“This isn't the feared 'drug' you've been programmed to believe is the root of all evil. This is a medicine the ancestors have safely used for millennia to heal from myriad dis-ease.”
Erin Taylor, RN, dietitian
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The Truth About Side Effects of Magic Mushrooms
Are you curious about the side effects of magic mushrooms but feeling a bit overwhelmed by mixed messages?
You're in the right place!
Many health-conscious individuals like yourself, searching for alternative healing methods, often wonder about the safety and side effects of psychedelic mushrooms.
With this article, I'll dig deep into the real EFFECTS of magic mushrooms, shedding light on their minimal side effects when cultivated and consumed correctly.
Whether you're new to this realm or looking to expand your knowledge, I've got you covered- and I'm super glad you're here!
Transference and Countertransference
Be aware of transference and countertransference around a sacred mushroom ceremony...
...my mentor, Kristina Hunter advised me before our women’s retreat.
Transference is the redirection of feelings about a specific person onto someone else (in therapy, this refers to a client's projection of their feelings about someone else onto their therapist).
Countertransference is the redirection of a therapist's feelings toward the client.
I did witness AND experience this with several of my clients, staff and within myself around our retreat.
To clarify further...
Everything feels more sensitive around magic mushrooms.
This is the dropping of the ego protection.
This which feels more sensitive is simply an invitation from the mushrooms to explore further...
The mushrooms give you what you need- not necessarily what you want
You will hear me say time and time again, the mushrooms give you what you need (whether or not it is comfortable for you).
So, if you experience transference and countertransference, this is the mushrooms working for you.
This is an opportunity to explore deeper the source of the transference or countertransference.
Could this be a limiting belief about not being enough you learned as a child?
Could it be under-treated or buried traumas?
Or from something else?
If you are not sure, keep integrating with magic mushrooms, and the source will eventually be revealed to you.
Magic mushrooms dig deeper than anything into the psyche
...according to my teacher, Francóise Bourzat, who worked with the Mazatec curanderas, the original "mushroom priestesses" for over 2 decades.
So, naturally it makes sense that the energies dug up with mushrooms are projected onto those who mirror those parts of you needing healing.
This is why healing in community is essential.
Often it is impossible to see something within ourselves until someone on our path shows it to us.
The most common side effects of psilocybin are transient anxiety, nausea, and mild increases in heart rate and blood pressure. These effects are typically well-tolerated and resolve quickly.
Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins Univ (Johnson et al., 2018)
First off, it's essential to understand what magic mushrooms are.
Known scientifically as psilocybin mushrooms, they contain the psychoactive compounds psilocybin and psilocin.
These substances are known for their ability to induce altered states of consciousness, often resulting in profound experiences of self-growth and spiritual expansion.
From a historical perspective, the medicine has been used for healing for millennia
So, when used for reasons out of alignment with the medicine itself, there are sure to be less than desirable outcomes.
I personally have a history of PTSD, so I have never had a great experience on shrooms in a "party" setting compared to when I use them in a healing setting.
Set and setting are imperative for a positive experience
...when it comes to consuming magic mushrooms.
Setting is your environment, and set is your mindset.
If you don't take the proper time and reverence to honor your large dose journey, you are setting yourself up to have a negative experience.
One study found the most common acute side effects of psilocybin were changes in visual perception (77%), difficulty concentrating (75%), mood alteration (66%), and thoughts of reference (63%) (Studerus et al., 2011).
Proper preparation, cleansing and detoxing for a large dose journey is essential.
Why? Because what you take into the cave with you directly impacts your journey:
- social media
- negative thinking
- toxic people
- toxic diet
- toxins
- news
- work
Meaning...don't dilute the healing and messages from the mushrooms with outside data you will inevitably digest with the mushrooms.
But that's just it with the mushrooms.
You never know what you're going to get. Just remember, everything you get with the mushrooms is FOR you…
With large dose journeys, blood pressure can drop
In the professional psychedelic world, we advise just being aware that your blood pressure CAN drop if you already have low blood pressure.
If you become light-headed during a journey, just lie down until you feel better.
Make sure you are well hydrated before a large journey.
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The side effects of magic mushrooms are minimal compared to any pharmaceutical.
Pharmaceuticals are far from being benign!
Most "side effects" of magic mushrooms are emotional, hallucinogenic, and can be mildly physical as well.
But that is known when we take them for healing in the proper set and setting, with reverent intention to the medicine and journey.
Trust me, as a medical professional for over 2 decades, when I say the average of 4 pharmaceuticals each American is on is exponentially more of a risk concern to me than the nearly non-existent side effects of magic mushrooms!!!
Common side effects of magic mushrooms might include mild nausea or an upset stomach, especially if the mushrooms are taken in gel capsule form.
This drives me nuts!!
Human digestion of all mushrooms begins in the mouth with salivary enzymes needed to start the breakdown of the tough, durable chitin found within all mushroom cell walls.
If this essential part of the digestive process is bypassed, you are basically dumping a bunch of undigested mushroom material into a gut not equipped to digest the food at this point.
No shit you have a stomach ache.
This gastrointestinal discomfort can be mitigated by proper preparation, such as making a mushroom tea or using a lemon tek method.
Reports of nausea and "mushy tummy" can come from poorly grown and harvested mushrooms.
ShroomMystic
Nausea and vomiting from mushrooms can come from mold
If grown improperly, which happens A LOT.
Another reason to grow your own mushrooms...
Visual alterations- “side effect” of psychedelic mushrooms?
You might see colors appear more vivid and patterns taking on a life of their own.
While this can initially seem disorienting, it's usually viewed as a fascinating part of the journey.
Many people find these visual effects to be not only bearable but also quite enjoyable.
Are there medication interactions with psilocybin?
Click here to learn more!
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