The evidence of use of Psilocybin dates back thousands of years. They have been used in social and religious rituals to produce visions to aid in treating illnesses, solving problems, and contacting the spirit world. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by more than 200 species of mushrooms, collectively known as psilocybin mushrooms. It is obtained from certain types of mushrooms that are indigenous to tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Mexico, and the United States. These mushrooms typically contain less than 0.5 percent psilocybin plus trace amounts of psilocin, another hallucinogenic substance.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by more than 200 species of mushrooms, collectively known as psilocybin mushrooms. It is obtained from certain types of mushrooms that are indigenous to tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Mexico, and the United States. These mushrooms typically contain less than 0.5 percent psilocybin plus trace amounts of psilocin, another hallucinogenic substance.
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Street Names
Shrooms,
Caps,
Divine flesh,
Magic mushrooms
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History
The evidence of use of Psilocybin dates back thousands of years. They have been used in social and religious rituals to produce visions to aid in treating illnesses, solving problems, and contacting the spirit world. In the mid-1950s, Albert Hofmann, who is credited with discovering LSD [link to JF LSD page], isolated the active ingredients of mushrooms and determined psilocybin to be the major hallucinogenic component in the mushrooms, and psilocyn to be a minor component. Once in the body, psilocybin becomes unstable and converts into psilocyn. Psilocyn, which is 1.4 times as potent as psilocybin, is thought to be the source of the physical and psychological effects produced by hallucinogenic mushrooms4. By 1968, psilocybin mushrooms were made illegal because of the excessive amount that were being abused. Although psilocybin and psilocyn are scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 as Schedule I drugs, the mushrooms themselves are not scheduled.
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Pharmacology
The cheimical formula for Psilocybin is: C12H17N2O4P
Psilocybin is rapidly dephosphorylated in the body to psilocin, which is a partial agonist for several serotonergic receptors. It mainly interacts with 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor subtypes: it is a mixed receptor agonist. In contrast to LSD, psilocin does not have an effect on the dopamine receptor. Tryptamines and phenethylamine hallucinogens both have a relatively high affinity for serotonin 5-HT2 receptors, but they differ in their affinity for other subtypes of serotonin receptors. The correlation between the relative affinity of hallucinogens for 5-HT2-receptors and their potency as hallucinogens in human beings suggest that an important component of the mechanism of action of these substances is through stimulation of brain 5-HT2-receptors. A primary role for the 5-HT2-receptor in the mechanism of hallucinations is further suggested by the observation that antagonists of the 5-HT2-receptor are effective in blocking the behavioural and electrophysiological effects of hallucinogenic drugs in animals and in man. Although 5HT2-receptors are certainly involved, at present, it is not possible to attribute the psychedelic effects to any single 5-HT receptor subtype
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Uses
Besides being used for recreational purpose, there are no other uses of Psilocybin.
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Scheduling
In the US, Psilocybin is Sechedule I drug.
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Psychological and physical addiction liability
There is virtually no pyschological or physical addiction effect, from Psilocybin
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Withdrawal Effects
There is virtually no withdrawal syndrome when chronic use of this drug is ceased.
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Long term effects
There are no long term effects from the intake of Psilocybin
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Physical effects
There are no physical effects from the intake of Psilocybin
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Psychological treatment options
Psilocybin is psychedelic drug and there are no formally recognized treatments for such drugs. However psychotherapy may be useful in some cases.
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Medical Treatment
Antidepressants may prove to be useful for those suffering psilocybin addiction.
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Pychological Treament
Though the psychological treatment options are not well understood so far, psychological treatment centers first, insist on detox followed by followed by counselling. Rehab centers provide guidelines, following which one may find it easy in preventing relapse.
Related drugs
Related drugs include:
Psilocin
Mescaline
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Related Synthetics
The synthetic drugs that are similar to Psilocybin are other tryptamines.
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References
[1] http://www.pamf.org/teen/risk/drugs/hallucinogens/psilocybin.html#Street Names
[2] http://gwired.gwu.edu/cms2/index.gw/Site_ID/5157/Page_ID/13627
[3] http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/hallucinogens-lsd-peyote-psilocybin-pcp
[4] http://www.maps.org/research/psilo/psilo_ib.pdf
[5] http://www.shroomery.org/8760/Are-there-long-term-effects-of-taking-hallucinogenic-mushrooms
[6] http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/psilocybin.asp
[7] http://drug-effects.us/peyote-mescaline-short-term-long-term
[8] http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/mushrooms#pharmacology
