psilocybin | Hemperor

Unlike other naturally grown hallucinogens, magic mushrooms are fungi and not plants. They grow from psilocybin spores out of decaying plant material or soil. Like plants, different species can have dramatically different effects on the human body.

At least 144 species of mushroom contain the psychoactive ingredient psilocybin, according to a 2005 review in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. Latin America and the Caribbean are home to more than 50 species, and Mexico alone has 53. There are 22 species of magic mushroom in North America, 16 in Europe, 19 in Australia and the Pacific island region, 15 in Asia, and a mere four in Africa. mushrooms occur on all continents, but the majority of species are found in subtropical humid forests.

Psilocybin works by binding to receptors for the neurotransmitter serotonin. Although it's not clear exactly how this binding affects the brain, studies have found that the drug has other brain-communication-related effects in addition to increased synchronicity. A 2011 study found that after one dose of psilocybin, people became more open to new experiences for at least 14 months, a shockingly stable change. People with open personalities are more creative and more appreciative of art, and they value novelty and emotion.

Psilocybin mushrooms have been used in therapeutic settings to treat a variety of ailments and disorders including cluster headaches, obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety, depression, and addiction. there is a growing body of research which suggests that part of why psilocybin is so effective is that it impacts neuroplasticity. That is, the brain’s ability to learn and grow and change. One recent survey reported that psilocybin could be a more effective treatment of cluster headaches than currently available medications, with nearly 50% of sufferers reporting psilocybin as a completely effective treatment

The concentration of active psilocybin mushroom compounds varies not only from species to species, but also from mushroom to mushroom inside a given species, subspecies or variety. The same holds true even for different parts of the same mushroom. In the species Psilocybe samuiensis, the dried cap of the mushroom contains the most psilocybin at about 0.23%–0.90%. The mycelium contains about 0.24%–0.32%

Psilocybin has shown some promise as a treatment for alcohol addiction. A 2015 study concluded that the substance helped subjects increase abstinence and limited any potential adverse effects. However, these findings are preliminary and require more study before they can be implemented.

Also in a 2015 study, psilocybin, as part of an assisted treatment plan, showed promise in treating alcoholism. Significant reductions in drinking and abstinence from drinking were reported after psilocybin administration as part of a treatment program.

Psilocybin also appears to be a potential tool in helping people quit smoking tobacco. In a recent trial, two to three treatment sessions with psilocybin as part of a larger cognitive-behavioral therapy program for smoking cessation had an 80% success rate with smoking cessation in study participants (12 out of 15 subjects). By comparison, conventional smoking cessation method success rates — gum, patches, cold turkey, etc. — have about a 35% success rate.

Recently, researchers have begun to experiment with psilocybin as a potential treatment for depression, anxiety and other mental disorders. This line of research was frozen for decades and is still difficult to pursue, given psilocybin's status as a Schedule I substance. This means the drug is classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

In the past, though, psilocybin and other hallucinogenic drugs were at the center of a thriving research program. During the 1960s, for example, Harvard psychologist Timothy Leary and his colleagues ran a series of experiments with magic mushrooms called the Harvard Psilocybin Project. Among the most famous was the Marsh Chapel Experiment, in which volunteers were given either psilocybin or a placebo before a church service in the chapel. Those who got psilocybin were more likely to report a mystical spiritual experience. A 25-year follow-up in 1991 found that participants who got the psilocybin remembered feeling even more unity and sacredness than they said they'd felt six months after the fact. Many described the experience as life altering.

Dosage of mushrooms containing psilocybin depends on the potency of the mushroom (the total psilocybin and psilocin content of the mushrooms), which varies significantly both between species and within the same species, but is typically around 0.5–2.0% of the dried weight of the mushroom. A typical low dose of the common species Psilocybe cubensis is about 1.0 to 2.5 g, while about 2.5 to 5.0 g dried mushroom material is considered a strong dose. Above 5 g is often considered a heavy dose with 5.0 grams of dried mushroom often being referred to as a "heroic dose"

A study at Johns Hopkins University found that a dose of 20 to 30mg psilocybin per 70kg occasioning mystical-type experiences brought lasting positive changes to traits including altruism, gratitude, forgiveness and feeling close to others when it was combined with meditation and an extensive spiritual practice support programme

A 2013 study in mice found that when dosed with psilocybin, the animals became less likely to freeze up when they heard a noise they had learned to associate with a painful electric shock. Mice that were not given the drug also gradually relaxed around the noise, but it took longer.

The mice were given a low dose of psilocybin, and the researchers said they hope this animal study will inspire more work on how mushrooms might be used to treat mental health problems in people. For example, small doses of psilocybin could be explored as a way to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, the researchers said.

As with many psychedelic substances, the effects of psychedelic mushrooms are subjective and can vary considerably among individual users. The mind-altering effects of psilocybin-containing mushrooms typically last from three to eight hours depending on dosage, preparation method, and personal metabolism. The first 3–4 hours of the trip are typically referred to as the 'peak'—in which the user experiences more vivid visuals, and distortions in reality. However, the effects can seem to last much longer to the user because of psilocybin's ability to alter time perception.

Mushrooms are represented in prehistoric art across many different geographic regions. In most cases, they’re thought to be religiously symbolic, often in the context of rights of passage ceremonies. If our ancestors did use mushrooms, such a powerful experience almost certainly would have influenced prehistoric culture, from art to religion to social values that regulated everyday life.

Biological genera containing psilocybin mushrooms include Copelandia, Gymnopilus, Inocybe, Panaeolus, Pholiotina, Pluteus, and Psilocybe. Psilocybin mushrooms may have been used in ancient religious rites and ceremonies. Prehistoric rock art near Villar del Humo, Spain, offers a hypothesis that Psilocybe hispanica was used in religious rituals 6,000 years ago,[4] and that art at the Tassili caves in southern Algeria from 7,000 to 9,000 years ago may show the species Psilocybe mairei

Hallucinogenic species of the Psilocybe genus have a history of use among the native peoples of Mesoamerica for religious communion, divination, and healing, from pre-Columbian times to the present day. Mushroom stones and motifs have been found in Guatemala. A statuette dating from ca. 200 CE. and depicting a mushroom strongly resembling Psilocybe mexicana was found in a west Mexican shaft and chamber tomb in the state of Colima. A Psilocybe species was known to the Aztecs as teōnanācatl (literally "divine mushroom" - agglutinative form of teōtl (god, sacred) and nanācatl (mushroom) in Náhuatl) and were reportedly served at the coronation of the Aztec ruler Moctezuma II in 1502. Aztecs and Mazatecs referred to psilocybin mushrooms as genius mushrooms, divinatory mushrooms, and wondrous mushrooms, when translated into English. Bernardino de Sahagún reported ritualistic use of teonanácatl by the Aztecs, when he traveled to Central America after the expedition of Hernán Cortés.

After the Spanish conquest, what many don't know is that theCatholic missionaries campaigned against the cultural tradition of the Aztecs, dismissing the Aztecs as idolaters, and the use of hallucinogenic plants and mushrooms, like other pre-Christian traditions, was quickly suppressed. Guess they didn't realize they were attacking the Blood sacrament of their Jesus huh... or Did they?

The famous Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann who many don't know synthesized LSD was the first who actually isolated psilocybin in the lab back in 1957. He did so from the Psilocybe mexicana strains, which for those of you who Don't know, is a species of mushroom found primarily in Central America. A year later, it was produced synthetically for the first time. Ask yourselves WHY they would want to synthesize the manna's unless they Knew there was a value to be had in it. Now ask yourselves WHY they would do that and then try to outlaw the true substances, we all know that you Cannot substitute a placebo! Whatever their reason and logic, we as KM warriors choose NOT to snub our nose at Creator's creation but rather respectfully utilize them with great homage and appreciation, and encoutage our members and humanity as a whole to realize and choose to do the same, especially if you're considering using a generic substitute, which to us is what Anything man-made is... second rate.

Gordon Wasson, renoun for his wisdom on the blood manna, who many don't know was the former vice president of J.P. Morgan & Company, apparently had a fascination with psilocybin mushrooms that became an obsession. In 1955 he traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico, to meet revered mushroom shaman of the Condor nations Maria Sabina, a member of the indigenous Mazatec Indian tribe, who introduced him to psilocybin mushrooms. On his first mushroom trip, he reported feeling as if his soul had been scooped out of his body.

After reading of Wasson’s experiences and then traveling to Oaxaca to experience psilocybin mushrooms for themselves, Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, researchers at Harvard University, founded the Harvard Psilocybin Project which, of course, got them fired shortly thereafter. So they did what any jobless, charismatic academics would have done in 1962: they started a psychedelic movement. Psilocybin mushrooms were quickly adopted into the 1960s counterculture. Our Hemperor had much respect for Gordon and his research and often times referred to it and him when educating those of his people who Listened to him and in turn we too do the same for those interested in the topic.

Denver, Colorado recently, thanks to frontline activism of our KM warrior members like Wayward Bill and others, we've liberated the mannas as our Hemperor instructed anf with the ease and quickness he wished had been the way for our beloved Mother Medicine Cannabis decades ago. This means that it’s no longer a punishable offense for adults aged 21 and older to possess them for personal use! It doesn’t make them legal, though... If you’re caught selling or otherwise distributing psilocybin mushrooms, and possibly even growing them, you could still face criminal charges. The law remains unchanged for the rest of Colorado—at least for the time being but rest assured in that our warriors Are working to change that and so far things are looking good and promising, so please keep your fingers crossed and if given the chance support and even VOTE for the positive change id you would, and if not for yourself as a right of Choice then please do for those who are ill and ailing and can as well as will benefit by having their right of choice respected and protected.

In June of this same year, Oakland, California followed suit with an amendment of its own when Council members voted unanimously to decriminalize- not just psilocybin mushrooms but all “entheogenic plants” containing indoleamines, tryptamines, and phenethylamines. As in Denver though, this only applies to adults aged 21 years and older thus far, and it doesn’t include synthetic substances derived from plants or fungi, such as LSD. However, unlike in Denver, it also decriminalizes (or rather deprioritizes for law enforcement) the cultivation and distribution of the specified psychedelics—which include psilocybin mushrooms.

Psilocybin mushrooms and their metabolites are not included in most standard drug screens, however what Most people don't know is that they are sometimes included in extended drug screens so don't be too quick to let your guard down and think you're safe when you might Not be, it all fepends on who is conducting the test and for what reason.

Psilocybin mushrooms can be ingested in their whole form. They’re typically dried and most everyone agrees they don’t taste good. An alternative method is to brew psilocybin mushroom tea. Some people like to put the mushrooms in peanut butter or Nutella to mask the taste.

Present in varying concentrations in about 200 species of Basidiomycota mushrooms, psilocybin evolved from its ancestor, muscarine, some 10 to 20 million years ago.

The effects of psilocybin mushrooms come from psilocybin and psilocin. When psilocybin is ingested, it is broken down to produce psilocin, which is responsible for the psychedelic effects. Psilocybin and psilocin create short-term increases in tolerance of users, thus making it difficult to abuse them because the more often they are taken within a short period of time, the weaker the resultant effects are. Psilocybin mushrooms have not been known to cause physical or psychological dependence (addiction). The physical effects tend to appear around 20 minutes after ingestion and will last approximately 6 hours. The effects may include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, drowsiness, and lack of coordination, though many of them can be attributed to mold and or mildew that may accompany the drug when purchased through black market means and not grown in sterile or clean growing environments.

So how this goes is that Psilocybin is metabolized into psilocin, both of which appear to be equally active in producing psychedelic effects. Interestingly though, Psilocybin is about 100 times less potent than LSD and 10 times less potent than mescaline. The way Psilocybin and its metabolite psilocin primarily affect and interact with in us is through our serotonin receptors that we have in our brain which is said to be the most complex of Creator's creations, and is something most humans have yet to definitively figure out, all the facets of the human brain. It has an especially high affinity for the 5-HT (serotonin) 2A subtype receptors. In rodents, psilocybin shows strong interaction with receptors in hub regions of the brain that integrate sensory experiences. This could, therefore, explain effects such as synesthesia (mixing sensory modalities; e.g., hearing colors, tasting sounds) and altered sensory experiences during mushroom trips.

Once ingested, the result is best recognized by increased intensity of emotional experiences, increased introspection, and altered psychological functioning in the form of “hypnagogic experiences” — a transitory state between wakefulness and sleep. Brain imaging studies show that a psilocybin trip is neurologically similar to dreaming.

Theie arw four basic phases of a mushroom trip, first is ingestion,followed by the onset, then there's the trip (peak), and finally is the comedown. Each phase comes with its own set of perceptions and observations, with the peak — typically a couple hours after ingestion — resulting in the most intense sensory and psychological shifts. No matter the phase, it’s important to relax, and remember that what you’re experiencing is temporary, and there is nothing to fear.

Perceptual changes such as illusions, synesthesia, emotional shifts, and a distorted sense of time are all characteristic of a psilocybin trip. These effects are typically felt about an hour or so after orally ingesting a dose, which we will cover in more detail in just a few minutes below. It’s not uncommon to have a sense of openness to thoughts and feelings that you tend to avoid in your everyday life throughout the duration of the experience as the onset occurs. A sense of wonder and delight with the world around you, the people in your life, and your thoughts is also quite common, along with a sense of peace and connection with the world.

Sensory effects include visual and auditory hallucinations followed by emotional changes and altered perception of time and space. Noticeable changes to the auditory, visual, and tactile senses may become apparent around 30 minutes to an hour after ingestion, although effects may take up to two hours to take place. These shifts in perception visually include enhancement and contrasting of colors, strange light phenomena (such as auras or "halos" around light sources), increased visual acuity, surfaces that seem to ripple, shimmer, or breathe; complex open and closed eye visuals of form constants or images, objects that warp, morph, or change solid colours; a sense of melting into the environment, and trails behind moving objects. Sounds may seem to have increased clarity—music, for example, can take on a profound sense of cadence and depth

feelings of unity and interconnectedness with all people and things, a sense of sacredness, feelings of peace and joy, a sense of transcending normal time and space, ineffability, and an intuitive belief that the experience is a source of objective truth about the nature of reality. More recent studies have also mirrored these early findings. About 40% of participants in laboratory studies of psilocybin reported positive, long-term changes in aesthetic experience and their relationship with nature

Some researchers are beginning to theorize what we as KM have already long known and taught thanks to the wisdom teachings of our Hemperor, which is that that many of psilocybin’s beneficial effects on mental health conditions may be due to its ability to “reset” a control system in the brain. The Default Mode Network (DMN) has been linked to depression and other mood disorders when overactive. Psilocybin has been shown to dramatically reduce the activity of the DMN. One such study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, found that, “a single dose of psilocybin produced substantial and enduring decreases in depressed mood and anxiety along with increases in quality of life […]" and in many cases with our members, for literally Months at a time per single dose, especially in and for our combat veterans!

Specifically, clinical trials have been, and are currently, being conducted in the United States and abroad which involve patients dealing with life-threatening cancer. These trials mainly seek to understand the efficacy of high dose psilocybin, administered in therapeutic environments, as a tool for reducing the psychological stress and anxiety that often accompanies a life-threatening diagnosis. The results so far have been promising. Under double-blind conditions, not only has a single, high-dose of psilocybin been shown to reduce symptoms of psychological distress among the terminal patient groups; the effects have been substantial and enduring.

However though, some medical experts say these mushrooms can pose a danger to a small number of people with serious mental health issues, especially in large doses, but note they aren't considered physically dangerous or addictive. Mushroom enthusiasts say any dangers they might pose are far outweighed by the benefits, especially when compared to mainstream medicines like opiates.

Psilocybin is well-tolerated among healthy individuals. Hormone levels, liver function and toxicity, and blood sugar all appear to be unaffected by its use. Complications that have been reported appear to arise in vulnerable individuals under uncontrolled conditions and at high doses. Adverse effects, like “bad trips,” can almost always be managed with interpersonal support and without pharmaceutical intervention.

A negative environment could contribute to a bad trip, whereas a comfortable and familiar environment would set the stage for a pleasant experience so of coarse we strongly suggest that you partake in a suitable environment so that you have a good and positive experience. Psychedelics make all experiences more intense, so if a person enters a trip in an anxious state of mind, they will likely experience heightened anxiety on their trip. Many users find it preferable to ingest the mushrooms with friends or people who are familiar with 'tripping' and we suggest new users consider the same thing because it's always good to have someone around you trust and know will look out for you and make sure all is okay and that you stay safe.

Users say mushrooms, most often eaten dried or steeped into a tea, help them see themselves and the world around them differently, allowing them to re-wire their brains in healthier ways.

"We really have a national emergency with mental health and addiction," said Kevin Matthews, founder of the Denver-based Society for Psychedelic Outreach, Reform and Education (SPORE). "It's clear we need effective alternatives that don't come with all these crazy side effects."

At first glance, Psilocybe cubensis doesn't look particularly magical. In fact, the scientific name of this little brown-and-white mushroom roughly translates to "bald head," befitting the fungus's rather mild-mannered appearance. But those who have ingested a dose of P. cubensis say it changes the user's world.

The mushroom is one of more than 100 species that contain compounds called psilocybin and psilocin, which are psychoactive and cause hallucinations, euphoria and other trippy symptoms. These "magic mushrooms" have long been used in Central American religious ceremonies, and are now part of the black market in drugs in the United States and many other countries, where they are considered a controlled substance. The cubensis has .63% psilocybin, which is right in the middle for most mushrooms, explaining its popularity.

Recent research has shown that psilocybin can be used to enhance spiritual practice. The large study recruited 75 participants, and engaged them on a six-month spiritual course involving meditation, awareness, and self-reflection. During the course, participants were given either a low or high dose of psilocybin. At the end of the six months, the participants given the high dose of psilocybin showed significantly greater improvements in measures of spirituality such as interpersonal closeness, life meaning, death transcendence, and forgiveness.

These subjective effects — such as feelings of interconnectedness — of psilocybin mushrooms are likely a result of their ability to decrease the interconnectivity of integration hubs in the brain.[29] That is, psilocybin allows for more “cross talk” between brain regions that are typically kept separate. Researchers speculate that this enables a state of “unconstrained cognition.”

These dose ranges are for Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms. They may apply to other psilocybin-containing species, but some (e.g. P. semilanceata) are more potent on average.

Microdose (0.05-0.25 g)

Mood enhancement
Decreased stress
Emotional stability
Mindfulness, presence, and peace
Openness and self-forgiveness
Increased empathy and sociability
Conversational fluidity
Alleviation of persistent conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, PTSD
Increased motivation (e.g. to make positive lifestyle changes)
Increased focus/productivity
Increased flow states
Clearer, more connected thinking
Improved memory
Enhanced senses
Enhanced appreciation for music, art, etc.
Increased creativity
Spontaneity
Easier meditation
Increased enjoyment of physical activity and everyday tasks
Relaxation and increased awareness of body
Enhanced athletic endurance
Increased energy overall (without anxiety or a subsequent crash)

Amplification of mood, positive or negative
Slight sedative effect

Possible manic states
Potentially increased neuroticism

Mini-dose (0.25-0.75 g)

Mood enhancement, mild euphoria or excitement
Mindfulness, presence, and peace
Openness and self-forgiveness
Introspective insights
Alleviation of persistent conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, PTSD
Increased motivation (e.g. to make positive lifestyle changes)
Increased flow states
Clearer, more connected thinking
Enhanced senses
Enhanced appreciation for music, art, etc.
Increased creativity
Spontaneity
Easier meditation
Increased enjoyment of physical activity and everyday tasks
Relaxation and increased awareness of body
Increased energy in waves
Mild body high

Amplification of mood, positive or negative
Preference for introspection over socializing
Increased sensitivity to light
Very mild visuals, if any

Possible manic states
Potentially increased neuroticism
Difficulty focusing or thought loops
Difficulty with some cognitive tasks
Anxiety, agitation, or restlessness
Difficulty or discomfort socializing
Frustration at dosage (too high to be comfortable, too low to be “recreational”)

Museum dose (0.5-1.5 g)

Mood enhancement, euphoria or excitement
Mild to moderate visuals (e.g. “breathing” environments)
Increased empathy
Conversational fluidity
Introspection
Increased flow states
Enhanced senses
Enhanced appreciation for music, art, etc.
Increased creativity
Spontaneity
Increased enjoyment of physical activity and everyday tasks
Finding otherwise mundane things funny or interesting
Enhanced athletic endurance
Moderate body high

Clear come-up, peak, and come-down
Amplification of mood, positive or negative
Altered perception of sound
Time dilation or contraction (time passing more slowly or quickly)
Increased sensitivity to light
Pupil dilation

Difficulty focusing or thought loops
Difficulty with some tasks
Difficulty or discomfort socializing
Frustration at dosage (at lower end)

Moderate dose (2-3.5 g)

Strong euphoria or excitement
Sense of peace
Mystical experience and feelings of wonder
Life-changing introspective or philosophical insights
Increased flow of ideas
Increased creativity
Enhanced senses
Enhanced appreciation for music, art, etc.
Finding otherwise mundane things funny or interesting
Strong body high

Clear come-up, peak, and come-down
Amplification of emotions, whether good or bad
Open- and closed-eye visuals (e.g. patterns, auras)
Synesthesia
Time dilation or contraction (time passing more slowly or quickly)
Sedation
Unusual physical sensations
Sensitivity to light
Wide pupil dilation
Compulsive yawning

Confusion
Disorientation
Fear and anxiety (“bad trip” experiences)
Difficulty with cognitive tasks
Dizziness
Nausea

Mega dose (5+ g)

Strong euphoria or excitement
Mystical experience and intense feelings of wonder
Life-changing introspective or philosophical insights
Ego death
Increased flow of ideas
Increased creativity
Enhanced senses
Finding otherwise mundane things funny or interesting
Very strong body high

Clear come-up, peak, and come-down
Amplification of emotions, whether good or bad
Very strong open- and closed-eye visions (e.g. memories coming to life)
Visual, auditory, tactile hallucinations
Synesthesia
Time becoming meaningless
Thought loops
Sedation
Unusual physical sensations and altered perception of physical form
Sensitivity to light
Very wide pupil dilation
Compulsive yawning

Confusion
Disorientation
Compromised motor functions (sitter recommended!)
Strong fear and anxiety (extreme “bad trip” experiences)
Extreme difficulty with cognitive tasks
Dizziness
Nausea
Light-headedness
Headaches

Over the past few years, regulatory bodies such as the DEA and FDA have loosened rules about using psilocybin – more so than any other psychedelic – in controlled research trials. Exciting new findings on psilocybin as a therapeutic tool and for personal/spiritual development are emerging.