Frequently Asked Questions about Psilocybin
The following article talks about magic mushrooms and mushrooms that contain psilocybin for educational purposes. Please note that Tangerine Retreat only offers psilocybin truffles on its retreats in the Netherlands.
What do magic mushrooms look like?
For some, it would be a dream come true to be able to pick their own magic mushrooms. But extreme caution is always advised, as it’s very easy to come across a poisonous variety, especially if you’re not an expert and don’t have experience picking mushrooms.
So, it’s important to always seek advice from a specialist before consuming mushrooms you’ve harvested yourself – and don’t ingest any mushrooms that you’re not sure about.
Also, be aware that in many countries, including France, picking mushrooms is strictly forbidden. Only psilocybin truffles are offered to participants at retreats in the Netherlands.
How is psilocybin made?
The mushroom synthesises psilocybin all by itself. You’ll find it in its natural state in varieties of psilocybes such as Psilocybe cubensis. As for psilocin, it’s a modified (but still natural) form of psilocybin that’s found in the human body.
When the mushroom molecule arrives in the digestive tract, our alkaline phosphatase enzymes break it down and transform it into psilocin, making it compatible with human consumption.
In reality, it’s the psilocin that instigates the psychedelic effects on the brain.
Which mushrooms contain psilocybin?
In truth, most varieties of psilocybin mushrooms look just like any other mushroom, which makes identifying them difficult.
Psilocybes are a particular genus of mushroom that love being part of a crowd. They tend to grow in groups of light brown-tinted mushrooms that can be a little sticky when freshly picked.
You can tell a psilocybe apart by looking closely at its cap, stalk, or spore colour. The genus “psilocybe” comes from the Greek for “bald swelling”, owing to the small lump at the top of its smooth cap, somewhat like the mound of a hill. The texture of the magic mushroom’s stem is quite firm, which makes it resilient to handling. The spores are the reproductive organ of mushrooms and you’ll notice that psilocybe spores are a dark purple shade, which can be seen by pressing and gently tapping the top of the mushroom.
In any case, it’s always best to ask for expert advice to be sure about what you’ve picked.
Where does psilocybin come from?
The substance has existed for a very long time throughout human history. A large number of ancient civilisations used psilocybin ritualistically, perhaps as a cure. While we’re not sure exactly where it comes from, scientists have identified psilocybin mushrooms on every continent and in most countries. Psilocybin is most commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions where the humidity of the forests and richness of the humus are conducive to the proliferation of these fungal specimens.
The most common varieties of mushrooms currently known include:
- Psilocybe azurescens, from north-west American;
- Panaeolus cyanescens, which grows in the Americas, south-east Asia, and the south of France;
- Psilocybe semilanceata, which is chiefly found in and around Europe;
- Psilocybe cubensis, which can be found all over Asia;
- Panaeolus cambodginiensis, which comes from subtropical Asia and Hawaii.
In 2023, psilocybin can be sourced legally in several states and territories: the Netherlands and Jamaica, where retreats are generally held; and Canada, the state of Oregon and soon Australia have opened the way to psilocybin treatment upon medical prescription.