Psilocin deserves more attention
Psilocin is less known than psilocybin and we often mention the sessions or therapies with truffles or magic mushrooms psilocybin therapy. Due to the name recognition of psilocybin, it is quickly forgotten that psilocybin has relatively little effect and that we should actually call it psilocin therapy. Here are a few reasons why:
1. Psychoactive effect: Psilocin is the compound responsible for the psychedelic effects of magic mushrooms and truffles. Although psilocybin has a limited psychoactive effect, it is relatively small compared to psilocin. Psilocin is found to a lesser extent in mushrooms and truffles, but it oxidizes faster than psilocybin. Most of the effects come from psilocybin, which is converted to psilocin after ingestion. This process occurs when psilocybin is metabolized by the body. This causes it to lose a molecule, the phosphate group, resulting in the formation of psilocin.
2. Serotonin receptors: Psilocin has a similar structure to serotonin and can easily cross the blood-brain barrier. This allows it to bind to the serotonin receptors in the brain, specifically the 5-HT2A receptor. The higher stimulation of these receptors produces the hallucinogenic effects. However, psilocin is more sensitive to oxidation processes catalyzed by naturally occurring MAO enzymes. Oxidized psilocybin and psilocin lose their psychoactive effect.
Why do we call it psilocybin therapy
Due to the fact that psilocin oxidizes sooner than psilocybin, it is less practical to give psilocin. If you do not protect psilocin against oxygen and light, it may break down more quickly before ingestion and you will not know exactly how much active substance you have taken, which is why researchers work more often with the longer-lasting psilocybin. As a result, people often talk about psilocybin, even though the active substance is ultimately psilocin.
Is psilocin legal?
Just like psilocybin also says psilocin mentioned in the Opium Act and that makes this substance illegal to possess and/or sell. To legally perform a psilocin session in the Netherlands, this is only possible if magic truffles are used. These magic truffles contain psilocin and psilocybin, among other things, and therefore correspond to the effects that could be obtained from pure psilocin alone. The terms truffle therapy, mushroom therapy, psilocybin therapy and psilocin therapy are used interchangeably, but in the Netherlands a provider who adheres to the law will only work with magic truffles, despite the different terms.
Psilocin is not a drug
Just like psilocybin, psilocin is not a recognized medicine and in the Netherlands sessions with this type of psychedelic may not be seen as medical treatments. Yet many people choose to undergo these unofficial therapies. We must always emphasize that the research results do not guarantee the outcomes per individual and that not everyone can simply use psychedelic substances such as psilocin and psilocybin. A check for contraindications is always necessary and this can be done without obligation via the button below.
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