FAQ about psilocybin

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring molecule found in magic mushrooms. It is present in all parts: mushroom, truffle, or mycelium. In the brain, it transforms into psilocin and causes a true fireworks display among neurotransmitters.

This chemical upheaval is currently being studied for its potential effects on people with depression or suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In most plants and fungi, all parts have the same properties. The psilocybin truffle is an underground organ of the magic mushroom called psilocybe. It draws its nutrients from the truffle when external conditions are too harsh.

Dutch legislation allows us to legally offer psilocybin truffles to our visitors because they contain a slightly less potent molecule, which limits undesirable effects.

According to the American Drug Policy Alliance, psilocybin is not considered addictive. Repeated use of the molecule can weaken its effects, making it difficult to create a dependence.

On the contrary, researchers are interested in how psilocybin could help combat addiction problems (Time.com).

Other than the psychedelic trip, mushrooms generally have very few side effects. Nevertheless, some people experience nausea, dizziness, anxiety, or increased blood pressure. More rarely, some people report experiencing numbness, convulsions, or paranoid behaviour.

For users who don’t suffer with any psychiatric disorders, these symptoms are temporary.

In order to avoid heightened risk of negative side effects, we discourage anyone diagnosed with (or having a family link with) psychiatric problems such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder from taking psychoactive products.

Patients taking neuroleptics or antidepressants are also encouraged to speak to their doctor to get a personalized opinion. Finally, women are not allowed to participate during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding.

It is not recommended to drive straight after taking psilocybin truffles. When you take a psychoactive substance (tranquillizers, antidepressants, cannabis), your reflexes weaken and your sense of perception changes, which can be a danger for you as a driver and other road users. However, you can consider driving again once your body has purged the molecule (12 to 16 hours after consumption).

According to several recent studies, psilocybin can have a positive effect on the symptoms of depression, particularly for depression that doesn’t respond to medication. We recommend you look around our research section to better understand the topic. A word of warning, though, Tangerine Retreat does not in any way offer therapeutic treatment for mental illnesses.

Neuroleptic and antidepressant treatments are particularly incompatible with psilocybin, since they both act on the same cerebral mechanisms. Anyone who has been prescribed this type of treatment in the last three years should seek medical advice. Some antidepressants can increase the quantities of serotonin available in the body.

In some rare cases, if serotonin levels are too high, people can suffer from serotonin syndrome. Likewise, if you’re currently being treated for high blood pressure or for kidney deficiencies, it is best to avoid taking any psychoactive substances.

If you’re currently being treated with antidepressants for depression or anxiety, you cannot take psilocybin truffles. In most cases, temporarily stopping treatment is not recommended. Nevertheless, in some cases, it is possible to pause treatment for depression for a few weeks in order to participate in a psychedelic retreat in the Netherlands.

Tangerine Retreat would never suggest that you stop your current treatment. It is essential to consult one or several doctors in your home country in order to get a professional opinion.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in our lives, mRNA vaccines have raised a number of questions across Europe. At this time, no scientific information suggests that you can’t take psilocybin after being vaccinated against COVID-19. Be careful, though: if you have recently been vaccinated against or infected with the virus, you should wait four weeks before embarking on any psychedelic experience.

If a member of your immediate family (parents, brother, sister, grandparents) has been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, there is a risk that it could be hereditary. Psychoactive substances could have a negative effect on your mental health. In this case, we do not advise you take part in a Tangerine Retreat. Please contact your doctor for medical advice.

Psilocybin is classed as an illegal drug in most countries around the world because of its psychoactive effects.

In 1966, the United States began limiting the use of psychedelics. It initiated the creation of a United Nations treaty, signed by 180 countries, that moved to ban production, distribution, and consumption of several psychedelics around the world. This ban still limits the experiments scientists can carry out on these substances today.

If you live in a country where psychedelic mushrooms or truffles are illegal, you cannot take any with you. Possessing and taking psilocybin is illegal in most countries around the world.

Wherever you live, Tangerine Retreat does not sell truffles to take away. We believe that the truffle should be taken in a relaxing environment under the supervision of professionals.

On the contrary, it’s the perfect time to continue! Psilocybin helps break down psychological barriers and makes you more emotionally receptive. Therapies and personal development activities are highly recommended after a dose of hallucinogenic mushrooms. It's not the psilocybin that heals, but all the personal work you can do.

It is a symbolic approach that serves to establish an initial spiritual connection with the psychedelic substance. The process is not esoteric; each person can invest it with whatever meaning they wish. This very immersive set-and-setting allows, in fact, for a better surrender to the substance and psychologically materializes the step you wish to take.

Our selection protocol is rigorous. We reject the registration of anyone whose health condition poses a risk to themselves, other participants, or our team.

On-site, a professional and experienced team is present to reassure participants in case of anxiety, to isolate them if necessary, and to prevent any dangerous behavior. Finally, the residence is located 25 minutes from a hospital.

Unlike many mushrooms, psilocybin mushrooms are not toxic. Only people who are allergic to mushrooms in food are at risk of intoxication. Therefore, we do not allow them to attend the retreat.