Psilocybin (magic mushrooms), a holistic pathway to healing.

Physical and mental effects of Psilocybin mushrooms:

Renowned author and expert in psychedelics Terrance McKenna advised 5 grams of mushrooms in the dark (blindfolded) at home or somewhere in a safe space is the way to go. In about 30-45 minutes the mushrooms should take effect after ingestion. A person may start to feel a bit wobbly and lose balance when trying to walk. The point of view becomes more wide angle and distorted. In a photographer's language, fisheye lens view. You start to notice details and colors you have never seen before in the same setting. Subtle movements like the movement of a curtain in a gentle breeze to the flutter of leaves on trees outside, all become more pronounced. In brief, all the details that we fail to notice in our day-to-day life come forward as if they demand a second look. And when it peaks, just close your eyes and you will have colorful visions of geometry, fractal designs etc. Nothing is static anymore. You are moving within and the world outside is moving as well. For 6 hours you are advised not to engage in any activity that requires focus and motor skills. Driving a car or any activity like that should be avoided at all costs for 6 hours. Physically, psilocybin has the opposite effect of coffee. It makes you want to relax and unwind. Restlessness and hyperactivity are toned down. Everyone will have different experiences with mushrooms. About twenty percent of people have reported having "bad trips" from it. If you are scared to do it for the first time, arrange for someone to look after you while you trip. Even a "bad trip" has been found to have beneficial effects on the brain in the long term. Please find some excerpts from my diary about one of the mushroom trips.

"I sat down on my sofa and closed my eyes. In about 30 minutes the usual fireworks had begun inside my head. Rainbow-colored triangles, cubes, and various geometric patterns appeared in my vision. Lights, shapes, and colors shifting and pulsing. Luminous points appeared and flashed across my visual field like the Andromeda galaxy. Primitive reptiles bathed in a gradient of bright colors appeared and their tails were in swimming motion. Images of my parents flashed in front of me and they seemed very close to me even though they were far away in India. I lost track of space and time. My phone rang but I couldn't remember what was the use of a phone. My phone looked totally insignificant. Abstract life forms that crawled across my visual field made me curious about life, its purpose, and its meaning. Fear of death was completely gone. When I opened my eyes, nothing remained the same or static. Everything around me seemed to pulse with life"

Long-term effects of Psilocybin Mushrooms:

Magic mushrooms are being actively studied in various research institutes and colleges right now for their long-term effects on the brain/mind. It holds great potential in the treatment of depression, addiction, and anxiety issues. Mushrooms have been found to make a person more open-minded. As we age, we tend to latch on to certainty and routine. We avoid "the unknown" as it brings in chaos inevitably with it. Mushrooms open us up to a new way of looking at the world, to be comfortable with chaos. It breaks rigid patterns and ways of thinking which can be life-changing for people who are stuck in trauma or who have become too comfortable in their safe little bubble. Overall mushrooms have positive impacts in the long term and almost no side effects.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7554922/

Addiction to Psilocybin mushroom:

Psilocybin mushrooms have been used traditionally to treat addiction. Many native tribes and communities across the world have used mushrooms for hundreds or even thousands of years as part of their religious/mystical practice as well as for psychic healing. Shamans and Oracles used mushrooms to connect with the other world beyond our senses. Psilocybin mushrooms are one of the least addictive psychoactive substances out there. The very mechanism is against addiction so there is no real danger of addiction. Yes, one may crave for more mystical experiences and could use it more often. But the human brain builds up tolerance to Psilocybin and hence we stop getting those colorful trips if we use it too frequently. The very nature of Psilocybin demands us to make a break of two weeks before the next trip. After a year of using Psilocybin once or twice a month, I don't get the same intense visions anymore. I am forced to take bigger breaks like two months from it to experience it fully. Many recent studies have found mushrooms to be quite effective in treating addiction.

What is micro-dosing?

Small doses ranging from 25mg to 250mg of psilocybin mushrooms have been used for various mental conditions like anxiety disorder, ADHD, and addiction. In smaller doses, mushrooms work just like a medicinal herb supplement. Psychedelic experiences are rare while microdosing and hence it is very safe. Always start with the smallest dose and work yourself up to find the right dosage that suits you.

Different strains of Mushrooms.

Personally, I have only used Golden Teacher and Albino strains. Both have very distinct effects and intensity. A strain called "penis envy" is found to be the most potent one. There are more than 60 strains of magic mushrooms across the globe. Every country/region makes unique strains based on geography and natural factors. 

Feel free to reach out to me at praveenud@gmail.com or connect on my Instagram given below.

https://www.instagram.com/praveenud/