The topic of mushrooms is increasingly emerging in various circles. Some people discuss the properties of selected species that support, among other things, neuroplasticity. Others praise their ability to improve mood and boost self-confidence. For years, the “does” of hallucinate mushrooms have been debated. What exactly does this term mean? What do they do? Do they grow in Poland and how can you recognize them? These are some of the questions you’ll find answers to below. If you’re interested in this topic, I encourage you to read the article.
Hallucine Mushrooms – What Species Are They and What Do They Look Like?
Although they are collectively called “hallucines,” these mushrooms are actually a catalog of different species and varieties. Most of them belong to a single genus – Psilocybe, although there are exceptions, which I’ll discuss in more detail below.
What makes magic mushrooms unique? Most of them contain an alkaloid important for their effects – psilocybin. It’s this psychedelic that triggers these effects—hallucinations, sensitivity to all stimuli, and even entire visions, described by, for example, the most insightful researchers of psychedelic substances.
By far the most frequently discussed in this context is the Cuban Psilocybe, or Psilocybe cubensis. It grows worldwide (except Antarctica), though in various varieties. It prefers warm climates with sufficiently high humidity and an abundance of decaying matter, including… animal feces. For this reason, they are often found in pastures and where large animals “poop,” such as the Malabar variety, which naturally grows on elephant poop.
Knowing what they “like,” it’s worth talking more about what hallucinate mushrooms look like. The typical fruiting body of this species has a whitish, hollow stem, growing to about 15 cm long and thick, up to about 1.5 cm in diameter. The cap is shades of brown and yellow, and ranges in shape from conical, bell-shaped, to umbrella-shaped. Its span usually doesn’t exceed 10 cm.
Psilocybe cubensis, however, boasts a multitude of variants. The above appearance is closer to the Golden Teacher, for example, but in addition to it, there’s a whole catalog of mutants, selected based on specific traits. Some are larger, others have been bred to achieve albino appearance. So, if you see a photo of a completely pale mushroom with shades of bluish-gray, labeled as Cuban Psychedelic Mushroom, it could be one of the albino strains.
What is the effect of magic mushrooms?
As I mentioned above, the properties of magic mushrooms stem from the presence of certain alkaloids. But how do magic mushrooms work? The effects of their impact on perception can vary depending on the variety we’re dealing with. Some strains have a lower psilocybin content per 100g of fruiting body weight, while others have significantly more. It’s worth knowing that this alkaloid accumulates differently in different parts of the adult mushroom (this is important – these compounds are not present at all in the mycelium).
The dose, however, is a crucial factor. It determines how “explosive” the experiences with preparations made from hallucinogens will be. The basics are:
- mood improvement and euphoria,
- stimulation of creativity,
- multicolored visions and a sense of “contact with a higher being” or the entire world,
- enhancement of visual and auditory sensations,
- deconstruction (or sometimes even “death”) of the ego.
For these reasons, hallucinogenic mushrooms are not only found at parties, where some people get high on them. Certain of their properties, such as stimulating neuroplasticity or opening up the experience of specific emotions and revisiting repressed memories, are perceived as having strongly therapeutic properties. Therefore, for many years (with a break of several decades), Psilocybe mushrooms, as well as other psychedelic substances, have been considered as medications supporting the treatment of depression, PTSD, and other conditions. Nowadays, they are being discussed more and more often in this context.
Magic mushrooms – do they also occur in Poland?
Yes, and more than one species. However, the most common reference in this context is the Psilocybe lanceolata. This mushroom produces small fruiting bodies with caps usually no larger than 2 cm in diameter. They are characterized by wide gills. They grow on very thin and long, ochre-colored stems, measuring 3 to 15 cm in height and 3 mm in diameter. The caps usually have a moist surface, which affects their color. They can be shades of olive or light brown with spots. When dried, they lighten towards a yellow palette. What is the shape of the cap? From conical to bell-shaped with a distinct wart.
Alongside it, there’s the black-brown hairy mushroom and… the fly agaric. Unlike other species, however, it doesn’t produce psilocybin, but bufotenin, which has a similar effect.
Hallucine Mushrooms – Legal Status in Poland
Magic mushrooms, like all other psychedelic substances, are treated as hard drugs in Poland and are banned. I should emphasize that I’m talking about the fruiting bodies that produce psilocybin. Therefore, they are fully criminalized. Mycelium is a different story, considered by many today as an intriguing material for microscopic examination. It’s also worth adding that there’s a general trend worldwide toward decriminalizing psilocybin mushrooms – due to their therapeutic potential. For now, however, in our country, this remains a distant prospect – and an uncertain one at that.