Studies show the number of people using psychedelics increases over the summer months. Additionally, people are more likely to try psychedelics for the first time during the summertime. This is likely a result of summer activities where psychedelic use is common, such as festivals and outdoor concerts. Further, psychedelics, like magic mushrooms, also pair well with outdoor activities and can help folks connect with nature.

Thinking about trying psychedelics for the first time this summer? Let’s talk about the safe use of magic mushrooms.

Using Psychedelics Safely

First, know that magic mushrooms are considered relatively safe. While you can have a negative experience, there is very little risk of overdose. However, you can do a few things to stay safe and make the most of your psychedelic experience.

Determine the best dose for you

You can use a dosage calculator to figure out a good starting point. For beginners, we recommend starting with a low dose. You can increase the dose slightly after an hour if you’re feeling good.

Use psychedelics this summer in a safe and comfortable environment

Take the time to think about your environment and whether or not you will feel comfortable and safe. If you’re planning to use in a large social environment, such as a festival, ensure you have an isolated space you can escape to if you need it. You may also want to consider exploring magic mushrooms for the first time before the event in a more relaxed environment, like at home.

Take the time to think about who you are with and your level of comfort and trust with them. Also consider other parties’ experience with psychedelics and whether or not someone you know will be sober in case of an emergency.

Consider a trip sitter

A trip sitter can be a trusted friend who is sober and there to support you while tripping this summer. They will make sure you stay safe. It should ideally be someone with experience in psychedelics, but that isn’t required. They can make sure you drink some water, bring you your comfort items, or help you get back to your safe space if needed.

Cultivate a positive mindset

Set intentions and use them to create a pleasant mindset to set yourself up for a positive experience. Some nervousness is normal, but you should feel optimistic about the experience overall and that it will enhance your life somehow.

Other things to consider

Don’t consume other substances while tripping, including alcohol.

Mushrooms can cause temporary increases in heart rate and blood pressure, making them potentially unsuitable for those with cardiovascular conditions.

Learn more about how to prepare for a psychedelic trip.

What If I Have a Bad Experience?

Psychedelics can bring up thoughts and feelings you may feel unprepared to deal with. Know this is normal and that you will get through it. If you can, allow yourself to give in to the journey and remember that no matter what happens, it will end. Learn more about how long mushrooms last. Also, remember that there is little risk of overdose.

Setting intentions can help create positive energy around your experience and provide you with a goal or mantra to return to if you begin feeling uneasy.

Setting Intentions

Setting trip intentions is when you state what you intend to accomplish through your actions; in this case, the psychedelic experience. It’s a commitment to what you want from the journey or what you want it to be about. These intentions can be used to guide you on your trip.

This doesn’t mean every time you try magic mushrooms you need to be doing deep work on yourself. If you’re planning to use mushrooms at a festival, your intention could be as simple as allowing yourself to let go of stress and enjoy the experience.

Learn more about setting intentions.

Additionally, being prepared to manage potential anxiety or negative feelings can help you get through those potentially rocky moments during your trip.

Managing Negative Feelings During a Trip

Negative feelings can sway how your trip goes, but if you have skills to manage these they can help you to return to a good place.

There are numerous ways of managing anxiety or negative feelings during a psychedelic trip so take the time to consider what might work best for you.

1. Remember that having a good or bad experience is not like a light switch. It’s not pass/fail. If you start to feel a bit off, you can always shift the experience in a happier direction.
2. Have comfort items on hand. For many people, these are sensory items that make them feel good, like a soft blanket, pillows, stuffed animals, etc.
3. Change your environment. Negative feelings may be triggered by something in your environment. Changing location can remove those potential triggers and give your brain space to reset, refocus, and find calm.
4. Turn on soothing music you’re familiar with. Music can distract our brains and trigger positive emotions. Don’t listen to music that reminds you of specific bad experiences.
5. Talk to someone you trust.

Final Thoughts

Stay safe this festival season and use responsibly. If you’re feeling nervous, consider microdosing the first time. Learn more about microdosing.

Ready to try psychedelics for your first summer trip? Learn about the different consumption methods, then check out our online dispensary. 

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Studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective properties of cannabis can help with traumatic brain injury by reducing secondary damage after the initial trauma, which has contributed to the interest in exploring alternative treatments like psychedelics for traumatic brain injuries.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. In Canada, 2% of the population lives with a traumatic brain injury. There are 18,000 hospitalizations each year, and traumatic brain injury typically occurs in 500 out of every 100,000 individuals annually. That is approximately 165,000 people in Canada impacted by traumatic brain injury every day. This equals 452 people every day, or one person every 3 minutes.

Here we will look at psychedelics for traumatic brain injuries, mainly where the research is headed and its promise for treatment.

Description of Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a disruption in the brain’s normal function caused by trauma to the head. This trauma can be experienced in numerous ways, typically described as a bump, blow, or jolt to the head.

Children and older adults are at higher risk of experiencing a traumatic brain injury than an average adult—other than adults engaged in contact sports.

Is a concussion a traumatic brain injury?

The term traumatic brain injury sounds scary, and it can be. A concussion is considered a type of traumatic brain injury. Even though concussions are often seen as mild brain injuries (because they are generally not life threatening) the impacts can still be severe. This is important because concussions are common in many contact sports.

Signs of a concussion can be subtle (hard to identify) and may not show up immediately following injury.

The symptoms of a concussion can last for days, weeks, or sometimes even longer. Common symptoms include headache, memory loss (amnesia), and confusion. Amnesia usually involves forgetting the event that caused the concussion.

Related: Cannabis for Heacaches and Migraines

Treatment for Concussions

It’s essential to speak to a doctor if you think you’ve experienced a traumatic brain injury. Treatment focuses on physical and mental rest. Doctors recommend engaging in relative rest: reducing activities that require mental exertion but not eliminating all activities.

It’s vital to slowly add mental and physical activities back into your life and pay attention to how they impact symptoms. Resuming rigorous physical activity after a traumatic brain injury increases the risk of another brain injury. So, increase activity slowly and listen to your doctor.

Related: Mindfulness and Psychedelics

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated blows to the head. It can include behavioural problems, mood problems, and issues with cognition. While it can only be diagnosed in an autopsy, a 2017 study showed that 99 percent of former NFL players and 91 percent of college football players studied had CTE.

Some professional athletes experience significant adverse impacts of traumatic brain injury, including depression and suicide ideation. As a result of these symptoms, many athletes have turned to alternative treatment methods, such as psychedelics.

Psychedelics for Traumatic Brain Injury

Several athletes have already turned to psychedelics to manage symptoms related to traumatic brain injury. The research is also underway.

A 2019 review stresses the importance of research into the use of psychedelics, such as psilocybin, for disorders related to consciousness based on previous preliminary studies. A 2021 review looked at historical data about psychedelics’ safety and potential therapeutic uses to outline the areas of interest for traumatic brain injury.

Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation specifically refers to inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. Ongoing neuroinflammation can increase damage to the brain.

The 5-HT2A receptor, the one psychedelics like magic mushrooms act on, is well known to have the potential to regulate inflammation in the brain.

Neurogenesis

Neurogenesis is the growth and repair of brain cells which is essential for healing from a traumatic brain injury.

Psilocybin has been shown to support neurogenesis in the hippocampus, which plays a vital role in learning, memory, and mood. Scientists believe the damage to the hippocampus may account for some of the long-term emotional and cognitive problems experienced by those who have experienced a brain injury.

Neurogenesis in the hippocampus also supports recovery from PTSD.

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change and adapt through growth and reorganization. After a traumatic brain injury, the reorganization of neural connections is an integral part of recovery, specifically relearning information and reforming memories.

Studies show that psychedelics promote neural plasticity, speeding up relearning in patients with traumatic brain injury. 

Psychedelics for PTSD and Depression

It’s common for those who have experienced a traumatic brain injury to develop PTSD or depression.

Approximately 25% of people who experience a traumatic brain injury develop symptoms of major depressive disorder.

Psychedelics can also support the treatment of PTSD and depression, which, in turn, can support the overall recovery for those with a TBI.

Learn more about using psychedelics for PTSD and Depression.

Final Thoughts on Psychedelics for Traumatic Brain Injury

Psychedelics are being used by many athletes to manage the long-term impacts of traumatic brain injury. Research is underway to develop a deeper understanding of how psychedelics help heal the brain.

Preliminary evidence suggests that psychedelics could help restore some of the damage and improve psychological symptoms associated with injury. However, it’s important to note that this research is still pre-clinical, but more people are investing in it.

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Psychedelics, such as magic mushrooms, are making waves when treating complex mental illnesses like major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Approximately 9 percent of Canadians have experienced PTSD in their lifetime, with men being more likely to experience trauma but women more likely to develop PTSD symptoms. Here we will discuss using psychedelics to treat PTSD and what the research says, so far. But first, let’s define what post-traumatic stress disorder is.

Description of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that results from having experienced or witnessed trauma. Though it is important to note that not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD and what is considered traumatic differs between people.

People who have experienced trauma often have intense, disturbing thoughts or feelings related to that experience long after the trauma event(s) have passed.

PTSD symptoms fall into four categories:

1. Intrusive thoughts. Repeated, involuntary memories, frightening dreams, or flashbacks of the traumatic event. For some, flashbacks may feel like they are reliving the traumatic experience.
2. Avoiding reminders of the traumatic event. This may include avoiding people, places, activities, objects, and situations that bring distressing memories. They may also resist talking about what happened or how they feel about it.
3. Negative thoughts and feelings. This may include distorted beliefs about oneself or others (ex., “I am bad,” “No one can be trusted”), ongoing fear, horror, anger, guilt, shame, significantly less interest in activities previously enjoyed, or feeling detached from others.
4. Reactive symptoms may include being irritable and having angry outbursts, behaving recklessly or self-destructively, being easily startled, or having problems concentrating or sleeping. (source)

Traditional Treatment for PTSD

Mental health professionals, such as psychologists and psychiatrists, use various methods to help people with PTSD recover. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one evidence-based treatment that is often used in combination with medication.

While these treatment methods are effective, many people find that psychedelics provide additional benefits for treating PTSD, particularly since treatment can be fairly complex.

Psychedelics to Treat PTSD – What the Research Says

Psychedelics have shown promise in treatment for psychological disorders and received breakthrough therapy status in 2019 for major depression. In Canada, psilocybin has now been approved for end-of-life care use by a limited number of health professionals.

Does the research support the use of psychedelics to treat PTSD?

A 2013 study found psilocybin stimulates neurogenesis (the growth and repair of brain cells) in the hippocampus, the brain’s centre for emotion and memory. In the study, mice given psilocybin overcame fear conditioning far better than mice given a placebo. These results support the hypothesis that psilocybin can help break the traumatic cycle in patients with PTSD.

Stephen Ross, MD, a psychiatrist at NYU Langone, conducted a study on terminally ill cancer patients and found that one-time treatment with psilocybin quickly brought relief from distress.

Other acute effects that substantiate their potential therapeutic role in the treatment of PTSD include:

• Emotional empathy
• Increases in creative divergent thinking
• Enhanced mindfulness-related capacities
• Increased insightfulness
• Reduced avoidance and increases in acceptance and connectedness
• Long-term increases in the personality trait of openness

A 2020 study provided psilocybin therapy and group therapy sessions to survivors of the AIDS pandemic who reported feeling demoralized. At 3 months, researchers saw significant reductions in participants’ symptoms of demoralization.

Using Psychedelics to Treat PTSD

Psychedelics are not an alternative to traditional treatment methods for PTSD. Those diagnosed with PTSD or experiencing similar symptoms should speak to a mental health professional.

If you decide to use psychedelics to treat PTSD with or without the support and guidance of your mental health professional, please use them responsibly and take the time to prepare for the experience.

Since psychedelics can bring up a lot of feelings, they can leave people feeling vulnerable. Because of this, we stress the importance of taking care of yourself psychologically after the experience. For some, this may mean seeking support from their mental health professional. For others, this may mean seeking support from friends and loved ones and engaging in therapeutic activities such as journaling.

Learn more about integration after a psychedelic experience.

Psychedelic Dose or Microdose for PTSD?

Research has focused on a psychedelic dose of magic mushrooms, but that doesn’t mean that microdosing won’t have similar therapeutic benefits.

Until we know more about using psychedelics to treat PTSD, it’s up to your personal choice if you want to microdose or try a psychedelic dose.

A psychedelic dose may lead you to experience ego death, which can be healing but also may be overwhelming. A microdose may provide therapeutic benefits with less intensity.

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People ask this question a lot, in terms of how long mushrooms last in storage, in their system, and the length of the high and aftereffects. So, here we plan to demystify the mysterious mushroom and answer all questions around timings.

How Long Do Dry Mushrooms Last in Storage?

The most efficient way to store dried mushrooms is in a sealed jar with some food-grade silica gel packets. You can buy these online. Keep the jar sealed tight and place it somewhere dark, always out of direct sunlight. This is the best and simplest way to store dried shrooms and will keep them edible for up to a year. It works for weed too.

How to Store Shrooms in Honey

Storing your dried shrooms in honey is another tasty solution. This is sometimes called blue honey or shroom honey. You just need enough liquid honey to cover your shrooms and you’re good to go. It’s best to use this method with dried shrooms rather than fresh.

Making Shroom Honey:

• Chop your shrooms up small.
• Put them into a mason jar, Tupperware, or other sealable container.
• Pour liquid honey over the shrooms and stir for an even covering.
• Seal and store in a cool, dark spot for up to four months.
• Check back often for signs of moulding.

How to Store Shrooms in Tea

Once you’ve brewed up some trippy tea, you can store it like iced tea in a sealer pitcher in the refrigerator. It should be fine for up to a week.

How to Store Shrooms in Chocolate

You can buy a number of different shroom chocolates these days. However, it’s fairly simple to make your own. Shrooms aren’t known for their flavour, so it’s easy to see why coating them in delicious chocolate has become popular. However, they don’t last as long as other storage methods.

Store your shroom chocolates in a sealed contained in the fridge. You can line the container with unbleached baking paper to stop them from sticking. They should last in the fridge for a month or so, if you can keep from indulging in them for that long.

How to Store Shroom Capsules

Shroom capsules are a great way to get the effects you want without the unfortunate taste. You can manage your dosage better when microdosing and swallow the shrooms in an easy tasteless cap.

We’re starting to repeat ourselves now, but you guessed it: store your caps in an airtight container in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, with silica gel packets for a longer shelf life. They should be good for up to a year, but naturally you want to check on them from time to time and make sure they aren’t moulding.  

Storing Fresh Shrooms in the Fridge 

It’s recommended to dry fresh mushrooms as soon as possible to ensure they don’t rot. If you can’t, place them on a sheet of unbleached paper towel in a paper bag, fold the opening of the bag to seal it, then put it in the fridge. If the mushrooms are fresh and whole, they should last 5-10 days. They will then need to be consumed or dried to store for longer without rotting. Monitor these mushrooms for mould in the meantime.

How Long Does a Magic Mushroom High Last?

If you eat magic mushrooms raw, you’ll start to feel the come up about 30 minutes to an hour later. If you crush the shrooms first, take ground mushrooms or mix them with lemon juice (called lemon tekking) then the effects can kick in faster, as soon as 10-15 minutes.

You will usually hit your peak at around an hour to an hour and a half. The effects usually last around four to six hours.

You may want to take note of the time you consumed the mushrooms as you can lose your sense of time while on them. However, as long as you’re in a good mindset and setting, it should all be chill, and you won’t have a care about the time.

You’ll know you’re feeling the effects when a sense of euphoria overtakes you. You’ll start to feel yourself open up and the colours of the world will become more vivid. This could be accompanied by some visual hallucinations, such as objects appearing to breathe, morph, or have fractal patterns on them.

The intensity of your trip can vary based on: 

How much you consume: The quantity of mushrooms you consume will naturally affect the intensity of the high. More mushrooms equal more psychedelic compounds in your system.

If you ate recently. Eating the shrooms on an empty stomach will make your trip more intense and reduce the chances of feeling nauseous.

The potency of the mushrooms. The potency of the mushrooms, like with cannabis or alcohol, can affect the speed and intensity of effects.

Past experience with psychedelics. Your first time taking shrooms will likely be quite intense, but if you’re a regular user you can develop a tolerance to the effects. This means the same amount won’t get you as high.

Expectations. It’s possible that due to the power of the mind, having positive expectations going into a trip will raise your chances of prolonged positive psychological effects during and after a trip. 

Afterglow

Many medicinal mushroom users have described an afterglow: a better mood lasting anywhere from hours to days after a macrodose of shrooms.

How Long Do Shrooms Stay in Your System?

While the high will probably end by the 8-hour point, you can feel some effects for maybe 15 hours afterwards. By 24 hours you should be feeling completely yourself again. These timings vary person to person.

How Long are Mushrooms Detectable By a Drug Test?

This is a tough question. There are a bunch of different tests out there and some are better at picking up trace amounts of chemicals in your system than others. The detection period will vary with each test too. Although, according to Healthline, most routine drug tests can’t detect shrooms.

Your everyday office drug test will be a urine test. Most of the time you’ll have passed any traces of mushrooms within 24 hours. Still, some research suggests that small amounts are detectable even a week later. So, if keeping your job depends on a drug test, lay off the shrooms for at least a week beforehand.

Your body should metabolize magic mushrooms too fast for them to show up in a blood or saliva test unless you’re unfortunate enough to take it on the same day. Hair follicle tests are rare due to their cost, but they can detect shrooms for up to 90 days.

Addiction impacts millions of Canadians. In the 2012 Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey, it was estimated that 21.6% of Canada’s population met the criteria for a substance use disorder. The two most commonly abused substances are alcohol and tobacco. With such things being so difficult to kick, people are turning to other substances to manage addictions, like magic mushrooms.

Some think it is counterintuitive to substitute one substance for another. However, when used intentionally, psychedelics can have many therapeutic benefits for treating addictions. Additionally, harm reduction is an effective means to approach addictions, and traditional treatments have a high relapse rate.

What the Research Says

A 2014 study looked at using psilocybin for tobacco addiction to determine whether or not more research in this area is warranted.

Participants were 15 mentally healthy nicotine-dependent smokers, with an average of 6 previous quit attempts. They smoked 19 cigarettes per day for approximately 31 years at intake.

After taking one dose of psilocybin, 6 months later, 80% had quit smoking. This is significantly higher than most other treatment programs.

After this study, one participant stated, “I think psilocybin gave me the impetus to stay abstinent. It opens up a whole new dimension to your personality. It is almost as though quitting smoking is peripheral during the experience.” At the time of the statement, he had been tobacco-free for two years.

Psilocybin-assisted treatment of addictions for alcohol dependence has also shown promising results. This is now being tested in an FDA-approved phase 2 clinical trial (NCT02061293), demonstrating safety and potential for effectiveness in an open-label pilot study (NCT01534494) with a similar design.

How Do Magic Mushrooms Treat Addictions?

David Nutt, professor of neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, explains that “during illnesses like depression or addiction, the default mode network (DMN) in the brain becomes over-engaged with negative thoughts or cravings.” So, dampening of the DMN can assist in curbing cravings.

Research suggests that psilocybin dampens the DMN through interactions with the 5-HT2AR receptors, allowing people to ‘break free from destructive neural patterns associated with repetitive behaviours. When the default mode network is dampened, a person experiences ego death.

Additionally, we can consider the factors that may lead a person to addictions, such as mental illness and trauma and look at how magic mushrooms provide therapeutic benefits for these causes.

How to Use Magic Mushrooms to Treat Addictions

Research surrounding the therapeutic use of psychedelics such as magic mushrooms has focused on a psychedelic dose under the supervision of a mental health professional. We don’t know if microdosing will provide the same benefit as it’s unclear whether or not it impacts the default mode network in the same manner. More research is necessary to fully understand how psilocybin can treat addictions and the best methods for doing so.

Learn how to prepare for a psychedelic experience and set intentions to get the most out of the experience. You also might want to read more about the different ways of consuming magic mushrooms.

Psychedelics are substances that can create hallucinogenic effects that result in a change in perception, cognitive function, and mood, generally referred to as tripping. Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has been studied in recent years to improve our understanding of the potential therapeutic benefits.

In Canada, there are currently 16 people—doctors, nurses, and mental health professionals—who were provided with an exemption to use psilocybin with their patients, focusing on end-of-life care. Several organizations across Canada, like TheraPsil in Victoria, BC, continue to advocate for its legal use. These organizations recommend psilocybin be used in conjunction with therapy due to the opening up it can facilitate. Therapy can also support integration of the experience into your life. In the cases where a mental health professional isn’t involved, it’s still important to prepare before tripping to get the most out of the psychedelic experience.

Why Prepare Before Tripping?

Tripping on psychedelics can result in significant changes to perception that can be overwhelming, especially to the first-time user. Some may have heard of others’ negative experiences with psychedelics and feel apprehensive. It’s normal to feel some nerves.

Others are looking for ways in which they can get the most out of the psychedelic experience. Preparation can help to both optimize the psychedelic experience and help to prevent a ‘bad trip.’

Do I Need to Prepare for a Microdose?

We always recommend preparing, especially for a first-time experience or when adjusting doses. While microdosing aims to take sub-perceptible amounts of a psychedelic substance, like psilocybin, and avoid tripping, that does not mean you won’t experience anything. Emotions still may come up that you’re unprepared for.

It can also be challenging to determine the best dose for microdosing accurately. This can result in experiencing more psychoactive impact than you originally anticipated. If you’re new to microdosing, take the time to consider the best dose to start at and if you’re nervous, er on the side of caution and take slightly less the first time. You can always increase the dose slowly over several hours or several days. Note, if you’re increasing your dose the same day, ensure to wait at least 45 minutes to 1 hour before increasing. Also, take your first dose on a day with no other obligations.

How to Prepare for Tripping on Psychedelics

There are several things to consider before participating in a psychedelic experience to help you make the most of it.

Set and Setting

Consider Your Mindset

Mindset is a crucial aspect of tripping and can affect the psychedelic experience. It’s essential to take the time to prepare your mindset in a way that makes you feel calm and confident going into the experience. Yes, there still may be some nervousness due to not fully knowing what to expect, but understand that powerful emotions may arise, and the goal is to learn from these, not to become overwhelmed by them. If concerns about the experience continue to emerge, it may be helpful to talk to someone who has experience with psychedelics.

Remember that no matter what happens, the experience will end, so enjoy the ride.

During the day leading up to the experience, engage in activities that will help bring you calm and take the time to set your intentions for the experience.

Set Intentions

Take the time to consider your intentions and what you hope to gain from tripping. Doing so can help you go into the experience feeling prepared and help you to get the most benefit from the psychedelic experience.

Here are some questions to ask yourself that may help consider and set intentions for a psychedelic experience:

• What are your preconceptions about tripping and psychedelic experiences?
• What do you expect to occur during the trip?
• What do you hope to learn? Experience? Understand? Resolve?
• What are your goals? Do you have spiritual goals? Psychological goals? Social goals?

Consider Your Dose

After you’ve taken the time to determine your intentions, use this to consider the best dose for you. Your goals can help determine whether or not you want to take a full psychedelic dose or would prefer to microdose.

Ensure that you take time into account when determining your dose. Allow yourself enough time to prepare for the experience, 4 to 6 hours for the experience, and time for integration.

Set Your Setting Before Tripping

The setting in which you consume psychedelics is important in facilitating a positive experience when tripping. While the ideal environment can vary for different individuals, there are a few things to consider when picking the setting.

1. It should be a familiar environment where you feel safe and comfortable.
2. Have easy access to water for drinking and a bathroom.
3. Have access to comfort items like blankets and pillows and a place where you can lay down.

It can also be helpful to consider the ambient sounds and other external stimuli. This could include choosing calm and soothing music; for many people, this is classical music or something else without lyrics and removing any potential interruptions.

Consider a Trip Sitter

Those engaging in a full psychedelic experience, particularly for the first time, may want to have a trip sitter. In some settings, this may be a trained psychedelic-assisted therapist or other trained professional. Otherwise, it can be a trusted friend who is sober and there to support you while you’re tripping. Ideally, they have experience with psychedelics, but that isn’t required.

Integration

After a psychedelic experience, it’s important to take the time to integrate the things you’ve experienced or learned into your life. Some people like to visit a regular mental health professional after to unpack the emotions that came up, while others engage in a journaling practice.

Final Thoughts

Remember that tripping is named as such because it is a journey: it may be weird, challenging, or overwhelming at times, but you’re along for the ride, so don’t fight the experience. Allow it to flow and know that no matter what happens, it will end.

Psychedelics can be healing and therapeutic. Taking the time to prepare before tripping can help you get the most from the psychedelic experience and decrease the likelihood of a negative outcome. Take the time to prepare your mindset and your setting, and don’t forget to allow time for integration.

To gain an understanding from first-hand users on their tripping experiences, see our 50 quotes on psychedelics.

When most of us think about magic mushrooms, we are likely picturing the species Psilocybe cubensis. These tend to be among the most commonly cultivated mushrooms because they’re relatively easy to grow indoors. Because of the ease of cultivation, there are now 60 strains, maybe more, of psilocybe cubensis; some of the most popular mushrooms include Blue Meanies, Golden Teachers, Penis Envy, B+, and Pink Buffalo.

What Makes Blue Meanies Challenging to Understand?

Blue Meanies are named after the bright blueish colour they turn when handled. Unfortunately, most species of mushrooms turn some shade of blue when handled, as a result, different species of mushrooms have been called blue meanies, so it’s essential to know the difference.

There is a Blue Meany in the psilocybe cubensis species, but there is also a Blue Meany in the panaeolus cyanescens species. The panaeolus cyanescens is considered the ‘real’ species of Blue Meanies mushrooms, but who gets to decide what’s real? We love our Blue Meanie P. cubensis.

It’s important to distinguish between these two species because of the potency. The panaeolus cyanescens species of Blue Meanies mushrooms are much more potent.

Here we are talking about the Blue Meanie P. cubensis strain.

What is a Blue Meanie Mushroom?

The magic mushroom strain Blue Meanie of the species P. cubensis is thought to have originated from Australia. It’s named for the vivid blue bruising that appears when the fruiting body is handled.

While all magic mushrooms will turn slightly blue from being handled (i.e. bruised or damaged somewhat), this is more prevalent with the Blue Meanies strain due to the high psilocybin content.

Visually, these shrooms have relatively large fruiting bodies with thick, dense stems and caps that mature from golden brown to light yellow and with pronounced remnants of universal veil on top (spots).

Effects of Blue Meanies Mushrooms – Psilocybe Cubensis

Blue Meanies mushrooms are considered one of the most potent P. cubensis strains.

After consumption, it will take approximately 45 minutes to an hour to feel the effects, and the experience will last between 4 and 8 hours.

The differences between mushroom strains and species have yet to be studied clinically because clinical studies on magic mushrooms are preliminary and focus on psilocybin, not the whole mushroom. Despite this, users and mushroom experts have recorded their experience with various species.

What are people saying about them?

Despite the name, Blue Meanies, they don’t have a ‘mean’ effect. They’re associated with feelings of euphoria and often intense visuals.

The intensity of the visuals depends on the dose as with other strains of mushrooms. However, many people on reddit note an intense psychedelic experience at between 1 and 1.5g. They describe the experience with Blue Meanies mushrooms to be full of giggles as they’re coming up and intense staring at the sky or other visuals during the peak of the experience.

Dosage for Blue Meanies

Some dosage calculators can help you determine the best starting dose for magic mushrooms; however, they don’t take strain into account.

If you’re experienced with magic mushrooms and trying Blue Meanies for the first time, there are two things to consider when determining the dose.

1. Are you hoping for a similar high as to what you’ve experienced previously? If yes, you will want to take a smaller dose to account for the higher potency.
2. Are you trying Blue Meanies because you’re looking for more intensity? If yes, you may want to consider sticking with your typical dose.

When considering the dose for magic mushrooms, there are a lot of things to take into consideration.

The first is your goals. Are you seeking a microdose? Are you looking for the full hallucinogenic effects with visuals? Something in between? A conservative hallucinogenic dose to try out the strain?

The second thing to consider is experience or tolerance level. However, we always recommend starting with a small dose if you’re new to magic mushrooms or trying a different strain.

And, of course, like any other hallucinogens, they can impact people differently based on tolerance, body size, and other factors.

Buying Blue Meanies Mushrooms

Ready to give Blue Meanies a try? You can purchase them here in 1g, 7g, 14g and 28g quantities.

Not sure they’re are right for you? Check out some of the other strains in our online dispensary or learn more about magic mushrooms on our blog.

If you’ve experienced psilocybin before, you know how intense and euphoric the experience can be. You may be wondering what it would be like to have sex on shrooms.

Having sex on shrooms can be a wonderfully intense experience. Still, just like any other time you consume mushrooms, you could also have a negative experience. So, it’s essential to adequately prepare for the experience.

Having Sex on Shrooms — How Does it Feel?

Mushrooms can intensify all the senses, including touch, which can create a magical and intense feeling. At the same time, it could mean what you usually find pleasurable could be changed; for example, you may want less intensity or less pressure.

Read a personal experience about sex on mushrooms on Vice.

Having Sex on Shrooms — More Than the Physical

While the physical sensations a person can feel while having sex on shrooms can be amazing, there is the potential for so much more.

Psilocybin is known for creating openness and dissolution of the ego. Both of these things can help you connect more intimately with your partner. It can help you get more in touch with your own feelings and potentially empathize more with your partner or better see their perspective.

So, while you may want to get physical while consuming mushrooms, you may have a just as fulfilling experience connecting emotionally with your partner.

Shrooms and Sex — Do Shrooms Make You Horny?

Looking around the forums, there seem to be lots of different thoughts about whether or not shrooms make you horny. Some are 100% in the no camp, some are absolutely in the yes camp, while others are unsure, or it may depend on circumstances.

It seems as though a smaller dose is more likely to make you horny and not so intense that you can’t act on any sexual feelings. In this case, a smaller dose would be more than a microdose but less than a full macrodose.

Often, people at the peak of a macrodose are experiencing too many intense feelings to focus on sexual activity even if they are horny.

Sex on Mushrooms — How to Prepare

Here are some essential things to think about before combining mushrooms and sex.

Sober Consent

Consent is one of the most critical things in sexual interactions, and you can’t give full consent while intoxicated.

To ensure the experience is safe, fun, and mutually agreed upon, consent and boundaries must be discussed while sober.

Choose a Partner You Trust

Because mushrooms can impact you in many different ways, it’s best to choose partners you are comfortable with and have previous experience with.

Safe and Sexy Environment

Just like having a comfortable and safe person to engage with, the environment is also something to consider. At home, in a bed you’re familiar with is probably the best environment.

You may want to think about putting on some fresh sheets and consider mood lighting.

Set intentions together.

Know Your Dose

If you’re experienced with mushrooms, you may have an idea of what dose will be best for you. However, you may want to consider taking a little less than you usually would for a full macrodose, so you have an easier time focusing.

If you’re not experienced with mushrooms, start small. It may be best to start with a microdose, or slightly more, rather than a full macrodose, so you don’t get overwhelmed.

A smaller dose will still have similar effects in connecting you with your partner.

Mushrooms and Sex — How to Use Mushrooms for a Sexual Experience

Once you’ve prepared for the experience and had an in-depth conversation with your partner about consent and boundaries, you’re good to go. Measure out your dose and consume the mushrooms together. See 4 ways of consuming magic mushrooms.

Some people may choose to engage in sex as they come up on mushrooms; however, you may have trouble focusing once you reach the peak. So, others engage in sexual activity after they have peaked and start to come down slightly. Having sex after the peak also gives you and your partner plenty of time to connect with one another emotionally before physical intimacy.

As we mentioned earlier, mushrooms may impact how your body feels in such a way that what feels good sexually is different from when you’re sober. So, before jumping right into the type of play you typically engage in with your partner, consider taking some time to gently explore each other’s bodies and your own.

Be Prepared for It To Not Go As Planned

Because mushrooms can be intense and affect our bodies and brains in many different ways, it’s important to go with the flow when it comes to having sex on mushrooms. This is one of the reasons it’s recommended to choose a partner that you trust. You want someone supportive who will make you feel comfortable and who you can laugh with if things go not quite right or horribly wrong.

Know that it’s normal to get distracted and unfocused when you’re high. The mushrooms also may impact your body in unexpected ways; for example, you might not be able to stay hard. Cut yourself some slack and enjoy the journey.

Maybe have some toys available to support the experience, or don’t be afraid to stop and just enjoy some naked time together with your partner.

Final Thoughts on Shrooms and Sex

Having sex on mushrooms has the potential to be an amazing experience if you’re prepared, in the right environment, and with a comfortable person.

Like any mushroom experience, let the journey take you and don’t take yourself too seriously. You might think you’re interested in having sex while on shrooms, but it might not go as planned, and that’s okay.

Ready to get sexy with mushrooms? Check out our online dispensary. Want to start with a microdose? You can get preground mushrooms to measure your own dose or predosed microdosing caps. 

The start of the year is a time when people set new goals for themselves. It’s a new year, and they hope to make changes to be a better version of themselves. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make changes in your life, but often people set lofty goals without making a plan for how they will achieve those goals, which increases the chance of them failing So, let’s talk how psychedelics, specifically microdosing, can help you achieve your goals.

Setting SMART Goals

The acronym SMART can be used to help people set clear and reachable goals to help increase the chances of success. SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound. 

Specific

The goal should be specific to focus your efforts on attaining the goal. Consider asking yourself the five W questions to flesh out your goal and make sure it’s specific enough.

• What do I want to accomplish?
• Why is this particular goal important?
• Who is involved, if anyone?
• Where does it take place?
• What resources are involved?

Measurable

The goal should be measurable, so you can assess your progress and how far away you are from achieving your goal. It can also be helpful to break the goal down into smaller quantifiable parts so you can reward yourself for small achievements along the way.

Attainable

Attainable can also mean realistic. Take the time to consider whether or not your goal is realistic at this time. Of course, you want to push yourself somewhat, but do you have the resources to accomplish this goal? Is there a way to break this goal down to make it more achievable?

Also, remember not to set goals that someone else has power over. For example, you may do everything right to get that next promotion, but you cannot control all the factors involved in this decision.

Relevant

Relevant means that the goal matters to you and aligns with other goals you have in your life. Take the time to consider if this goal, in particular, is worthwhile.

Sometimes people set goals because they feel societal or peer pressure to do so, but they may be better off setting a different goal for themselves.

For example, weight loss is a common New Year’s resolution, particularly since it follows a season where most folks indulge more than they typically do. Maybe weight loss is important to you, but perhaps feeling good in your body is more important. So, instead of focusing on a number, consider a goal around healthy eating, limiting consumption of sugar, or regular fitness; whatever aligns most appropriately with your values.

Time-bound

Consider the ultimate goal and what a reasonable and attainable timeline is for this goal. Without a target date for the goal, it’s hard to measure your progress and stay motivated. At the same time, consider setting smaller goals with shorter timelines to help keep you focused on the long-term goal.

Don’t forget to reward yourself for the smaller achievements to help keep you motivated.

How Can Microdosing Help with Achieving Goals?

To understand how microdosing can help us achieve our goals, it can help to understand what is preventing us from reaching them in the first place.

One of the main reasons is not following the principles above, but additionally, it can be because of lack of motivation, lack of support or lack of confidence.

Winter is generally considered one of the saddest times of the year. It’s grey, cold and dark. After time away for the holidays, many people struggle to readjust to a more ‘normal’ routine. In January, when many people are setting lofty goals, the month itself can make achieving goals challenging.

So, how can microdosing help?

Microdosing can help to generally lift our mood, provide energy and feelings of euphoria, and help manage symptoms associated with depression or seasonal affective disorder.

Psychedelics open our neural pathways to new experiences, making it easier to build new skills and develop new habits; additionally, it has cognitive-enhancing properties related to divergent thinking and creative problem-solving. Many people also believe it can help us to focus, based on anecdotal evidence from those in Silicon Valley, not yet supported by clinical research. So, there is some available data which shows microdosing can help us achieve new goals.

Using Microdosing as a Tool Alongside Goal Setting

Once you have set your goal using the SMART goal tools, consider the best microdosing schedule for you based on your particular needs.

Three Microdosing Schedules

Dr. Fadiman’s Approach

Dr. Fadiman’s Approach is one of the most common microdosing schedules, by psychedelics expert Dr. James Fadiman. He recommends taking a microdose every 3 days (i.e. taking two days off between doses) to prevent building up a tolerance. He notes you are likely to still experience impacts of the microdose the following day, and the other day in between allows for time to rest and reflect.

This microdose schedule would look as follows:

Week 1: Mon/Thu/Sun

Week 2: Wed/Sat

Week 3: Tue/Fri

Week 4: Mon/Thu/Sun

Work Approach

Those specifically looking for improvements at work such as improved focus, attention and analytical thinking may use the work approach and dose every workday and take weekends off. With this approach, you may notice that your tolerance builds over time (you need a higher amount to see the same effects). If you experience an increased tolerance, this is a good indication of needing a break.

For those new to microdosing, the first time you dose should be when you are not working to avoid adverse effects. We recommend determining the best dose for you before dosing on a workday. Additionally, don’t microdose and operate a vehicle.

Balanced Approach

This approach is taking a microdose every other day rather than every third day. For some, this approach may be more helpful than Fadiman’s simply because it’s easier to keep track of; however, there may be compounding effects without rest days. So make sure to track your dose and the effects you experience.

What to do on Microdose Day

You want to take advantage of the benefits that microdosing provides you when working towards new goals.

• Use the first 30 minutes to your benefit—this is when you feel the most enthusiastic and open, and neural networks are the most plastic.
• Take your regular microdose and when it starts to take effect (approximately 30-45 minutes after consumption), do the new activity you are attempting to build into your life—like journaling, meditating, meal planning, etc.
• Do the new activity every time you microdose for at least two weeks. See how it impacts your motivation and supports building the new activity into your routine.

Note, it’s likely that you are only microdosing 2-4 times a week, but if you are trying to build a daily habit, engage in the new activity on your non-microdosing days as well to strengthen the habit. But do take note of how microdosing days impact your practice.

Had microsoding helped you achieve a goal or set a healthy habit? Reach out to us and let us know! We might add some specific case studies to this article.