How to participate in a psilocybin therapy in the UK?
A psilocybin retreat 3 hours from London
2-day and 3-night all-inclusive stay, 100% legal.
English-speaking support team.
Institute founded by a Londoner.
Psilocybin is a natural substance found in magic mushrooms of the psilocybe genus. It is currently under study for its potential beneficial effects on mental health. Several British and American studies show its efficacy on disorders such as depression and PTSD. These studies also indicate its impact in treating alcoholism and anxiety disorders.
During psychedelic experiences, this molecule acts on the brain by stimulating serotonin receptors, the amygdala, and the hippocampus. Under the influence of psilocybin, the nervous system can produce fantastic hallucinations and boost or reset emotions. This is what we call altered states of consciousness.
As well, it can distance certain memories and provoke a strong feeling of relaxation.
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Schedule a free information session in English with one of our facilitators.
Even though scientific research is conducted in the UK, such as by Imperial College London, magic mushrooms are illegal throughout Great Britain. Conversely, magic truffles are completely legal in the Netherlands. This is the reason individuals seeking a psilocybin retreat in the UK often look towards this country. Here, they can join the psilocybin ceremony, starting point of their psychedelic journey.
Psychedelic retreats involve remote preparation, individual interviews, integration process and on-site relaxation exercises. This is what we call the set and setting. To ensure a positive and transformative experience, it’s important for the facilitation team to devote themselves to it with care.
Tangerine Retreat was precisely founded by a Frenchman living in London for over 6 years. He first tried a magic truffle trip for personal reasons. And, for him, it was very enlightening! After this experience, he understood how they could provide a real breath of fresh air and help process pain or trauma. However, British law only permits antidepressant medications or traditional therapy. These methods are sometimes ineffective or too slow for many people.
Tangerines Retreat’s formula, thus, is to offer British citizens the opportunity to take part in a psychedelic retreat. He found an option to comply with the law on psilocybin in the United Kingdom. The stay is accessible within a few hours from Heathrow or by Eurostar. If you come by car, plan for a night in Amsterdam.
The principle of the mushroom trip is to define a subject one wishes to progress on. Afterwards, participants must relax and trust the team of English-speaking facilitators. They take a dose of psilocybin and lie down in a ceremony room. Once ingested, for 5 to 6 hours, the truffles will alter the participants’ neurochemistry. The effects are unique to each individual.
Emotions, flashback, visions, euphoria, or insights emerge throughout the ritual. The team supervises and reassures to enable everyone to reach into their unconscious. This allows them to find what they need. This experience blends concepts borrowed from the spiritual, scientific, and personal development worlds.
To delve deeper, learn about the powers of psychedelics with our list of the most inspiring documentaries on magic mushrooms!
Since psilocybin-assisted therapy is not available in the UK, Tangerine Retreat’s center offers the closest solution to the swinging city for a transformative experience. We have created an environment that combines expertise, safety, and legality. All of this is just three hours away from the British Isles.
Amsterdam is located 1 hour and 20 minutes from Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, or Bristol. Then, count an extra 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the retreat location.
Feb 21-23, 2025
Spoken language(s) :
Connect with nature
The retreat takes place in a location specially chosen to promote a peaceful mind. It offers an opportunity to reconnect with our primal sensations. This green haven is surrounded by forests and is located 20 minutes from the train station and amenities.
An all-inclusive stay
During your stay at the retreat center, you will enjoy individual and shared rooms. There are also communal spaces available for the group. Upon arrival, the team offers simple and fun workshops to break the ice and make everyone comfortable.
Chef says “bon appétit”
We like to please the participants and make them comfortable. This obviously involves attentive and kind discussions. However, everyone eagerly anticipates mealtime, and for good reason: the chef on-site offers delicious vegetarian meals and desserts.
In the United Kingdom and the Overseas Territories, hallucinogenic mushrooms are considered a drug. Since the 1960s, all psychoactive drugs have been classified as controlled-substances. Undeniably, the use of psychedelics is not rooted in British culture. That's why British law has established a classification system for illegal drugs. Different categories group psychoactive substances based on the legal consequences faced. Magic mushrooms are classified as Class A. This one is the same category as heroin, cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), or LSD. Possession or consumption is punishable by imprisonment for up to 7 years and an unlimited fine. That's why there is no legal psychedelic retreat in the UK.
Mushroom spores are the equivalent of a seed for plants. By cultivating them, it's possible to grow mushrooms, psilocybes or others. However, at the spore stage, they do not contain psilocybin. That's why it's not prohibited to possess them under English law. However, caution is advised, as when the spores are properly cultivated, they transform into psychedelic mushrooms. Once transformed, they are indeed prohibited in Great Britain.
Legally, you can't consume psilocybin in the UK. Whether in the form of truffles or mushrooms, psilocybin is classified as an illegal drug in London.
Psychedelics can cause temporary emotional fragility. This makes it important to have one or more sober, experienced individuals present to reassure the person during the trip. Consuming psychoactive substances in a stressful, noisy environment or without supervision can lead to an unpleasant bad trip.
As of now, in 2024, psilocybin in the UK is illegal. There are no bills under discussion in the House of Commons. Although psilocybin therapy in Oregon or Australia is permitted, the Crown remains respectful of the UN's 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. However, the Department of Health and Social Care allows researchers to investigate the effects of psilocybin on mental disorders such as treatment-resistant depression or addictions.
However, at the moment, no therapy is offered by mental health professionals.
No, because the law of the territory prevails. In a country where psilocybin truffles are legal, anyone can buy or consume them, regardless of nationality.
Similarly, upon return, customs cannot penalize you for your actions abroad. However, be warned, it is not possible to bring back the fruits of your adventures in your bag. Mushrooms are prohibited in England, even if they were purchased legally elsewhere.
To join a research project, you need to keep up with the news on clinical studies. King's College and Imperial College regularly publish about them on their respective websites. However, places are limited, the admission criteria are often quite specific, and it only takes place in London. In other counties (Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, or Hampshire), it is impossible for the time being.
No, ingesting psilocybin does not cause any addiction, regardless of the dosage. People who have a psychedelic experience in a controlled environment do not seek to repeat it often. They also do not use it for recreational purposes.
Hallucinogens cause a mind-alteration that can take the form of a mystical revelation or an emotional surge.
Generally, the medium-term effect is a better understanding of oneself, greater ease in socializing with others, and a boost in energy. In research protocols, the medical use of psilocybin explores the reduction of depression symptoms that the molecule provides. The long-term effects vary and depend on the individual: aid in trauma processing, mood improvement, motivation, better emotional connection.
In rare cases, just after ingesting a hallucinogen, it is possible to experience sensations of nausea or panic. These symptoms quickly disappear.
As for contraindications, they concern individuals who are on antidepressant medication. Hallucinogenic drugs are also highly discouraged to those with psychiatric disorders such as psychosis, paranoia or schizophrenia. In these cases, it is crucial to consult a psychiatrist in the nearest town in England. Similarly, in cases of untreated high blood pressure, it is advisable to avoid any consciousness-altering substances.
It's very simple. Our founder was walking along the Thames river and reflecting on his project while listening to music. When his playlist shifted to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, he heard that famous verse from The Beatles :
Picture yourself in a boat on a river
With tangerine trees and marmalade skies
Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly
A girl with kaleidoscope eyes
...and just like that, everything fell into place!
Image of vwalakte and rawpixel.com on Freepik
A psychedelic retreat is a time of connection with oneself. During the trip, overwhelming and powerful emotions surface. These emotions enable one to understand, process, and spiritually ascend. It’s an unparalleled experience. An opportunity to meet with a hidden world within each of us.
And for such a journey, the USA now offers a haven of serenity: Oregon. Local law there permits magic mushroom retreats. The stay is centered around relaxation, preparation, and safety under the watchful eye of experienced facilitators.
5 day retreat : Book your spot
Tangerine Retreat has selected a local partner to ensure Oregon psilocybin retreats. By booking through our website, you’ll receive a discount by using the promo code “TANGERINE”.
Throughout our lives, we develop fears, blockages, or negative feelings that disrupt our normal functioning due to a lack of perspective. The result is a sensation that life lacks meaning, or rumination, or even self-deprecation.
American and British medical research has shown an interesting effect of psilocybin on these states. The magic mushroom targets a brain area associated with fear, the amygdala. Moreover, it triggers chemical reactions related to serotonin.
Without fear, it is easier and more effective to explore one’s subconscious and wounds. Thoughts navigate toward new horizons, offering a fresh perspective.
For this reason, psilocybin has shown encouraging results in the fight against depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Clinical trials, for example, have concluded that it can be as effective as antidepressants in just one dose.
Imagine a house surrounded by forests and rivers. A team of facilitators welcomes you warmly and guides you to a relaxed state of mind. On the agenda: breathwork, meditation, and of course, ingestion of psilocybin mushrooms.
The principle of a psychedelic retreat is to create conditions of complete relaxation and safety to allow you to embark on a nice psychedelic journey. It’s impactful, powerful, transformative… in a word: decisive!
The advantage of psilocybin retreats is that they are legal in Oregon. They are also more accessible than medical trials. Thus, the consumption of hallucinogenic mushrooms is possible on-site for any American or Canadian citizen.
Disconnect! Rejuvenate in the heart of Oregon’s wilderness. The home where you’ll stay for 5 days and 4 nights is nestled in lush greenery.
Feast! The retreat center offer you local and organic cuisine. The chef’s meals aim to delight your taste buds without burdening your digestion.
Open the doors of your mind! Prepare your dried mushrooms and embark on two psychedelic ceremonies under the supervision of the facilitation team.
Under the influence of psilocybin, it’s possible to access phenomena never encountered before. Colors, images, personal themes, feelings of euphoria, connection to living beings, feelings of love or euphoria.
Many people report feeling an immediate improvement in their mood. And for good reason! A study on participants of a psychedelic journey shows that 95% of those surveyed rank it among the top five experiences of their lives.
Long before Oregon psilocybin retreats were invented, humans were already using psilocybes mushrooms to explore altered states of consciousness. Thus, pre-Columbian civilizations, Maya and Aztec, practiced mystical or magical rituals related to the use of fungi.
The contents of these ancient rituals are unknown. But around the world (Mexico, Hungary, Algeria), archaeological traces show that shamans have been practicing natural psychedelic medicines for nearly 9,000 years.
Can’t join Tangerine Retreat in the Netherlands? No problem!
We offer a partnership with a psychedelic retreat center based in Oregon. Designed with seriousness and enthusiasm, this psilocybin retreat welcomes you for an extraordinary stay. Surrounded by an American team with extensive expertise, you can safely surrender to the spiritual essence of two psilocybin ceremonies.
The retreat location is in a region known for its natural beauty and seclusion. Meet the team halfway between Portland and Sacramento, at the entrance to the Klamath National Forest.
Initially, psilocybin became legal for therapeutic purposes in Oregon in November 2020. It was Measure 109 that allowed the regulated use of psilocybin. The law requires authorization for treatment centers that oversee this process.
Oregon was the first US state to adopt such a measure, exploring a new approach to mental health treatment.
The law permits several psilocybin-containing products: capsules or pills, liquid extracts, and dried mushrooms.
In retreats, this latter form is offered, both pure and traditional. The program there is structured to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the psychedelic mushrooms, following strict protocols.
Apart from in Oregon and Colorado, the sensory molecule has been considered a controlled substance in the rest of the USA since the 1960s. California has seen several reform attempts regarding psilocybin. The main proposals were about its decriminalization. No law has been passed to legalize or regulate its use statewide.
However, some Californian cities, like Oakland and Santa Cruz, have taken steps to decriminalize the use of natural psychedelic substances. Yet, these cities do not offer legal support.
In Colorado, the situation has advanced significantly. In November 2022, Colorado approved an electoral initiative (Proposition 122) to decriminalize and create a regulated program allowing the therapeutic use of psilocybin.
The program, set to launch in 2024, will allow adults aged 21 and over to access psilocybin in centers supervised by trained professionals.
Psilocybin impacts neural networks. Like antidepressants, it targets the 5-HT2A serotonin receptors. Activating this receptor triggers a chain reaction affecting mood, perception, or cognition.
This effect could help reset parts of the brain that function differently in depressed individuals, providing a stable chemical foundation. Research also suggests that psilocybin increases brain plasticity. For those with depression, this gives neurons the ability to change and adapt, breaking away from negative thought patterns. Furthermore, psychedelic experiences can also provide profound psychological insights. Realizations.
Patients often report experiences of self-understanding and acceptance. These feelings can contribute to a sense of well-being and a reduction in depressive symptoms.
To enroll in an Oregon psilocybin retreat, the following criteria must be met:
Beyond these points, residents from any state in the US can participate in the retreats in Oregon.
Yes, in Oregon, facilities offering psilocybin sessions must be certified to operate legally. This certification is an essential part of the regulatory framework established by the state. Its goal is to ensure the safety and quality of the services offered. This accreditation depends on:
Psychedelic substances are chemical compounds. They have mind altering short-term effects on perception, thoughts, and sensations. They include LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, and DMT (found in ayahuasca). These substances can induce a profound psychedelic experience. They sometimes transform consciousness or provide significant spiritual or introspective insights. Historically used in spiritual rituals, they have also been used recreationally. Today, they are being studied for their potential medical-use. MDMA is also being studied for its long-term effects on PTSD, but it is not considered a psychedelic.
Each era has its uses!
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