Magic mushrooms have the power to take you to a place of pleasure and relaxation in a matter of minutes! For this reason alone, they are indeed magical! These psilocybin-containing fungi are famous psychedelics, and a favorite in the world of recreational drugs because of their affordable price range and ease of access. However, it doesn’t stop there! It seems that there’s so much more to magic mushrooms than its capacity to stimulate out-of-body experiences.
Here are some mind-bending facts about these mind-altering mushrooms:
1. It means “bald head.”
cubenesis, the most popular and widely used species of magic mushrooms, translates to “bald head” which is quite a fitting name considering their cone-shaped appearance.
Magic mushrooms go by plenty of names such as shrooms, mush, mushies, liberty cap, boomers, and many others.
2. They wire your brain.
The psilocybin and psilocin contents responsible for the psychedelic effects of magic mushrooms can actually help boost the connectivity of our brain. A study in King’s College in London asked volunteers to undergo fMRI after ingesting a dose of magic mushrooms. Half of the group were given real magic mushrooms, while the other half were given a placebo. The fMRI results showed that there were increased brain activities among those who consumed real magic mushrooms. Some parts of the brain that are not normally wired were activated. Scientists contend that these findings explain the dreamy state that users seldom find themselves in after taking shrooms.
3. They stimulate brain-cell growth.
It is believed that when we reach adulthood, our brains cease to produce new brain cells. In short, they don’t regenerate. However, this is not entirely true because it has recently been found that magic mushrooms can cause neurogenesis!
4. They are considered to be the safest drug.
Studies on the effect of substances on people and society have shown that, along with marijuana, magic mushrooms prove to be the least dangerous recreational drug. They even ranked lower and less dangerous than alcohol!
5. They help you stay positive!
The chemical compounds psilocybin and psilocin aid in balancing a group of nuclei that play a role in the processing emotions called the amygdala. This causes a shift in the way the brain processes negative stimuli.
6. They make you happier too!
Medical research reported that people have developed lighter dispositions even after taking magic mushrooms just once. Other notable changes in their personality include optimism, confidence, and open-mindedness.
7. They can help improve mental health.
Medical scientists assert that plenty of their research results show the positive effects of shrooms to mental health. They may help alleviate depression, anxiety, OCD, and other mentally-related concerns.
There are plenty of ongoing medical researches aimed at searching for more ways to maximize the potential of magic mushroom in relieving mental problems.
8. They can help fight addiction.
Believe it or not, the psychedelic fungi can help people who are battling common addictions such as alcohol and tobacco. People who have been hooked to drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco claim that after experiencing a spiritual trip, they are urged to contemplate and consequently resolve to quit their addiction.
9. They may have played a part in human evolution.
Terrence McKenna, an author, and a psychonaut proposed the controversial “Stoned Ape Theory” which states that psychedelic mushrooms deserve to be credited for many of the advancements in human evolution. He argued that the effects of magic mushrooms made our ancestors better hunters and helped them in procreation.
10. They are used in rituals and worship.
Several ancient artworks like rock paintings depict the ancient civilizations of the world utilizing the psychoactive effects of magic mushrooms to provoke religious experiences during rituals. Other tribes, especially the ones in Central America, use them for rites of passage ceremonies.
11. They stimulate spiritual experiences.
Those who have the gone through the ability of magic mushrooms to encourage spiritual awakenings rate those experiences as one of the most significant occurrences of their life.
12. They may have brought Santa Claus to the world.
There is a theory that the story of Santa Claus may have originated with the Siberian shamans who used to gift hallucinogenic mushrooms to the people in their community during the winter solstice. These shamans dress up like a certain mushroom species, Amanita muscaria. Because of the deep level of snow in the area, it was said that the shamans enter through the chimneys to deliver the “cheer” they bring.
13. They make you dream even when you’re awake.
Magic mushrooms can trigger a waking dream state. Many fans of the fungi attest that ingesting magic mushrooms brought them to the transitory state between sleep and wakefulness.
14. They are Non-Addictive
Magic mushrooms do not pose any risks for physical addiction. They don’t make the body crave for them unlike other drugs or even tobacco and alcohol.
15. They are Available all over the World
Over 200 species of magic mushrooms are spread around the globe. Certain species can be abundant in some areas and scarce in the other. Nevertheless, they can be found in every continent and in almost all countries.
16. They are Legal in Some European Countries
Spain and the Czech Republic allow the possession and cultivation of magic mushrooms, while almost every country in the world prohibits it and considers it as a Schedule 1 drug. The fungi are also illegal in the Netherlands, but a gap in their law allows magic mushrooms to be sold without dire consequences.
Magic mushrooms have plenty of good benefits for the mind and body when they are used with control and caution.
They are available almost everywhere. It is even possible to find them in your own backyard! Some people found a hobby in mushroom picking while others find it more convenient to order them in Dark web markets online.
The online marketplace presents an extensive variety of magic mushroom species while offering accessibility and convenience. Buyers are presented with the choice of buying dried shrooms, fresh mushrooms, and even mushroom spores and kits so you can grow them on your own.
