market.
Magic Mushroom Kit
Interested in growing your own Magic Mushrooms for microdosing?
With the Microdose Pro grow kit, you can grow your own magic mushrooms in three weeks.
The Psylocibin Mushroom cultivation kit:
- Is perfect for microdosing
- Will give at least 2 crops
- Will produce fresh magic mushrooms within three weeks
- Includes our cultivation manual
Important: Store the grow kit in the refrigerator after delivery. Expiry date after one month.
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Psychedelics and their spiritual nature
Despite a growing trend involving the 197,000-member Reddit community, the jury is still out on whether microdosing is truly effective.
For example, the largest placebo-controlled study to date found no noticeable difference between microdose users and placebo users. But interestingly, both groups reported an overall improvement in mood, life satisfaction, and cognition. Perhaps it acts as a reminder of the power of the mind in its healing ability.
As we explore the subject of psychedelics, we cannot avoid their connection to spirituality. Many people decide to go on a journey to see something beyond the curtain of everyday life - more openness of heart, a sense of peace, a connection with everything, a sense of existence beyond time. But overdependence on any substance, no matter how useful, can lead to forms of addiction. According to Ram Das :
Reflecting on my travels with LSD and other psychedelics, I saw that after the flash of the possibility of transcendence, I continued to travel only to make sure that possibility still existed. Sooner or later you will have to cleanse and change your mind, your heart and your body so that the things that take you away from your experiences lose their power over you. pattern habits take over, and with them comes the subtle despair of being a prisoner of chemical-free thinking.
It's a sobering reminder that even with the benefits of microdosing, there's room for improvement. Unlike the clinical use of higher doses of psychedelics, many people who take microdoses do so every day for years.
Therefore, before considering microdosing, explore other ways to connect deeply with yourself.
Be patient. Be kind. Strive to cultivate the self-compassion and self-care necessary to lessen old patterns. Seek support where you need it.
Any decision to start microdosing to improve mental health is a choice that should include a comprehensive and holistic approach to wellness. Psychedelics are a tool, but not the answer .
All information in this article is based on sources and references, and all opinions expressed are my own. I do not give advice to anyone and although I am happy to discuss topics, if anyone has another question or concern they should seek advice from a competent specialist. People who have psychiatric, neurological, or cardiovascular conditions or who use psychiatric medications should avoid microdosing altogether.
