Psilocybe Cubensis - Magic Mushrooms

Introduction

Psilocybe cubensis is a fungus that grows on cow dung or matured -fertilized soil. It grows in humid grasslands found in parts of United States of America and South-east Asia.

Description

Psilocybe cubensis belongs to the Strophariaceae family of fungi and is the most popular natural psychedelics available.  It is also referred to as Mexican mushroom and is well-known as magic mushroom or shrooms. Psilocybe cubensis belongs to the species of psychedelic mushroom. The principle active compounds in it are psilocybin and psilocin. The cap of the mushroom is reddish brown to golden brown in colour and is 5-8 cm. in radius. The stem ranges from white to yellow colour and is 4-15 cm. long.

Effects of the Psilocybe cubensis -‘Magic Mushroom’

Magic mushroom has a hallucinogenic effect on the mind if taken in certain amounts.This is also called tripping. The physiological reactions include coldness of limbs and dilation of pupils.

Positive effects are seen in people suffering from cluster headaches—the pain diminishes by the use of some varieties of Psilocybe cubensis. It is found helpful in treatment of mental disorders if taken under medical supervision. Mushrooms should be avoided by persons suffering from depression, schizophrenia or some other mental disorder.

The easiest way to take magic mushroom is to make tea by pouring some hot water over the dried and shredded mushroom. The fresh or dried mushrooms can be mixed with orange juice, water-honey and hot chocolate. Some will crunch the mushrooms and cap them in tiny capsules. Or just eat the shrooms like they are fresh or dried.

Magic Mushroom Cultivation

Life cycle of magic mushrooms

It is essential to have an idea of the mushroom cycle before growing magic mushrooms or mushrooms of other type. The spores produced by the mushrooms drop to the ground and produce mycelium.  The mycelium grows further and forms white thread like web. The mushroom is then formed out of the mycelium on exposure to the sun. The mushroom forms caps, gills and stems. The gills hold the spores under the cap of the mushroom. The are covered with a skin, called the veil . The veil is torn when the mushrooms cap opens and spreads the spores to start a new life cycle. Harvest the magic  mushrooms before the veil breaks from the mushroom cap

Methods of growing mushrooms

• Mushrooms are a fungus, so the basic requirement to grow it is a warm moist  place and a piece of wood for the spores to grow on. It is a simple process and does not require much attention or time.
• The easiest way to grow magic mushrooms is to buy a mushroom grow kit which includes a substrate with mushroom spores
• A mixture of liquid culture or mushroom spores, substrates and growing chambers with moisture and humidity are required to grow mushrooms. Mixture of spores and water in a syringe is the most popular method of growing mushrooms.
• There are fully automatic mushroom growing kits having temperature control , light and humidity. This growing kit is a growing system that can be used as an incubator or a growing chamber. Some growing kits have advanced features by having water heaters, time settings, air filter and digital thermometer.   More accessories of the growing kit can be added with sterilised jars, storage containers and heaters.
•  Mushroom can be grown in artificially constructed environment that is shielded from sun and is dark and damp. A mushroom tunnel is the most superior type of method to grow mushrooms. These tunnels are used by professional mushroom growers who aim to grow the highest quality of mushrooms at a large scale.
•  A simple method to grow magic mushrooms is to have substrate consisting of water, brown rice flour and vermiculite. This method is called PF-Tek. The sunstrate is sealed in small jars and stressed in warm water. After cooling mushroom spore solution is added. These spores germinate and the jar is full of substrate.  These germinate and form cakes which are removed and kept for mushrooms to form and grow. These are fresh magic mushrooms grown under correct conditions.

 Some secret tips to have a successful growth of magic mushrooms from kits

• The mushroom growing kit should be placed in an area where the temperature is a stable. The use of a heating mat is optional
• Do not place the kit in front of the window to avoid direct sunlight
• The mushroom substrate should be misted with water daily with a spray bottle. In warm places misting should be done more than once to keep it moist.
• Provision should be made for proper air circulation to prevent building up of too much carbon dioxide.
• Regular check is required to check the grown mushrooms.
• When the veil begins to tear it is time to harvest

More than 190 different species

There are about 190 different species of mushrooms growing around the world that contain psilocybin. Growing them is illegal in most parts of the world. There are many websites on Internet that advertise easy and simple magic mushroom growing kits.   Since growing the magic mushroom mycelium is illegal in most places, the kits, with spores or early stage mycelium, are only sold for genetic mapping, or forensic studies.

Mushrooms that belong to the genus psilocybin are called the true magic mushrooms. They are also known as shrooms, psychedelic mushrooms, psychotropic mushrooms or psilocybin. These mushrooms cause fluctuations of mood and behavior.