If you have been into psychedelics for a while now, you have surely heard about the ongoing comparison between LSD and magic mushrooms. These substances are often put head to head because they are both very common psychedelics. For a lot of users, you can’t try one without the other.
Second, the effects of LSD and shrooms share some similarities. Take note that only some effects are similar. There are many differences, and we will get to them later. This article mainly aims to distinguish the two substances.
History
Researchers have unearthed evidence suggesting that ancient people have been using hallucinogenic mushrooms as early as 7,000 years ago. Shrooms have even been found in prehistoric art and other archeological finds, which show the role these fungi used to play in religious rites, among others.
Meanwhile, LSD barged into public consciousness in the 1960s. It crept slowly from one person to another and then shot to fame as more and more people became interested in acid trips and as even famous people and friendly neighborhood hippies began to openly get high on it.
Today, as mentioned early, shrooms and LSD remain to be highly sought after, albeit by different groups of users.
Description
The typical LSD dose ranges from 100 to 250 micrograms. 100 micrograms are the standard dose of a single blotter. But it is possible to start with a much lower dose. In fact, that is the most likely scenario if you are new to the scene and bought your LSD from the black market.
Meanwhile, for psilocybin mushrooms, the common dose ranges from 10 to 40 milligrams or 1 to 4 grams of dried shrooms. However, this can also be affected by the species. Some may contain higher levels of psilocybin per weight percentage than others.
LSD trips generally last anywhere from 8 to 12 hours. Mushroom trips kick in within 20 minutes of consumption and last from 3 to 8 hours. However, these figures ultimately depend on the individual and their tolerance of the effects of various substances. Other factors include the amount of the substance consumed.
There is one more important matter you may want to take note of. While both LSD and shrooms have the same category of sources (fungi), the risk of accidental poisoning with magic mushrooms is higher.
This is because there are many instances when shrooms are picked from the wild after being misidentified as a “safe” psilocybin mushroom. This is why, regardless of whether it is LSD or magic mushrooms you are buying, it is important that you buy only from a trustworthy source. Unless you are highly trained in identifying magic mushroom species, we suggest that you do not attempt to pick your own stash.
Differences between LSD and Magic Mushrooms
As we said earlier, the specific effects of these two substances greatly depend on the individual user. However, there is more or less a pattern, and we will mostly focus on that. These are general information reflecting the common or typical experiences of users of shrooms and LSD.
Sensations
Magic mushrooms and LSD are polar opposites in this respect. After taking LSD, it should feel like every nerve in your body is jumpy. You feel like dancing and moving around a lot due to the excess stimulation. Your nerve becomes extra sensitive that a simple touch will be a big deal.
On the contrary, magic mushrooms generally make the body feel heavy and maybe even numb. They typically have a sedative effect overall, and they may make you want to sit and rest.
Visuals
With LSD, you can generally expect to see colorful patterns that are very colorful and exude an electric feel. They also look very cosmic and edgy. On the contrary, the shapes and lines you tend to see during mushroom trips tend to have relatively soft edges. They may also appear to encircle lamps and other random items. The overall effect is more on the mellow and slow side. This is why many users who have tried both substances prefer the comedown of mush. Due to its mellow nature, it is easier to deal with.
A Final Word
As we must have said a million times, the effects of LSD and shrooms depend mostly on you: your experience with psychedelics, age, body, mindset, and tolerance. Then there is the quality of the LSD or magic mushroom, the amount you consumed, and related factors.
This is why, if you look online, you will notice that people are anything but in agreement. There are hardly any two answers from different people that are consistent. The good thing about the disagreement is that there is a mystery, and mystery gives way for excitement. Not knowing what lies ahead means each trip is always going to be an adventure.
